Verbal dueling and imaginative vituperation can provide independent pleasure, as illustrated in Cyrano de Bergerac and by Shakespeare's rich exemplars and reflections on the practice of insults. There is a distinctive vocabulary of abuse, including profanities and vulgarities, but the precise meanings of the words (e.g. “macaca”) need not always be known in order for an insulting intention to be conveyed, manner is as important as matter. Words can also have a power that derives from their history and context of use. This raises issues of legal regulation, especially on the airwaves.
Keywords: vituperation, Shakespeare, Cyrano, macaca, words, meanings, language, vocabulary, profanities, vulgarities, abuse, regulation, airwaves