Words express emotions, ideas and intentions, and the use of certain words being an offence seems contrary to the concept of freedom of expression. It is easily argued that this is to ensure decency and order in society, given that bad words are often used to abuse, accuse, intimidate and threaten others. Moreover, some of these words quite often provoke not only angry, but violent reactions.
But these forbidden expressions are also used for exclamation and punctuation in everyday conversations. There are many children who are bred and brought up in socio-economic conditions where bad words are used routinely by their parents and other adults.
Children live what they learn, and by age two, many become quite fluent in the vernacular. This is like a first language, which becomes ingrained. Throughout life, in moments of heightened emotion, sheer joy, anger or frustration, they naturally resort to these forbidden expressions.
Criminalising certain expressions definitely puts those persons at a great social disadvantage.