Abusive Language Essay Example

intention presents a different problem for early childhood professionals (Jay, 1996). Cursing in public settings has been increasing in America, including in child care settings (Jay, 1992). Similar to styles of clothing, language styles range from formal to relaxed. Most educational settings strive for conventional or formal speech from children. Because many parents and families get along quite well with more relaxed codes, it is possible that the child care setting is the only place where some children hear conventional language spoken.

Because some curse words are more problematic than others, it is necessary to sort language into three categories: acceptable,unacceptable, and inappropriate. Acceptable language is what we read in a magazine or hear in a news broadcast. It is a formal or conventional level of speech that we hope young children will eventually learn and use. Unacceptable language is that which must be forbidden for legal reasons. Unacceptable language includes harassment, libel, threats, gender or racial discrimination, and obscenity. Inappropriate language is the gray area betweenacceptable and unacceptable language. It is language that depends heavily on context, because different contexts pose different standards or restrictions on language and behavior. What constitutes appropriate speech on the playground may not be appropriate within the classroom. Unacceptable But Normal Behavior

Early childhood professionals and parents should anticipate children's dirty language. Most normal children will experiment with dirty words and dirty jokes in the course of growing up. They will also repeat powerful or offensive words that they hear adults use. Children may even make up unique words to use as insults. Children enjoy using language in jokes, puns, and stories that adults find "gross" (McGhee,

1979; Sutton-Smith & Abrams, 1978). Young children will freely use scatological references to body products (e.g., poop), body processes (e.g., fart), and body parts (e.g., butthole).

As young children grow, they become more aware of social and psychological aspects of human interaction and their name calling will show their new awareness when you hear them using words such as weirdo, retard, spaz, fatty, jerk,and chicken(Thorne, 1993). School-age children learn appropriateness when they are intellectually able to appreciate the impact of language on listeners and can empathize with them (Crosser, 1996). Egocentric young children do not fully comprehend why words are offensive to listeners, but can be trained not to use offensive words. One might simply tell a two- to three-year-old not to use a word without much explanation. Five-year-olds, on the other hand, can be given an explanation for language restrictions. The eight-year-old is capable of empathy and is able to see that words can hurt others' feelings. Why Children Curse

Do you know why children curse? The first question to ask a child who has cursed is, "Why did you say that?" In other words, determine what caused the incident in the first place. Is the child seeking attention, bullying another child, or expressing anger? Was the child provoked by another child or was the cursing more spontaneous? You also have to distinguish children who have problems with language from children who have emotional problems with anger or aggression (i.e., children who use cursing as a general way to express anger). Cursing is evoked by a small and predictable set of variables Some children are positively reinforced by siblings or parents for

cursing. Giving children attention, such as laughing or asking them to repeat a dirty word, is enough to increase cursing behavior. One common source of cursing is exposure to inappropriate adult role models-either parental figures or adults in the neighborhood (Vissing, Straus, Gelles, & Harrop, 1991).

Popular culture in the form of television, movies, and music lyrics are also common sources of bad language. Children who are allowed access to media without restrictions or supervision are likely to bring bad language to the child care center. What a child hears at home or in the neighborhood may get repeated at your center. In this case cursing may reflect the child's home life (Jorgenson, 1985). Similarly, teachers must address parents' perceptions that bad speech at school reflects school life. Parents who believe their children are learning bad language from someone at child care will usually complain. Both child care and home speech contexts affect a child's vocabulary. Many adults have trouble with bad language from time to time. Unfortunately, some parents have difficulty controlling their children's inappropriate language (Berges, et al., 1983). Hearing racist, sexist, or offensive language may be a common experience for some young children. Although you cannot completely overcome narrow-mindedness at home, you do have the right and responsibility to suppress such language at your center. What variables affect the speech of the children at your center?

What are the religious and cultural backgrounds of the children? What is the nature of ethnic or socioeconomic tension? What are the homes of the children like? Are the children at your center exposed to conflicting school and home (parenting) values? It is helpful

to determine how different community values affect speech. You may consider community values as a general antecedent condition that might lead some children to use offensive language more freely than other children. Some children may exhibit cursing as a symptom of underlying, severe psychological problems, such as child abuse or physiological disorders (Frick, et al., 1994). Children with psychological problems or uncontrollable anger outbursts may need special attention or counseling. Determining the cause of cursing is the first step in a comprehensive behavior modification process. Many Names for the Same Thing: Bad Language Defined

The following definitions come from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, by Houghton Mifflin Company. blas•phe•my (blás´fe-mê) noun A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.curse(kûrs) nounA profane word or phrase; a swearword. ep•i•thet(èp´e-thèt?) nounAn abusive or contemptuous word or phrase. in•sult(în´sùlt?) nounAn offensive action or remark.name-call•ing(nâm´kôlÎng) nounVerbal abuse; insulting language. ob•scen•i•ty (òb-sèn´î-tê) noun Indecency, lewdness, or offensiveness in behavior, expression, or appearance. pro•fan•i•ty (pro-fàn´î-tê) noun Abusive, vulgar, or irreverent language. slang (slàng) noun A kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect. slur (slûr) noun A disparaging remark; an aspersion. sca•tol•o•gy (skà-tòl´e-jê) noun Obscene language or literature, especially that dealing pruriently or humorously with excrement and excretory functions. vul•gar•i•ty (vùl-gàr´î-tê) noun Something, such as an act or expression, that offends good taste or propriety. The ABCs of Cursing