“Eventually, though, a word that once could get your mouth washed out with soap will be regarded as just a word” (Jarvik, 2003)
The truth is any culture has its own set of swearwords; a language cannot exist without “taboo” terms and expressions. However, what is interesting is that the acceptability of these words evolves over time, turning former curses into inoffensive colloquialisms. One reason for such a shift is changing cultural norms. For instance, in Victorian times, the human body and its functions were rarely spoken of and considered impure. Therefore, words like “legs” or “pregnant” that would not raise any suspicions today were absent from the speech. Besides, as religion loses its leverage in many developed countries, people feel more at ease with transgressing the rules related to swearing. Another possible reason is art and media that push the boundaries of the normal. Rock and hip-hop musicians are known for using an obscene lexicon. The attractiveness and rebelliousness of their image encourage their fans to copy their manner of speaking, thus, becoming desensitized to what once was taboo.
Indeed, taboos are often the main motives for semantic shifts in the language. A curious example is the French word “baiser” which can cause a great deal of confusion for someone who just started learning the language. The dictionary definition is to “kiss”, but Francophones themselves would strongly advise against using “baiser” in this meaning. It turns out that this word has long served as a euphemism for having sex, which is why today it is barely used in its original meaning. Interestingly enough, “un baiser” (masculine) is a kiss, but “une baise” is an act of sex. To avoid confusion, it is better to use “embrasser” (literally “to embrace”) when talking about kissing.