Some participants who preferred swearing in Persian, mainly because they reported feeling more comfortable in their first language and LX cannot genuinely express their true feelings. All female participants showed hesitation in using swearwords in general. Some participants chose to emphasize the effectiveness of Persian swearwords in expressing anger, a recurring theme. Participant 8 (18, male) had only lived 4 years outside Iran, feels more
language. His choice to use Persian swearwords was a sign of his need to maintain connection with his heritage culture and language considering his short period of time of stay outside Iran, he still feel more attached to his Persian culture and language:
because it is my mother tongue and I am more used to it. It is [a] matter of ease of use and more awareness in context, but I think the more I live outside Iran, I feel more comfortable using English swearwords. It is also depending on the situation. If I am with my Persians [sic] friends I swear in Persian and if I am with non-Persian speaking friends I swear in English.
Also, participant 3 (31, female) emphasized that she has lived most of her life in Iran, not in the UK, and therefore it is more natural to swear in Persian:
before answering this question, I should clarify that I have been living in the UK for six years, before that I have spent my whole life in Iran. I think, generally speaking, I don’t swear a lot. If I swear, I swear in Persian because it is my first language. Swearing in Persian is easier and comes to my mind faster. However, when I spend more time with my English speaking friends, it feels that some English swearwords seem easier or more natural to use than Persian ones!
Participant 5 (37, male) emphasized the importance of networks of interlocutors:
yes I swear more in Persian. I think it is probably because I am mostly in touch with Persian-speaking people with whom I feel more comfortable to use swearwords, what I mean is I have strong cultural connection with my first language which is Persian. Still, when I have [a] non-Persian audience, I will naturally shift to English swears. In this latter setting, though, I find myself to be more careful with the type of swearwords as well, specially to avoid unwanted offense due to cultural unfamiliarity with certain type of swearwords.
Participant 6 (49, female) had only lived 2 years outside Iran and had less exposure to English language and culture and has not been immersed in the language and culture yet. She admitted refraining from participating in topics which are based on emotional expressions due to her lack of lexical competence in communicating delicate emotional intentions:
I definitely prefer Persian since it is my mother language, and [I am] more familiar with my culture, [what] emotions and feeling that I can express in such a situation. Also, I am aware of the connotation attached to Persian swearwords, therefore I can use them. But, I never use very bad swearwords and rarely swear. I am always very careful with the type of swearwords I use. (…) in English, I know, for example, [that] a word or phrase is a swearword but I still don’t have the linguistic competence to differentiate the level of offensiveness; therefore, I avoid using English swearwords.
Participant 9 (23, male), like the other participants, claimed that “I use Persian swearwords for
more severe responses and feel English swearwords as comfortably casual” [sic].
In summary, several factors were mentioned by participants who preferred to swear in Persian. They gave the fact that Persian is their first language and were aware of the
offensiveness and the meaning of the swearwords as a reason, and either they scored high in the heritage scale or had constant contact with Persian community and less contact with English speakers.
4.3.3.1 Persian swearwords’ effectiveness to express anger. Participants 6, 9, and 11 all had higher scores in the heritage value, and all claimed that by swearing in Persian they could better express their anger. For them, Persian swearwords were more effective in expressing their anger compared to English ones. Also, they were more familiar with the norms in Persian. Participant 6 (49, female) said that:
in my opinion, the way we express our feelings usually depends on our culture which has been formed from our past experiences, beliefs and values and our mother language has an influential effect on our feeling so we can ventilate ourselves on our own mother language better [sic].
Participant 9 (23, male) also claimed that:
for expressing anger, Persian has more depth and English reserves swearwords for casual use […] I feel that I can express my anger effectively in Persian and that Persian swearwords feel stronger, I can use them appropriately, besides Persian is my first language.
Participant 11 (22, male) stated that regardless of the language of his interlocutor, he swears in Persian because it is his first language:
Persian is better and helps you to express your anger better and even when I am so emotional I swear in Persian regardless of the language known to the person whom I am speaking with. I just start yelling in Persian and say whatever Persian swearwords comes to my mind! [sic].
Participant 5 (37, male) was the only one who was not so sure, saying that:
I don’t know, I don’t think swearing in English allow[s] me to express my anger better but again if someone lives in an English country and [has] contact with English
speaker[s] frequently, I think it feels better to swear in English, for my case I am mostly in touch with Persian speaking people.
In general, these participants all emphasized the importance of knowing their first language and being familiar with all its norms and values. Furthermore, having larger
networks of Persian interlocutors and constantly being in contact with Persian speakers made them feel more comfortable expressing their anger effectively in Persian.