Abstract
Abstract
Expletive insertion entails the insertion of an expletive, such as
fuckin
, inside another word, for example
abso‐fuckin‐lutely
. The only unassailable phonological generalization is that the expletive is inserted before a foot. However, there is also a gradient aspect since the relative acceptability of the resulting form depends on the rhythmic quality of the entire expression. This includes whether the expletive is preceded by a foot, the number of syllables in each foot and whether the initial foot bears an accent. This entry argues that this reflects the expressive function of expletive insertion, which is to create an extended domain for an emphatic rhythmic performance. While expletive insertion has a rule‐governed aspect, its expressiveness derives in part from a deviance from linguistic givens, with attendant processing costs. Expletive insertion thus provides an argument for the importance of norms in expressive language use in addition to rules.