A Cross-Cultural Historical Analysis of the Sociolinguistic and Religious Dimensions of Cursing

Abstract

This article explores the sociolinguistic and religious dimensions of cursing as a universal linguistic phenomenon that transcends time, culture, and faith. Drawing upon examples from ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Slavic, Turkic, Islamic, Russian, and English traditions, the study investigates how curses have functioned as performative speech acts that regulate morality, express emotion, and symbolize divine or social justice. The research applies qualitative discourse analysis to historical texts, religious scriptures, and oral folklore, examining both the semantic content and pragmatic functions of curses such as “May your hand break” (O‘g‘irlagan qo‘ling sinsin), “God damn you,” and “May the devil take you” (Chert tebya poberi). Findings indicate that cursing has evolved from sacred ritual into a moral and expressive act - shifting from divine sanction to social protest while preserving its performative power. By integrating Goffman’s Face Theory, Bourdieu’s linguistic capital, and Butler’s performativity, the study concludes that curses act as moral technologies of speech: they embody social authority, emotional truth, and linguistic resistance. Thus, cursing serves as an enduring means through which human beings negotiate justice, guilt, and power through the spoken word.