Rude Britannia

<p>Media commentators have noted a rising public tolerance to the use of rude or offensive words in modern English. John Lydon’s obscene outburst on 'I’m a Celebrity…' only provoked a handful of complaints – a muted reaction compared to the furore following his use of the f-word on television twenty-eight years earlier. </p><p>This timely and authoritative exploration of rudeness in modern English draws together experts from the academic world and the media – journalists linguists lexicographers and literary critics – and argues that rudeness is an important cultural phenomenon. Tightly edited with clear accessibly written pieces the essays look at rudeness in:</p><ul> <li>the media</li> <li>literature</li> <li>football chants</li> <li>street culture</li> <li>seaside postcards.</li> </ul><p>With contributions from media figures including Tom Paulin and leading media-friendly linguists Deborah Cameron and Lynda Mugglestone <em>Rude Britannia</em> raises concerns about linguistic and social codes standards of decency what is considered taboo in the public realm constructions of bawdy class race power and British identity. </p>