A Thematic Analysis of Linguistic Taboos and Their Corresponding Euphemistic Expressions in Oromo
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Date
2017-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study identifies and describes the linguistic taboos and their corresponding
euphemistic expressions among the Oromo of Oromia Regional State. To conduct the
study, qualitative method was employed. The main instruments of data collection were
focus group discussion, unstructured interview, observation and introspective method. The
framework of the study is a pragmatic approach to euphemism and taboo which mainly
includes euphemism to context of situation, speech act theory, face, and politeness theory.
The data were analyzed and interpreted based on the framework. The findings of the study
revealed that in daily communication, the Oromo societies of the research areas are highly
intertwined with social taboos. They prohibit uttering taboo words or expressions related
to death, disease, woman (pregnancy, menstruation, delivery and virginity), sexual organs,
sexual acts, some normal and impaired body parts, excretion and names related to
marriage relationship. These tabooed subjects are categorized into: context-specific and
generally unmentionable taboos. Context-specific includes non-taboo words and words
related to the hearer’s physical or social defect. Non-taboo words are words which have
neutral meaning in everyday speech and have got tabooed inference in specific-context.
Taboos related to the hearer’s physical or social defects are any words with connotations
to the hearer representing his/her physical or social defect. Mentioning taboo terms related
to physical impairments and diseases are categorized under this topic. General taboos are
unmentionable words which are absolutely forbidden words. Taboos related to death,
sexual organs, sexual acts, excretion and name of father-/mother-in laws are categorized
under this section. Whatever taboo terms are, the Oromo societies of the study areas use
euphemistic expressions to mild, roundabout, indirect, polite, less distasteful, inoffensive,
agreeable, tactful, less explicit, to make taboo words comparatively favorable meaning or
less unpleasant association whereas the substituted taboo words/expressions are
characterized as harsh, blunt, direct, distasteful, painful, unpleasant, indelicate, offensive,
or frightening. The Oromo of study areas avoid uttering these taboo expressions to save
someone’s face loss through euphemistic expressions and make the speaker or hearer free
from any embarrassment or feeling of shock. To do this, they use euphemistic expression
strategies like metaphor, metonymic, circumlocution, synecdoche, hyperbolic,
understatement, antonymic, onomatopoeia and borrowing. The society of the study areas
use distinctive euphemistic expressions for a single tabooed term except some expressions
they use in common. In fact, the usage of linguistic taboos and euphemistic expressions are
determined by differences of age, gender, relationship, geographical location, context of
use and the like. Among the areas this study has been undertaken, taboo words and
euphemistic expressions may be reflected as taboo words/euphemisms which are similarly
taboo/euphemistic expression in all research areas, taboo words/euphemistic expressions
which have meaning extension, taboo words/euphemistic expressions which are
taboo/euphemism in one of the research site, and not known or has another meaning in
other sites of the study. Finally, to minimize problems encountered by taboo words and
euphemism expressions, further research must be conducted by concerned bodies.
Keywords: linguistic taboos, euphemism, euphemism strategy, pragmatic approach,
negative connotation, transference of meaning.
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Keywords
linguistic taboos, euphemism, euphemism strategy, pragmatic approach, negative connotation, transference of meaning