I thought linguistic peculiarities in terms of swear words would be an appropriate topic for starters.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-delightful-perversity-of-quebecs-catholic-swears?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=atlas-page

Once you’ve read the attached link to an analysis of Canadian swear words involving the catholic church, you’ll understand my choice of photographs.  Sit on these benches and contemplate linguistic whims…..

Of course none of these church benches were photographed in Canada.

Or the US, for that matter.

I saw them in Italy, France, Germany and Austria.  Each of these countries has their own arsenal of swear words. But the functions of swear words are universal.  “We tend to think of swear words as one entity, but they actually serve several distinct functions. Steven Pinker, in The Stuff of Thought, lists five different ways we can swear: “descriptively (Let’s fuck), idiomatically (It’s fucked up), abusively (Fuck you…!), emphatically (This is fucking amazing), and cathartically (Fuck!!!).” None of these functions require swearwords.”

Here is a more detailed overview: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150306-how-to-swear-around-the-world

In any case, too much swearing around my house these days when I read the news…..