Curse and taboo words in German, English and Korean

Abstract

Curse and taboo words have a pejorative meaning, usually applied with the intention to insult or degrade the opponent. As a sub-discipline of linguistics, curse research deals with the semantics and pragmatics of curse and taboo words. Some claim that curses are not just an expression of universal human behaviour but rather an appearance closely linked to a society’s cultural and linguistic heritage. Some taboo subjects, however, seem to be universal, such as sexuality, illness, ageing or death. The article deals with curses and taboos in German, English and Korean, pointing out similarities and elaborating on the differences between the three languages where necessary.