curseing middle earth! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Cazoz · 11-19-2003, 10:30 PM

Where is the website which talks in depth about Black Speech? I'd like to give that one a look. Although I fear it'd probably be a bit sanctimonious and offensive with the suggestion/implication that swearing is only for the crude/evil. Obviously it can be, but it can also be an element of humour, or warranted (ever hit your thumb with a hammer?!) I also find it expressive and emphatic and an integral part of language, myself!

Although I see why Tolkien wouldn't have liked it and had it very mildly, it comes back to the generational thing I guess. Back in his day 'damn' and other such words would have been seen as profane, whereas now they're merely blasphemous and inoffensive to the majority of people. If it'd been written today, I bet the Orcs would be effing and blinding the whole way through!
Mind you, I do appreciate he was writing for mediaeval people and in more Ye Olde Worlde Shoppe vernacular, not even to the 1950s standard he would have been used to. Wasn't there some quote from C.S. Lewis along the lines of 'Not another ****ing Elf!' I recall somewhere?

11-19-2003, 10:30 PM	#1
Cazoz Haunting Spirit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 71	Where is the website which talks in depth about Black Speech? I'd like to give that one a look. Although I fear it'd probably be a bit sanctimonious and offensive with the suggestion/implication that swearing is only for the crude/evil. Obviously it can be, but it can also be an element of humour, or warranted (ever hit your thumb with a hammer?!) I also find it expressive and emphatic and an integral part of language, myself! Although I see why Tolkien wouldn't have liked it and had it very mildly, it comes back to the generational thing I guess. Back in his day 'damn' and other such words would have been seen as profane, whereas now they're merely blasphemous and inoffensive to the majority of people. If it'd been written today, I bet the Orcs would be effing and blinding the whole way through! Mind you, I do appreciate he was writing for mediaeval people and in more Ye Olde Worlde Shoppe vernacular, not even to the 1950s standard he would have been used to. Wasn't there some quote from C.S. Lewis along the lines of 'Not another ****ing Elf!' I recall somewhere?