Swearwords as interactive units: a study of swearwords in Spanish colloquial conversations

Abstract

The aim of the study is to present the interactive functions of swearwords in Spanish colloquial conversations. The swearwords are expressions which literal meanings are related to the linguistic taboo, that is, subjects or words that should not be mentioned. On the other hand, the swearwords are not always applied with their original meaning, as an expression of insult, offense or aggression. In a range of colloquial conversations the swearwords perform important functions in the process of strengthening some interactive functions. The present article, on the basis of Thetical Grammar, demonstrates the sociopragmatic contexts and the functioning of the swearwords that have undergone the process of cooptation moving under the dominium of the Thetical Grammar by acquiring some interactive meanings. What is more, the article defends the gradualness of thetical units: according to different sociopragmatic factors, the thetical units can undergo different levels of cooptation, what has an impact on their interactive meaning.