A new Brazilian book reveals that swearing strengthens bonds, eases tension, and even expresses affection. Launching April 29 from Editora Contexto.
Swearing has long been dismissed as a sign of poor vocabulary or bad manners. But linguistics tells a far more nuanced story — one that the new book “Português sem censura” (Portuguese Uncensored) explores with scientific rigor and a healthy dose of humor.
A linguistic take on taboo language
The book is authored by professors Renato Miguel Basso, from the Department of Letters at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), and Luisandro Mendes de Souza, from the Department of Languages and Linguistics at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). The 160-page volume launches on April 29 through Editora Contexto.
The authors open with a bold claim: swearing is a constitutive part of human nature. Profanity exists across every language in the world and frequently becomes embedded in a language’s grammar itself. Far from being mere rudeness, these expressions serve precise communicative functions.
Beyond shock value
Basso and Souza identify four core roles that swear words play in human interaction: strengthening social bonds, intensifying meaning, relieving tension, and expressing affection. In other words, a curse word shared between friends can simultaneously signal intimacy and a sense of belonging.
The book is written in an accessible, witty style without sacrificing academic depth. The authors explain that the project grew from “the frequency of use and structures involving swear words, and also to show how the scientific tools of linguistic analysis can reveal that the way swear words work is far richer than simply condemning them as the language of foul-mouthed people.”
The idea came from the frequency of use and structures involving swear words, and also to show how the scientific tools of linguistic analysis can reveal that the way swear words work is far richer than simply condemning them as the language of foul-mouthed people.
Renato Miguel Basso and Luisandro Mendes de Souza, authors of “Português sem censura”
Backed by major research funding
The work is the result of multiple research projects funded at different stages by Fapesp, Capes, and CNPq — three of Brazil’s leading scientific funding bodies. In addition to the print edition, the book will be available digitally through the Pearson virtual library.
For more information, contact professor Renato Miguel Basso directly at rmbasso@ufscar.br.
Event Info
- Book: Português sem censura (Portuguese Uncensored)
- Authors: Renato Miguel Basso (UFSCar) and Luisandro Mendes de Souza (UFPR)
- Publisher: Editora Contexto
- Launch date: April 29, 2026
- Pages: 160
- Print edition: available at Editora Contexto’s website — https://www.editoracontexto.com.br/portugues-sem-censura
- Digital edition: Pearson virtual library
- Contact: rmbasso@ufscar.br
