What makes a word profane? Why are my swear words different from my parents'? If swearing is so bad, why do we do it? And what can a culture's swear words tell us about the things they hold taboo? Today's guest is Dr. Benjamin K. Bergen, professor of cognitive science at UC San Diego and author of the book "What the F: What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves." Click here to see citations for this episode! Follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts

Follow and review on Podchaser

Suggest a taboo topic via ashley@tabooscience.show

Visit tabooscience.show for more

Taboo Science is written and produced by Ashley Hamer. Theme music by Danny Lopatka of DLC Music.