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5/3/06: Why We Curse

By Doug Fabrizio

Salt Lake City, UT – The moment Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" let "F dash dash dash" fly in front of his father, he knew his life was over. "What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me." Words have power, and indeed, not all words are created equal. From our parents and teachers to the FCC, certain norms are expected. But why do we curse and why is it that sometimes, no other word will do? Doug Fabrizio talks to psychologist Timothy Jay and language expert Richard Lederer.

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