I cannot state that cuss words are part of my normal communication if we agree on the definition of “normal” as everyday and frequent. I use them only with friends and in situations when I am highly emotional to the point of losing temper. In cases of the latter, there seems to be no limit or barrier that holds me from using any cuss word that is in my vocabulary because occasionally the anger clouds my judgment and I do not account for appropriate language use. I tend to find such outbursts of cussing limitedly beneficial as Wood suggests that withholding from voicing the conflict could be destructive (231). Usually, I control my emotions quite well, and these occasions are a rarity.
I stand firmly on the notion that cussing helps deliver emotions in all their color and fragrance while the informativeness suffers greatly in occasions when people lack the context. Thus, it could be appropriate to comment on specific situations using curse words if all recipients are direct witnesses or at least have knowledge of the event. Otherwise, there could be a risk of a communication breakdown.
Cuss words may help further the message if used in proper amounts. A sentence spiced with obscenities could, for example, convey a certain degree of frustration rather than simply a demonstration of this feeling. Yet, too much spice could spoil the dish, which lets one conclude that there should be a limit to cussing. In addition, the usage of foul language in attribution to the recipient of a message is counterproductive and may lead only to conflict and loss of information. While it is not always possible to control oneself, effort should be made in terms of choosing the appropriate circumstances for cussing and limiting the amount of abusive verbal units.
Work Cited
Wood, Julia T. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. 8 ed., Cengage Learning, 2015.