Taboo Words- What is taboo words?

 

Taboo Words

Taboo words are the group of words, that are generally considered inappropriate in a certain context. 

Kissing is a social taboo. We are not supposed to kiss our partner in a public place. Kissing our partner within the house, not taboo, kissing our kid in a public place, not taboo. Kissing two adults in the public is taboo. Kissing two adults in an American public place, not taboo. What does it mean? It means that words are not taboo if we use appropriate places, times, and situations. The taboos of a word are determined by the context, situation, and culture.

Just like social taboos, there are certain words that we are not supposed to use in a certain context. For Example, the word "died" cannot use in every context. Many words exist in the dictionary to present the death of a person based on the position that he occupies, and the nature of death. For example.

Arun.     :   I haven't seen Sreelal for the last two years. What happened to him?

Raheem:   He is dead!! He died just before Christmas.

Here in the conversation Look at the term "dead"  You may feel a lack of appropriateness, politeness, and courtesy. Look at another example.

Arun      :  I haven't seen Sreelal for the last two years. What happened to him?

Raheem:  He is no more now. He passed away just before the    Christmas          

  

This is the correct usage to present the death of a person. Take another example. 

"The Battery of the mobile might be dead. Replace the battery from your friend's shop".

Now you look at the word "dead", you don't feel inappropriateness. Same word but in a different context. What does it mean that taboos are determined by the context like situation, place, time, etc. Using the word "dead" in the case of human, not an offensive act, but the audience realize our poor sense of appropriateness and make fun of us.

If we move to the extreme level of taboo words, there is another face for it. Sometimes we use taboo words to express strong emotions like pain and anger. The majority of such taboo words are originated from names related to religion, names of human body parts, and terms related to sexuality. Let us have a look at such words. 

Examples. Damn!! Hell!!, Bastard, Shit, Nigger, etc.

All the dictionaries warn their users about the impact of taboo words. Try to avoid such words in academic and professional conversations.