The paper titled "A Change in Attitudes From Use of Euphemism to Taboo: A Sociolinguistic Study" examines the use of linguistic taboo words. The research focuses on three main categories of taboo topics: the use of taboo words in social contexts, sensitive language, and culturally inappropriate expressions. The study aims to understand the attitudes of women towards these taboo words and investigates whether differences exist between younger and older age groups.
The purpose of the study is to provide a sociolinguistic analysis of linguistic taboos, particularly among women, who are viewed as significant agents of change. The researchers seek to explore how societal changes and exposure to new technologies influence the use of taboo words and how these words relate to the social and cultural context.
The methodology involves a randomly selected sample of 253 women from two different age groups: younger participants aged 18–29 and older participants aged 30–59. The study employs a closed-ended multiple-choice questionnaire to collect data on the participants' use of taboo words, their attitudes toward these words, and the sociocultural factors affecting their usage. The data were analyzed using a descriptive-analytical approach with statistical tools like IBM SPSS.
Key findings reveal that the participants rarely use taboo words, opting instead for euphemisms. However, there is a noticeable shift among younger women, who are gradually incorporating some taboo language, though such usage remains limited.
The conclusions of the study indicate that while the society continues to maintain a strong cultural and religious aversion to taboo language, there is a slow but discernible shift among younger generations towards a more relaxed attitude. This shift suggests an evolving linguistic behavior in response to societal changes, reflecting the broader cultural transformation occurring within the community. The study contributes to understanding the complex interplay between language, culture, and societal norms, emphasizing the ongoing changes in linguistic taboos.