8.5 Taboos and euphemisms

　 The word taboo was borrowed from the Tangan language, originally used in Polynesia with religious connotations. Now in sociolinguistics it refers to a prohibition on the use of, mention of, or association with particular objects, actions, or persons. Euphemism is the avoidance of words which may be seen as offensive or disturbing to the addressee. Taboo and euphemism are actually two sides of the same coin.

　 In the English language, the most obvious taboos are not religious or superstitious concepts but have to do with some private parts of the body, some functions of the body, private matters (such as income), distressing things (such as crisis and unemployment), and death. When euphemisms are in use for some time, speakers may not be aware of them. Many English expressions still in use are euphemistic, such as developing countries, the underprivileged, economic recession, mentally retarded, etc. In fact, euphemisms are in flux. The word crisis was replaced by depression, which in turn was replaced by recession.

　 What is taboo or not taboo depends on the context. Some expressions denoting some body functions are avoided on formal occasions but quite normal in doctor-patient conversations when the patient complains about his physical problems to the doctor. Taboos and euphemisms are mostly culture-specific. What is taboo in one culture may not be so in another culture. It is a norm among English-speaking people not to ask about each other's income, but in Chinese culture there is no such a norm (though it is hard to predict whether there will be the same norm). In many cultures taboos and euphemisms are associated with religion and superstition. Taboos and euphemisms exist in all natural languages but what is taboo is culture-specific.