Firstly, this is not a thread that, once again, explores all the problems of foul language and swearing in non-Earth contexts.
This thread is about insults. While swear-words might be used, they are not the focus of the thread.
Firstly, I was wondering how people explore and develop insults that fit into their fantasy (or sci-fi, I'm not picky) cultures and languages. For example, in my main focus the language is English, but it is an English minus much of the Latin/Greek/French influence - it is an English influenced by other Germanic languages, plus Welsh and Irish.
Lucky for me, most English insults are from Old English. What I'm more interested in is how you develop the insults themselves in context of the culture you are creating.
For example, what animals are despised or seen as untrustworthy? Are people decried for eating certain animals? For fear? For their sexual practices? What is viewed as taboo, and what should not be spoken of even as an insult?
A culture that does not see illegitimacy as a stain would not turn the word 'bastard' into an insult. Similarly, if horses are held in esteem, calling a woman a 'mare' might not be viewed insultingly. On the other hand, if oaths are sacred then calling someone an 'oath-breaker' is not only an insult, but an accusation. In my culture, the word 'worth' governs the concepts of honour, trustworthiness, and reputation. Thus to call someone 'worthless' is to call them dishonourable, untrustworthy, of ill-repute and incapable of staying faithful to their oaths.
There are also the words you choose to use. If you are going for an older feel, how do you create it? Do you delve into older English? Do you create your own words? Personally, I like the word 'swive.' It was the original English word for 'fuck' (probably from a Scandinavian or general North Germanic word). Not only does it provide another potential swear-word (or not, depending on what words your culture considers taboo - 'eat' could be a foul word in a culture that declares that eating must be done in provate), but it alliterates beautifully with the word 'swine'. 'Swine-swiving' is thus not only alliterative and a joy to say, but has a good, old-fashioned feel that suits my world (called Middangard, btw - a mix of Old Norse Midgard and Old English middangeard). Generally, bestiality seems to be looked down on in many cultures.
So - what sort of insults have you developed for your new worlds and cultures?
And, yes, I have an obsession for word etymology. Blame Middangard - I've been spending too much time looking into word origins in order to construct said version of English. It is extremely difficult to find a suitable Germanic-origin word for 'confuse/confound' or for 'party/celebration.'
This thread is about insults. While swear-words might be used, they are not the focus of the thread.
Firstly, I was wondering how people explore and develop insults that fit into their fantasy (or sci-fi, I'm not picky) cultures and languages. For example, in my main focus the language is English, but it is an English minus much of the Latin/Greek/French influence - it is an English influenced by other Germanic languages, plus Welsh and Irish.
Lucky for me, most English insults are from Old English. What I'm more interested in is how you develop the insults themselves in context of the culture you are creating.
For example, what animals are despised or seen as untrustworthy? Are people decried for eating certain animals? For fear? For their sexual practices? What is viewed as taboo, and what should not be spoken of even as an insult?
A culture that does not see illegitimacy as a stain would not turn the word 'bastard' into an insult. Similarly, if horses are held in esteem, calling a woman a 'mare' might not be viewed insultingly. On the other hand, if oaths are sacred then calling someone an 'oath-breaker' is not only an insult, but an accusation. In my culture, the word 'worth' governs the concepts of honour, trustworthiness, and reputation. Thus to call someone 'worthless' is to call them dishonourable, untrustworthy, of ill-repute and incapable of staying faithful to their oaths.
There are also the words you choose to use. If you are going for an older feel, how do you create it? Do you delve into older English? Do you create your own words? Personally, I like the word 'swive.' It was the original English word for 'fuck' (probably from a Scandinavian or general North Germanic word). Not only does it provide another potential swear-word (or not, depending on what words your culture considers taboo - 'eat' could be a foul word in a culture that declares that eating must be done in provate), but it alliterates beautifully with the word 'swine'. 'Swine-swiving' is thus not only alliterative and a joy to say, but has a good, old-fashioned feel that suits my world (called Middangard, btw - a mix of Old Norse Midgard and Old English middangeard). Generally, bestiality seems to be looked down on in many cultures.
So - what sort of insults have you developed for your new worlds and cultures?
And, yes, I have an obsession for word etymology. Blame Middangard - I've been spending too much time looking into word origins in order to construct said version of English. It is extremely difficult to find a suitable Germanic-origin word for 'confuse/confound' or for 'party/celebration.'
