Society has certain unwritten prescriptions for its members. One of them is that well brought up ladies should subscribe to a certain vocabulary – controlled, composed and courteous.
But sometimes we do cross the line in our exasperation. Don’t we ? I personally feel ventilation is required at times. How ? That is relative. Sometimes we involuntarily adopt ways and means that are locally used. The colloquial dialect especially that we are used to hearing in public. Somehow the oft-heard slang seem to express our spur of the moment feelings precisely.
Once I was going by a cycle rickshaw which stopped midway because a car was reversing while the driver was intently looking at his phone. Hence totally distracted. Had I not shouted at him he would have bumped into the rickety contraption toppling us over.
When I narrated the incident to my colleagues their instant query was, “But Geeta ma’am, what did you tell him?”
I tried to circumvent the question and said, “No gaali-galouch (profanity) as you all are thinking.”
“But still,” They cried.
So I quietly told them the epithet I had used which met with a round of applause. No, it was not a gaali yet not a so-called sophisticated word either – but just the exact adjective which aptly described the blunderer or his momentary action – a term common to the dialect of the Hindi belt in the North, however, used in this context assumed almost a jocular flavour.
There is a fine line of demarcation between crude expressions and unmouthable , unprintable expletives. Who defines what is respectful and disrespectful???
Our conscience, morality and self esteem most probably. Or perhaps our lingual sense – implications! Connotations! Intonation! Or the age old norms set by society.
Recently I read an article which said the usage of defamatory word/language is as ancient as human interaction itself and has been resorted to as the easiest weapon to psychologically “disarm” the opponent.
While threatening somebody is legally actionable (as per Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita) subjecting somebody to continued derogation is mental abuse. But what about using colloquial upfront (or behind someone’s back) just to let the steam out ? It may result in a contentious situation or jolt in some sense or more optimistically catalyse an epiphany (? 😂).
However, words spoken are a reflection of our image. So even if it is a teeth gnashing , jaw tightening situation composure is appreciated more than verbal diarrhoea.
It is revealing how certain profanities are considered ‘fashionable’ and generously used in normal conversation nowadays….!!! Apparently even the perception about profanities also changes with time!!!
Interestingly, one of the chapters in our holy book Gita written in ancient Sanskrit describes the demonic tendencies of an individual in one eloquent expression –
“Naṣṭātmāno’lpabuddhayaḥ” (नष्टात्मानोऽल्पबुद्धयः)
Without going into the deeper spiritual context, the phrase can be safely attributed to a person who has completely lost it.
Perhaps it will come handy next time I feel like lambasting a brainless nincompoop on the road….?
This post is part of Blogchatter’s Half Marathon 2026
I speak profanity from time to time like shit and oh my God. I know it’s profane words, but exactly! Sometimes, we think it was just a normal expression. I made mistakes always.
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I think profanities are a part of the culture. We have to accept them in good humour. Again there is a distinction between jarring words and those which just adequately express our feelings. I too use profanities in a restrained manner. We all do.
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Both those profanities i used, whether in excitement or just positive news, and the other one is for dismay, fear, and other misfortune.
Yes, we all do coz we’re human.
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Dismay, surprise, fear, anger – you get to vent out. Profanities are emotional necessities. I am with you. Don’t feel bad about it. Unless we are tremendously hurtful we are in our right to use them
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Not for others, but for myself; my misfortune sometimes 😁
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I too am not loud. Just mutter or mumble under the breath. 😊
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Absolutely! But sometimes, it is loud enough for my niece to hear, saying, it’s bad word, Tita. They still didn’t know they’ll learn it in adulthood. 😁
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Exceptions prove the rule. And yes, oneday they will grow up and find new expressions to let the steam out. It’s like the punching bag. You need it. Everyone needs it. Some are prudent enough not to admit and some are brutally honest about it. But I guess continuous usage of profanities can hurt our sensibilities. Once in a while it’s justified.
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Yes, an occasional usage.🤭 Thanks, gc.
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I think it serves to be somewhat cathartic when we tell someone they’re acting like a twat. 😊
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Exactly. How I agree with you. Cathartic…soul satisfying…you’ve nailed it. 😊
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👍🏻
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A fascinating treatise
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Thank you very much Derrrick 🙏
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Thank you for this interesting piece. Nincompoop is a great word, avoiding vulgarity! Would you like to be a guest sometime on Wordy Wednesday?
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Thank you so much Liz. Nincompoop reminds me of Captain Haddock. Yes, it’s a comprehensive word.
Thanks once again for your offer. I will think about it.
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🙏 but no pressure!
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Thanks Liz. God bless.
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What does this phrase in Sanskrit means?
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In the spiritual context it means a materialistic soul with a narrow intellect who has lost touch with his deeper self and tends to be delusional.
In literal sense :
Alpabudhayah means a person of lesser intelligence. Alpa means less or small and buddhayah means buddhi or intelligence.
Nashtatmanoh means a ruined soul.
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A very cool and interesting phrase. It can be equivalent to- Ahmaq, meaning stupid but in cultured language.
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Urdu is a very chaste language which does not have any slang or crude phrases.
Hindi, on the other hand, with its various dialects has a handful.
Some are unfit for use. But there are many others which have a humorous edge to them.
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I remember my cousin’s teacher had asked them not to use ‘Oh Shit’ but replace it with ‘Oh Sugar’. It still does not have the ring to it 😀
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Yes. Oh sugar is rather mild. 😂 😂
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My wife is quite outspoken and often takes over when we have to deal with troublesome repairmen or business owners. I don’t mind as it’s often quite humorous to see this short, angry woman making a grown man back up and apologize! 🙂
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😊😊😊😊
Sometimes how we use our anger can be amusing. It can drive a point home better if it has humorous undertones.
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मैं भी कभी कभी बोल ही देती हूं ऐसा वैसा,अक्सर जब ड्राइव करते करते किसी बेवकूफ से वास्ता पड़ता हे
आज से Alpabudhayah और Nashtatmanoh इस्तेमाल करूं गी.
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इन शब्दों की ज़रूरत रस्ते पर या सार्वजनिन जगहों पर ही पड़ती है जहां कई प्रकार के नष्ट आत्माएं और अल्प बुध्दि आपको मिलेंगे।
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For me, I do not like those abusive words – uttered by either gender. I have watched standup comedian using such language and people laughing. personally I find it disgusting! covering for lack of talent.
I also noticed girls criticising PM’s POV in this regards.
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The post is not in favour of
abusive language but acceptance of dialects with an unconventional vocab not necessarily profanities. Thank you for your views.
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no issues with unconventional vocab-my point was about the words that has derogatory meanings or implies such.
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Very annoying when people go about with their head in the clouds or rather in their phones. But I restrain myself not to be vocal in a public place for the unwanted squabble I might invite 😄
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Thank you friend for your views. Civic sense is very uncommon. Mobiles have been causes of accident and social behaviour issue. Even at office I used to find the young generation distracted by their mobile in meetings and discussions on work.
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