Rebecca Roache

Associate Professor in Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London

Rebecca Roache is an associate professor in philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is the author of For F*ck’s Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude, and Fun (Oxford University Press, 2023) and is currently working on a book about indirect communication. She is the host of The Academic Imperfectionist podcast. She lives in Oxfordshire.

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Written by Rebecca Roache

Black and white photo of a woman and man sitting at a kitchen table appearing deep in thought or conversation.

essayVirtues and vices

Awkward silences

What is it about lulls in conversation that make them so very uncomfortable? It has to do with how we connect with each other

Rebecca Roache

A painting of a man in a military uniform, sitting on a chair with a solemn expression, against a dark red background.

essayMood and emotion

The joy of sulk

Full of implicit rules and paradoxes, sulking is a marvellous example of intense communication without clear declaration

Rebecca Roache

A woman in a pink skirt and black headscarf interacting with a group of children in a classroom setting.

essayPhilosophy of language

The death of languages

Endangered languages have sentimental value, it’s true, but are there good philosophical reasons to preserve them?

Rebecca Roache

Three beauty pageant winners. The woman in the centre wears a crown and holds flowers while the others kiss her cheeks holding trophies.

essayEthics

Honestly, it’s fine!

Tight-lipped, frosty and fake, the passive-aggressive person never quite takes the blame. Is this always a bad thing?

Rebecca Roache

An illustration of a person using a roller to paint over a profane word written on a wall, with the letters F and K visible on either side.

essayLanguage and linguistics

Naughty words

What makes swear words so offensive? It’s not their meaning or even their sound. Is language itself a red herring here?

Rebecca Roache

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