Convention, Idiomaticity and Taboo

Question 1

The word: Fuck

Answer 1

• Early attestations also do not suggest the word was taboo.

Later attestations do suggest a change:
- But she gave Proof that she could f–k

Question 2

The word: Arse

Answer 2

OED describes this as being ‘obsolete in polite use’ – telling us that it was once ok in polite use

Question 3

Main argument for ‘Taboo words’

Answer 3

• A common misunderstanding is that words are taboo
  In fact, it is the concepts themselves that are treated as such.
• The association between the word and the denotatum (i.e.the referent) is what makes the word ‘shocking’

Question 4

Things that are considered taboo:

Answer 4

• Religious Taboos
• Naming at birth
• Speaking of the dead

Question 5

What happens to some taboo concepts?

Answer 5

• Standards and norms change - Social constraints loosen

Question 6

What is the phemism theory?

Answer 6

Allen and Burridge describe three types of phemism:

• Orphophemism: ‘straight talking’
• Euphemism: ‘sweet talking’
• Dysphemism: ‘talking offensively’

Question 7

Examples of phemism?

Answer 7

• Orphophemism: faeces, toilet, menstruate
• Euphemism: poop, loo, have period
• Dysphemism: shit, shithouse

Question 8

What does phemism have to do with directness?

Answer 8

• Depending on the type of phemism, people may have different intent depending on who they’re speaking too.
• Certain phemisms are more socially acceptable.

Question 9

What do Allen and Burridge say about phemisms? (quote)

Answer 9

“…in a middle-class environment, one would normally be expected to use the euphemism or orthophemism…”

Question 10

Ways of doing euphemism?

Answer 10

• Phonetic modification
• Initialisms
• Ambiguity

Question 11

Phonetic Modification example?

Answer 11

• Jeez! (shortening of Jesus)

Question 12

Initialisms examples?

Answer 12

• WTF
• The C-word
• The N - word

Question 13

Ambiguity examples?

Answer 13

• They did it (had intercourse)

- I am unwell (to have ones period)

Question 14

Euphemisms can change until they become orphophemisms and dysphemisms. How?

Answer 14

• Because they become the standard form, where the meaning is too heavily linked to the word.

Question 15

Political correctness theorists quotes:

Answer 15

• Described by Chomsky as: ‘a healthy expansion of moral concern’
• Michael Barnard: ‘a dictatorship of the well-meaning and pure of heart’

Question 16

Whats one argument of political correctness?

Answer 16

• A (well-meaning?) attempt to change the way people use language and in turn people’s attitudes

Question 17

What is some issues raised about dysphemisms?

Answer 17

• White university basketball coach whose mostly black team ‘allowed’ him to use the term nigga in the same way that they did. He lost his job when overhearers complained.
• Objections by many black people saying that users forget the origins and associations of the oppression.

Question 18

Disability taboos: main aspects ?

Answer 18

• Disabled is an orthophemism, replacing previous ones like: special, handicapped, crippled that have become mostly euphemisms.
• The charity ‘Scope’ was founded as the National Spastics Society - changed due to societies attitude towards the word as it was commonly used as an insult.

Question 19

Disability taboos: when did the charity ‘Scope’ change it’s name?

Answer 19

1994

Question 20

Why is the ‘role of context,’ important?

Answer 20

For example:

- In a medical context, euphemism is avoided

Question 21

What main theorists can be quoted when describing what a taboo is?

Answer 21

Andersson and Trudgill

Question 22

What does Andersson and Trudgill say about Taboo ? (quote)

Answer 22

‘Taboo is used to express strong emotions and attitudes’

Question 23

INCLUDE FACE THEORY ACT - WHOS IT BY?

Answer 23

Brown and Levison