Notes and Swearies
Blasphemy and Obscene Language
24/10/2019

Onder de titel "Gateways to the First World War" organiseren het In Flanders Fields Museum en de Universiteit van Kent (School of History) in het academiejaar 2019-2020 een reeks van acht seminars.

De lezingen vinden plaats op donderdagavond en zijn gratis toegankelijk voor alle geïnteresseerden. De voertaal is Engels.

De vier lezingen die doorgaan in Ieper vinden plaats om 19u in de leeszaal van het In Flanders Fields Museum, Sint-Maartensplein 3.
Meer info: kenniscentrum@ieper.be

Notes and Swearies
Blasphemy and Obscene Language in soldiers’ speech and song, 1914-1919
Professor Mark Connelly (University of Kent)



British veterans of the First World War often commented on the obscene language and blasphemy they experienced in the army. This talk will examine the extent to which this reputation was deserved. It will also seek to explore how and why soldiers turned to swearing and obscene language as a way of expressing their feelings. It will ask to what extent the original, pre-war regulars taught their volunteer and conscript comrades to swear, or whether it might even have been the other way round, and whether soldiers managed their language and imagery so suit different audiences.

(Warning: lots of swearing in this talk!)