21 Rushdie continues to remain in hiding from potential assasins because Islamic
clergy had labelled him a blasphemer.
d. Taboo or obscenity
All obscene language is taboo language because the expressions are restricted in some ways because it is used in public. These restrictions exist
explicitly, for example: the television network censors who govern language on television, or implicitly such as some parents who use euphemisms to describe
sexual body parts or body processes when they are explaining to their children. As stated before, taboo words are not supposed to be uttered anywhere, anytime.
Moreover, everyone hears those words in public places such on the streets, which is difficult to understand the degree to which they are taboo or not.
Obscenity refers to expressions that are prohibited from public use since they involve repulsion to the sense, abhorrent, impolite and detestable to morality
Jay, in Doyle, 2009, p. 1. Moreover, according to Batistella 2005, p. 72 profanity is defined as word or expression which involves sex differentiating
anatomy or sexual and excretory function that usually uttered in rough manner. The words that belong to this type are
„fuck‟ and „shit‟. Here is the example in a conversation.
Sol : You flipped it on him. David
: You got it, man. Youre a „fucking’ genius Just make sure you
serve this clown in the next round for me. The word „fucking‟ in the conversation belongs to obscenity type because
it characterized sexual activity. However, in this conversation the word „fucking‟
22 does not actually mean
“to have sexual intercourse” but it is used to exaggerate the word „genius‟.
e. Vulgarism
Generally, these are expressions which are considered crude, raw, and come from the streets. Vulgar language is used to debase or devalue the thing or
individual reffered to or described. I have to take a crap and Wow, look at her tits are two vulgar utterances that would in some contexts be regarded as insentive,
distasteful, and offensive. Vulgarity and obscenity have the same reference especially to words or
expressions that contain sexual anatomy and excretory function in a rough manner Battistella, 2005, p. 72. The difference between vulgarity and obscenity is
usually related to the level of prurience. In other words, vulgarity demonstrates the raw expression of street language Jay, in Doyle, 2009, p. 1. Moreover, Jay
in Mercury, 1995, p. 30 asserts that vulgarity is used to humiliate or bring down the thing or individual referred to or described. The words that belong to this type
are such as ass, tit, cock, dick, and cunt.
f. Expletives
These are interjections that are clearly emotianally charged such as Shit Fuck. Without addressing anyone specifically, speakers use expletives to release
their frustations and emotions. Besides, they are also reflexive reactions to something that has unexpectedly happened to the speaker. For instance, we will
utter the certain words when our toe hits the table.
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