The Numberphile Podcast cover image

An Educated Adult - with Tadashi Tokieda

The Numberphile Podcast

00:00

* Anthropology of Curse Words*

People tend to swear in different languages based on their personal comfort and the effectiveness of the language. When something heavy is dropped on their foot, the speaker instinctively swears in French. They also mention the anthropology of swearing, highlighting the importance of language choice for comfort and effectiveness. Russian is described as a highly effective language for swearing, as it allows for elaborate insults involving family ancestry. However, despite the impressive nature of Russian swearing, it does not personally resonate with the speaker.

Play episode from 26:33
Transcript

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app