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In:Register and Discourse through the Lens of Corpus Linguistics
Edited by Nuria Yáñez-Bouza, Dolores González-Álvarez and Esperanza Rama-Martínez
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 127] 2026
► pp. 13–42

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Chapter 1
A study of the recent evolution of swearing in British teen talk

 | Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Published online: 24 March 2026
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https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.127.01pal
Abstract
This chapter examines the degree to which the swearing practices of British teens have changed over time considering young speakers are well-known for their high use of swear and taboo terms. Taking a corpus-based approach, it analyses the behaviour of a set of 12 swear word lemma forms and 14 slurs, using data from COLT (1990s), LIC (2004–2007), the BNC2014, and Drummond’s (2020) dataset. Findings show significant differences in the frequency of the 12 lemma forms across the four corpora. However, no evidence of an increasing use of slurs is found. In terms of the analysis as a whole, no major differences were identified in overall patterns. Fuck, shit, and piss consistently exhibit the highest frequencies across all data sources, while cunt, wank(er), and cock are among the least frequent. Meanwhile, bloody shows a clear decline in usage.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Swearing: Definition, variables, and types
  • 3.Previous studies
  • 4.Objectives and research hypotheses
  • 5.Data and methodology
  • 6.Results
    • 6.1General frequency of the swear words analysed
    • 6.2General frequency of the slurs studied
    • 6.3A close study of fuck
  • 7.Conclusions and suggestions for further research
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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