OBSCENITIES IN VERBAL DUELS – FIGHTING WITH WORDS
(BASED ON SCOTTISH AND GEORGIAN VERBAL DUELLING RHYMES)

Thea Shavladze
Assoc. Prof., Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia, t.shavladze@gmail.com

Abstract

Verbal dueling is widespread all over the world (Greece, Italy, Arabia, Japan, Turkey, etc.). We may find examples of verbal dueling in the folklore of many cultures (Italian Contrasto, Puerto Rican Relajo, Georgian Kapiaoba - Leksaoba, English and Scottish Flyting, Afro-American The dozens, etc.). Scientific literature on verbal duels of different cultures is large and complex (A. Dundes, R. Abrahams, J. Leach, M. Glazer, V. Pagliai, D. Schwebel, E. Koch, S. Sowayan). Some of the scholars aim at studying one particular type of verbal battle, typical to one culture only, others compare and contradict versions of these contests. Scientists have studied the topic of verbal aggressiveness in poetic duels, have drawn parallels between verbal duels and rap battles, investigated the connections between oral traditions and literary works.
The aim of the article is to compare two different types of verbal duels (kapiaoba / leksaoba and flyting) of two different cultures – Scottish and Georgian and to see similarities and differences between these traditions, to examine their lexical and stylistic value. More precisely the goal of the author is to scrutinize the texts of oral verbal duels and study the examples of insults that comprise obscenities and profanities. 
The analysis revealed that Flyting and Kapiaoba are ritualized forms of exchanging insults, almost amounting to a competition. Despite the harsh and elaborate exchange of insults, and violent language, they are intended as a jovial form of entertainment. They have more similarities than differences. Similarities are found in dramatic situation, structure, content. The insulting word types coincide with each other: 1) dirty words (words referring to sex and excretion); 2) blasphemy and profanity; 3) animal abuse in which a human being is equated with an animal). Differences between kapias and flytings are in setting (Kapias – at wedding parties, birthday parties; flyting as an activity is solely confined to the court) and the degree of threats and insulting words. Flytings are more aggressive than kapias. Flyters use a collection of foul and abusive epithets in succession. They directly address their opponents and use a long list of abusive compound words and adjectives. In Kapias duelists are more reserved in using harsh words and try to soften offensive words with euphemistic ones. The language used by Georgian duelists is metaphorical; implicit meaning reside in most of the words and is less abusive.

Keywords: verbal duel, Kapiaoba, Flyting, obscenities, folklore, rhyme.