Seattle narrowly avoided a tornado and 2-inch hail. If it had happened, we’d probably be using some strong language. That’s why in this issue; we’re tackling the controversial topic of swear words.

Personally, I don’t like swear words and rarely use them. Maybe only when I hit my finger with a hammer because it reduces pain – a scientifically proven fact.

However, when I travel to Poland or talk to my Polish friends, I hear swear words everywhere: in all sorts of conversations, on television, even in stand-up comedy shows. I always wonder why? Do they make our conversations better? Do they make us sound more confident?

The answers are in the short story below. Enjoy.

Go to the Seattle Polish Film Festival website and click on the button “Buy 2925 Early Bird Pass”.

First of all, I want to point out that vulgarisms are not words I am fond of. On the contrary, I dislike hearing and using them. They are intense and jarring. Swear words are not neutral; therefore, they cannot be used as meaningless sentence fillers or decorative additions to make speech sound more expressive. My professor, Jan Miodek, used to say that excessive swearing is a sign of linguistic poverty—language offers plenty of ways to express emotions without resorting to vulgarity. Swear words have their place, but they should remain silent until they are truly needed.

We all faced this decision once when we left Poland and settled in Seattle. For many, leaving home is a dramatic and seemingly impossible choice. We did it, so we know firsthand how hard it is. Yet, because we’ve done it once, and sometimes many times, it’s not frightening anymore. After a while in one place, we start thinking that maybe it’s time to move again.