I know we're probably a bit closeted here on the Island and we live in a "nice" area, but I have heard almost no swearing socially or professionally. It's very rare for someone to swear within my hearing anyway. No idea what goes on behind my back; don't really care!

Bawbag goes down well at my work I have to admit,w*nkstain had one of the Irish boys in stitches a couple of nights ago.

I find Canadian adults are less likely to swear in public places where children might be present, whereas British adults don't give a flying four x.

I find swearing a lot more common back in the UK. I have had to try to tone down the swearing since being here.

Although you can use some of the UK swear words and people find them funny.

That's exactly how I feel about the word "douchebag" - is it even a swearword?

Yep thats true for the UK where people swear a lot even in professional meetings, but in my experience so far thats not so much of a case in Canada unless you are with field construction staff.

You need to watch your mouth mate

Swearing is more of a class indicator in Canada than it is in Britain.

Frigging and freaking are said with such venom it may as well be a full ****ing.

That's an odd statement, does Canada have class distinctions?

Yes it does. I'm recycling it from a similar discussion I had on the Ozzie forum some time back. Broadly, there's a blue collar - white collar distinction, and the former is far more likely to swear than the latter. Ne c'est pas?

But you think that swearing is more class-based in Canada than the UK? Maybe I just mix in the wrong circles because nearly everyone I know swears. I was at a speech given by Souvy's old mate, Gen. Adm. Sir Rick (Your Majesty) Hillier, Lord of The Rock and All Canada, and even he was asked to tone the language down a bit.

working for a french canadian company ..i find i can now swear in french and sometimes they have problems with my broad scots accent they pick up the sweary words pretty good.

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/s...cond-language/

I don't speak German but I could always tell when my grandma was swearing in it.

A chap I worked with used "frick" a lot but when really riled he would substitute the "ri" with a "u". Another calls everything a "hoowa" instead of whore and I do mean everything. Swearing a lot in my experience isn't going to be an issue.