First, the disclaimer: If you're offended by obscenity or
profanity in any context, then by all means, do not read any further--
return to Go, do not collect $200, etc.
Currently, two of the most offensive words in the English language are 'nigger' and 'cunt'. It was not always thus. Also, I'd like to mention that the state of being an offensive word is purely a matter of opinion, context, and intent--if you are not offended, then it is not offensive to you; if someone else is using said words in a cruel way, then you may be more likely to take offense; etc. I do not intend to offend anyone, and pledge only to use these words here to explore their histories, origins, and usages, so please, do not take offense. History follows below the fold.
The primary source on the word 'cunt' that I would point any interested party to is "
Cunt: A Cultural History". In this, he observes that cunt likely has an etymological root in the word 'cuneus' (Latin for 'wedge') and 'cunnus' (Latin for 'vagina'), with an obviously related word today being 'cunnilingus' (From the Latin:
cunnus (vagina) +
lingere (to lick)). He also mentions that the 't' at the end of cunt likely came from Dutch: "The Old Dutch 'kunte' later developed into the more Latinate Middle Dutch 'cunte'"--if you're wondering about the 'k' there, it came from Greek, which developed in parallel from the Latin;
much more here.
As for 'nigger', I refer to "Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word", which, though neither exhaustive nor comprehensive, makes the basic points rather well. Also derived from Latin, nigger comes from 'niger' -- Latin for 'black'.
Its casual use in the American South is documented in books like "Huckleberry Finn" -- a book that has since been banned for containing the word 'nigger', with no regard to the historical context involved. I will remain silent on whether this is a good thing--I can think of a few instances where it may be wise to do so--but it may betray an ignorance to the fact that words can and do change in meaning over time, due to usage.
Unfortunately there is not as much documentation of the early usage of the word cunt--but the earliest uses I have seen, seem rather playful. I speculate that as the word was considered to be more offensive, these earlier uses were censored away--off the map, as it were. I am referring to what was Gropecunte Lane in England, circa 1230--"Oxford's Gropecunt Lane, became Grope Lane, and then Grove Lane".
Words themselves are what you make them. Their meanings are somewhat fluid, changing over time depending on how people use them, and subsequently document their usage. Have 'nigger' and 'cunt' always been so offensive to people? I doubt it--and in the case of nigger, I know it hasn't. Have there always been people offended by them? Probably. Have there always been people offended by neither of them? Probably. Some people are offended by words like 'African American' or 'vagina' as well. Others are offended by censorship, or revisionist history.
Therefore, I'm sure I offended somebody; nevertheless, I appreciate any comments you might have on the matter, and on this diary.