Sure, there are related non slur words, but those aren’t applied to people. “To retard” is a verb, not an adjective or noun. “retardent” is an adjective, but describes the action of soemething, not a quality. Using the noun or past tense adjective is the slur.
You’re right, that’s why I started with “AKTHUALLY”. I knew I was being pedantic and wanted to signal that. Nevertheless, I find it interesting that the two uses of the word share the same origin.
And language doesn’t have logic.
I can dream okay? Things make so much more sense when people follow logic. “Fuck” shouldn’t be considered a curse because it isn’t cursing anyone.
Profanity?
Sure I guess.
A curse?
No, dumbass (not you, I’m referring to an imaginary individual), it’s not cursing anyone you fucko.
Why is blue, “blue”?
Because it had to be called something.
I know that you were looking for examples of language being illogical, but I wanna point out that while “fuck” is a good example, “blue” not so much. “Blue” is consistent with the internal logic of English (it’s a name given to an otherwise unnamed color), but “fuck” being defined as a curse word isn’t consistent with English’s internal logic.
To curse something is to invoke some kind of metaphysical or supernatural power against someone as a form of punishment^1. Last I checked, there isn’t a god, demon, angel, or other religious entity called, “fuck”, “fucko”, “fuckhead” or any other variation, and as such, it shouldn’t be considered a curse word. Nor can “fuck” be considered a form of curse by itself. “Get fucked” could be considered a curse, but “fuck” by itself shouldn’t be viewed as a curse.
Could it be considered profane? Sure, I guess, but I feel like that’d be watering down the definition of profane/profanity. However, you are correct it pointing out that it doesn’t follow logic to label it a curse word.
In the future, an alternative to “blue” might be to point out read, read, red. Read and read are pronounced differently, but spelled the same. Read and red are pronounced the same, but spelled differently.
^1 there’s an alternate definition for “curse” which goes:
“a coarse or blasphemous word or phrase used to express anger or other strong emotion.”
However, that’s extremely broad, as blaspheme refers to
“the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.”
And profane?
“relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious.”