Das unanständige Lexikon

The taboo words of the German language are powerful words: Those who use them know that they achieve a significant impact. Comedians use them as fanfare blasts to jolt the audience out of lethargy, while writers rely on their stirring effect. Authors Robert Sedlaczek and Christoph Winder, two recognized language experts, are not concerned with restoring the "honor" of these naughty words from the realms of sex and excrement. Instead, they aim to document the great regional diversity, clarify how these words originated, and what history they carry like a backpack. Citations from folk songs, tongue twisters, cabaret programs, internet sources, newspapers, and literary works—from Goethe to Brecht, Elfriede Jelinek, and Charlotte Roche—demonstrate that the field of indecent words is exceedingly diverse.