When news broke that Jay-Z was to remove the "B word" from his work, it sparked a hefty debate on the meaning of swear words and when to use them.

Professor Jack Chambers of linguistics spoke with The Globe and Mail, saying he believes the "B word" isn't particularly "dirty in relative terms right now," but through behaviour, because we have become desensitized.

"With the tremendous repetition it loses its sting and we just get inured to it," he said.

• Read more at the Globe and Mail