Italy’s highest court, the Cassazione, ruled on Thursday that Italians cannot use the equivalent of the f-word to their neighbours.
In doing so, the Court amended a ruling it famously made in 2007, when it declared that the word had entered common language and therefore its use was no longer a crime. On that occasion the defendant was a councillor from Abruzzo who had used the word during a meeting with the Mayor of his town.
A later ruling from the Court in 2007 stipulated that bosses cannot accuse their employees of “doing f… all”. Then, in 2008 it ruled – probably in empathy - that mayors can use the word when frustrated with contractors.
Later the Court decided that bosses cannot use the word at all to reprimand staff but that staff are justified in saying, “Who the f… do you think you are?” to a boss when reprimanded, Ansa reports.
When it comes to neighbours, however, honour enters the fray, according to judges who last week heard the case of an Ancona man who had used the word in a parking dispute with a neighbour. They ruled that if the word is used to a neighbour, it is a slur on his or her honour and that citizens must treat their neighbours with respect so that living near to one another remains possible.
Honour remains an important concept in Italy.
What’s your view on swearing? Are there rules where you are?
