Discussion keeps the world turning.
This is Roundtable.
You're listening to Roundtable.
I'm Niu Honglin, joined by Steve and Lai Ming.
If you've ever overheard Gen Z talk, whether on a campus lawn,
a group chat, or a gaming stream, you may notice something surprising.
The words that used to be considered the peak of vulgarity barely register anymore.
But say something that targets someone's race, gender, or ability,
that's where the red line is drawn, instantly and firmly.
Clearly, there is a new hierarchy of what counts as bad language,
and it says more about society than about sentences.
New linguistic research suggests that the boundaries of taboo language are shifting dramatically among younger generations,
while classic profanities have lost much of their sting.
Words that determine identity groups have become the most socially unacceptable forms of expression.
So please enlighten me.
What are now considered okay and what are not?
a changing of the times.
And by the way, this chat will be focused on western language,
English language culture for at least a part of it, although I do want to ask about Chinese as well.
But yeah, what they found from their research is that your traditional swear words or curse words,