Fact Check: "Australians are the third-most vulgar online, swearing 22 times per 100,000 words."
What We Know
Recent research conducted by the University of Queensland analyzed over 1.7 billion words of online content from 20 English-speaking countries to study the use of vulgar language. The findings revealed that Australians rank third in terms of swearing frequency online, with an average of 22 vulgarities per 100,000 words. This places them behind Americans, who swear 36 times, and the British, who do so 25 times per 100,000 words (source-1, source-4).
The study utilized a comprehensive database that included various forms of online content, excluding social media, to ensure a more accurate representation of swearing patterns. It focused on 597 vulgar words, including variants and misspellings, to quantify the frequency of swearing (source-2, source-6).
Analysis
The claim that Australians are the third-most vulgar online, swearing 22 times per 100,000 words, is supported by robust data from a large-scale linguistic study. The methodology involved analyzing a significant volume of text across multiple English-speaking countries, which lends credibility to the findings. The researchers, Dr. Martin Schweinberger and Professor Kate Burridge, are affiliated with reputable institutions, enhancing the reliability of the study (source-1, source-7).
The study’s exclusion of social media content is noteworthy, as it aims to provide a clearer picture of swearing in more formal online contexts. This decision, while limiting the scope of the analysis, helps to focus on structured language use rather than the often chaotic nature of social media interactions (source-4).
Furthermore, the cultural context provided by the researchers suggests that while Australians may swear less frequently in written form compared to Americans and Brits, they still maintain a rich tradition of vulgarity in their language, which is often reflected in their cultural expressions (source-1, source-8).
Conclusion
The claim that Australians are the third-most vulgar online, swearing 22 times per 100,000 words, is True. The data from the University of Queensland's extensive study supports this assertion, placing Australians behind only Americans and the British in terms of online swearing frequency. The research methodology and the credibility of the researchers further validate the findings.
Sources
- Global study finds Australians are third most prolific swearers
- Who swears the most online: the Australians, British or Americans?
- Kybernetická bezpečnosť - slovensko.sk
- Americans more vulgar online than Brits, Aussies — study
- 69/2018 Z.z. - Zákon o kybernetickej bezpečnosti a o zmene a …
- Global study finds Australians are third most prolific swearers - Phys.org
- Bronze for Aussies in extensive study of world's online swearing
- How Swearing Varies Across Cultures: Americans, Brits, and Australians ...
