Reflections from SwiSca9, a conference on swearing hosted at the University of Helsinki

The LAIF project, in conjunction with the University of Helsinki, hosted the SwiSca9 symposium from January 21-22, 2025. The Swearing in Scandinavia (SwiSca) network brings together scholars from Scandinavia and beyond who conduct multidisciplinary research on swearing. Founded by a group of Nordic scholars in 2010, the network now includes representatives from all of the Nordic countries, as well as the US, the UK, and elsewhere in Europe. SwiSca aims to position the Nordics as a hub for innovative swearing studies, promoting collaboration through regular symposia and expanding its international reach. 

This year, the symposium theme was Raising Hel!, named in part for the host city of Helsinki, but also because we were interested in scientific presentations about how children and people in general are introduced to swearing practices. Indeed, several of the symposium’s presenters addressed precisely this theme. For example, in an online presentation, Austrian researcher Sandra Grübler shared findings on innovative research methods about how adults perceive and use taboo words in the presence of children.  

Day 1 at SwiSca9 presentation by Helmi Riihonen “From piru to vittu: Finnish swearing from the 1940s to the present day” (Photo: Kayleigh Karinen)

Dr. Karyn Stapleton (Ulster University), a noted figure on scientific research on swearing, offered a keynote address at the beginning of the symposium. Titled “Multilingual Swearing: Taboo, emotion and offence in another language,” Dr. Stapleton’s talk zeroed in on the relationship of censorship and taboo language, highlighting how formal regulations on strong language interacts with changes in how the public uses and perceives swearing.  SwiSca9 featured an optimal mix of languages, professional backgrounds, and career stages. The atmosphere was warm and encouraging, with plenty of interest in how our respective fields and methodologies offer opportunities for overlap and collaboration.   

Three conference highlights 

1) Conference dinner at Helsinki restaurant Manala “The Underworld.”   

SwiSca attendees enjoying dinner at Manala in Helsinki after the conference (Photo: Kayleigh Karinen)

2) Public event at Nordic Culture Point: Swearing in the Nordics: Contemporary Trends, English and Media. The event featured a keynote talk from SwiSca collaborator Ulrikke Rindal (University of Oslo) on youth language. Professor Rindal discussed various language attitudes observed among children based on her ongoing research, for example the prevalent perception that using a British accent can be perceived as pretentious—or “try hard.”  

Full house for the keynote and panel discussion at Nordic Culture Point (Photo: Kayleigh Karinen)

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion from other SwiSca members, chaired by Jenny Sylvin. The fully packed event was streamed for a live audience, with a recording of the event available here. There were many thought-provoking take-away messages from the panel. For example, Professor Kristy Beers Fägersten (Södertorn University), emphasized that using English swear words as borrowings in Scandinavian languages can serve to preserve and even enhance the intensity and significance of swear words in local languages. Her remarks echoed a central theme from the keynote: language is dynamic and continually evolving. Refer to the article recently published by HBL, a Swedish-speaking newspaper in Finland, featuring an interview with Professor Beers Fägersten about swearing.  

Panel discussion at the Nordic Culture Point. Left to right: Jenny Sylvin, Elizabeth Peterson, Helga Hilmisdottir, Kristy Beers Fägersten (Photo: Nick Washmuth)

3) A highlight of the event was a visit from illustrator/artist Milla Paloniemi, who delighted guests with original drawings of her famous “swearing hedgehog” figure, individualized as take-home gifts with the guest’s name and favorite swear word.   

Milla Paloniemi before the event (Photo: Milla Paloniemi)

Milla Paloniemi drawing cartoon (Photo: Kayleigh Karinen)

Check out Milla's social media accounts Instagram: Kiiroilevasiilivirallinen Facebook: Kiiroileva siili - viralliinen sivu

After one last dinner together, followed by a pub visit, it was already time to say goodbye. We look forward to seeing each other again at SwiSca10 in Denmark! If you want to join the SwiSca mailing list, please contact Elizabeth Peterson (elizabeth.l.peterson@jyu.fi) or Kristy Beers Fägersten (kristy.beers.fagersten@sh.se).  Lastly, check out the conference re-cap reel by Kayleigh Karinen posted on the LAIF (Language Awareness and Ideologies in Finland) project's account. Kiitos (thank you) from the Helsinki SwiSca9 conference team!