creedelambard:
That's another reason Esperanto doesn't have quite as many pejoratives and insults as, say, English - it doesn't have the tradition of borrowing from other languages that English does (Rule 15 notwithstanding). For the most part they get made up from words that already exist, like most of the ones in "Fek' al Esperanto".

a) But most English pejoratives come from Old Saxon, which is as unborrowed as it gets. The odd Yiddishism is an exception, and not universal among English-speakers in any case.

b) But virtually all the Esperanto vocabulary was "borrowed" originally, wasn't it? Zamenhof got all of it from various European roots.

The idea that borrowing is relevant here is a bit of a red herring, except that in in borrowing the K-word from Italian (for example) to some extent the vulgarity of the word in its original language may be imported.

However this is unlikely to be felt by speakers not familiar with Italian.

I maintain that the issue is one of socio-linguistics.

Bruso:a) But most English pejoratives come from Old Saxon, which is as unborrowed as it gets. The odd Yiddishism is an exception, and not universal among English-speakers in any case.

b) But virtually all the Esperanto vocabulary was "borrowed" originally, wasn't it? Zamenhof got all of it from various European roots.

a) No, Yiddish isn't universal among English speakers. I don't think I said it was, but here in the US you do hear Yiddishisms, although more so in some parts of the country than others.

b) Of course, but since then? Not so much.

sudanglo:Thanks for the reading suggestion Denis.

However despite protestations to the contrary I still think that there is an issue here.

In any language, how do words acquire taboo status - how does certain language come to be seen as unrefined?

To me Esperanto is neutral in more senses than one. It still seems to me to have a Victorian gentility.

Without an underclass, I don't see the mechanism by which it can become truly colourful.

Let's compare things that can be compared. Esperanto is a secoond language to virtually every of its speakers. How do words acquire taboo status in one's second language?

English was the first foreign language I learnt. For me, the history of how certain words came to be seen as unrefined wasn't of any help. I just had to learn that they were because I was told so. But after a while, I had read/heard them in so many meaningful contexts that their meaning ceased to be theoretical. They became emotionally real to me.

I guess you could say the same thing about Esperanto words. Vulgarity and offensiveness aren't theoretical properties of such and such word. After sufficient exposure, your mind tends to connect and even intermingle them together in an emotional, spontaneous way. At least that's how it works for me.

Also, I have to confess that despite my trying hard to see things from your perspective, I fail to detect any Victorian gentility in
"fikiĝu",
"Esperantio, jen dua ŝanco por malvenkemuloj fikkapti piĉojn"
or "Metu vian verdan flagon kaj verdan stelon en vian dikan merdan pugon".

I guess this is a very subjective issue.

If/when you want to insult someone, consult this

pdenisowski:. perhaps you should read this or this Lernu thread - some of the more closed-minded, insulting, and hostile environments I've ever seen in any language. A number of the postings almost certainly violate Lernu's terms of service.

May I remind you that you yourself took part in those discussions. I take it that you don't find yourself very 'closed-minded' and 'insulting', but consider that others may beg to differ.

salutnomo:I am a Native English speaker, but I think Spanish should be the international language. It has the most universal appeal to every class of people. Currently, more people in the world speak Spanish than English. Only Chinese has more speakers than Spanish. Esperanto may be too cultish for normal people. It falls in line with all kinds of extreme idealogoies, etc, which dont really groove with normal people. Esperanto would have to come down from the lofty heights and try to be more like Spanish.

So we all non-spaniards will have to devote another 15 years of hard learning to be internationally recognized, where Esperanto makes us to do so for only a year. A bright plan. I prefer to stick with English.

It's best not to respond to someone who is clearly trolling, x1004.

x1004:

salutnomo:I am a Native English speaker, but I think Spanish should be the international language. It has the most universal appeal to every class of people. Currently, more people in the world speak Spanish than English. Only Chinese has more speakers than Spanish. Esperanto may be too cultish for normal people. It falls in line with all kinds of extreme idealogoies, etc, which dont really groove with normal people. Esperanto would have to come down from the lofty heights and try to be more like Spanish.

So we all non-spaniards will have to devote another 15 years of hard learning to be internationally recognized, where Esperanto makes us to do so for only a year. A bright plan. I prefer to stick with English.

LMAO! Love this one!

InsaneInter:

x1004:

salutnomo:I am a Native English speaker, but I think Spanish should be the international language. It has the most universal appeal to every class of people. Currently, more people in the world speak Spanish than English. Only Chinese has more speakers than Spanish. Esperanto may be too cultish for normal people. It falls in line with all kinds of extreme idealogoies, etc, which dont really groove with normal people. Esperanto would have to come down from the lofty heights and try to be more like Spanish.

So we all non-spaniards will have to devote another 15 years of hard learning to be internationally recognized, where Esperanto makes us to do so for only a year. A bright plan. I prefer to stick with English.

LMAO! Love this one!

I have nothing against English or Spanish. I like foreign languages a lot and it happens I know Spanish a little. It is a beautiful language, but also a hard one, Spanish grammar can be a nightmare to study and master. For those (like me) who love foreign languages it is OK, but for an average learner it is very bad news, because it means many years of sacrifice. Not every one has enough time to learn difficult languages, especially when he "must break his back to earn his day of leisure" which is true in most countries.