Profanity

There have been a few times here in Thailand when I’ve run into people who speak English non-natively, but with a very high proficiency. Several of them have really surprised me with the number of obscenities they can work into a simple conversation with a new acquaintance.

I have come to the conclusion that the most probable explanation for this is that these people developed their English skills by use, probably in a university setting, among friends who used obscene words as a part of their regular speech. I assume, that like good second language learners, the people I’ve met are simply imitating speech patterns. They’re not trying to be obscene. They are attempting to sound native. They are speaking the way they have heard native speakers speak.

I’ve come to this conclusion after having a few of my Thai friends respond with shock to speech devices I’ve used. I’m simply imitating what I’ve heard, not realizing that in some situations what I’m saying can be quite rude.