Getting Medieval: Swearing
extract of an article by Jeri WestersonIn many instances, it was rather one's character that is questioned along with their parentage. To call someone a "churl" or "dog" was fightin' words, to be sure. "Villein" or "scullion" toward a person with means was quite the insult, for you have called them the lowest of the low, a menial, as if you called a CEO a trash collector. Not the same sting today, is it?
One was more likely to come up with a religious oath: "by Christ's blood, toes, bones" and any number of bodily parts. Or by the saints or the Virgin. Truly, the medieval man would be perplexed at our concern with defecation or fornication when it comes to swearing. In fact, many of the oaths sworn in the middle ages might be something your grandmother would say.
It's certainly hard to picture a noble in full dress telling someone in no uncertain terms that he is a "lousy swine" ("lousy" in this sense meaning full of louse). And the same to you, buddy.
That's not to say gestures weren't in use. But the familiar American "one-fingered salute" was in England (and I believe still is) a two-fingered variety, this stemming from archers taunting their enemies, proving they still had their two fingers in which to pull the string of a bow (the index and middle finger) given with the back of the hand outward. If you were an archer and captured by one's enemies it was likely they would hew off said fingers so you couldn't use a bow against them again.
Commoners
Would use more of a basic form of swearing, such as descriptions of bodily functions or the stuff that comes from it. Most consider such language to be uncultured, and the more unpleasant the commoner language, the less likely they are to mingle with those higher of their breed.
Merchants
Depending on their background and how they were raised, their language would either align with nobility (not swearing) or commoners (swearing). Note that their use of foul language would affect their status in the noble community.
NobilityIf a noble wished to swear, they'd be far more imaginative with their words. Instead of telling someone (or even thinking it) to get 'fucked' they would say/think things like: "A pox on you!" or "May your life be riddled with misery", which is where the whole concept of swearing was about cursing, came from. They would speak a curse, as opposed to using foul language.
Bastard was a word that existed, but nobles were more likely to use this word correctly in conversation - as in a child born out of wedlock.
A taste of languageBe more descriptive, don't just use words today, and remember, when your character is called a fiend or a cur, they should be REALLY insulted.
Other words instead of bastardcad, cur, fiend, heel, knave, lout, louse, maggot, rascal, rat, rogue, rotter, scoundrel
Fouling Adjectives awful, base, beastly, cheap, contemptible, degrading, detestable, dirty, disgraceful, disreputable, down, ignominious, insignificant, loathsome, low, mean, reprehensible, shameful, sleazy, sordid, vile, worthless, wretched, yucky
