The Bogan Profanity Paradox

Pronunciation /ˈboʊ.ɡən/ (ボウガン)
Part of Speech noun
English Definition

Looks at how Australians, and the bogan stereotype in particular, turn profanity into casual social punctuation rather than genuine shock language, taking ordinary Australian swearing habits to theatrical extremes.

Japanese Translation

ボーガン罵り言葉のパラドックス

Japanese Explanation

罵り言葉を日常会話の「句読点」のように扱うオーストラリア的傾向と、その中でもボーガン的ステレオタイプが罵倒表現を大げさに演じる様子について論じる。


Origin

Part of the Bogue series on kangaeroo.com, an ongoing cultural examination of Australian bogan culture.


Related Words


One of the great bogan linguistic characteristics is the Australian ability to turn profanity into social punctuation.

Words that would be shocking in other English varieties can become:

  • greeting;
  • adjective;
  • intensifier;
  • term of affection;
  • insult;
  • noun;
  • verb;
  • punctuation.

This is not exclusively bogan, of course. But the bogan stereotype takes Australian profanity to theatrical extremes.