Swearing Beyond Insult: A Semiotic Analysis of Swear Words as Emotional Communication

Swearing has been associated to offensive words, hostility, and insults. Yet, today’s, instead of being just offensive, swear words regularly use as emotional and relational resources in daily conversations. This article looks at swearing words that use as signs for emotional communication in everyday communications of people who has similar and intense situation. This study observes how swear words serve as indicators of annoyance, empathy, humor, and solidarity by analyzing naturally occurring conversational data using a semiotic approach. The results show, the changing of taboo language in daily interaction in intense situations, functions as a communication technique that strengthens interpersonal ties and shared emotional experiences.