Taboo

Taboo is a complicated culture phenomenon of the social life. The word “taboo” is originated from 汤加语 which means holy and not being able to touch . Taboo existing in every known culture of the world means the relationship or some conduct that the society tries to avoid. (Crystal , 1987 : 8 )
I. The characteristic of language taboo
1. universality
Taboo exists in every nation of the world no matter where it is a primitive tribe or a highly civilized society. In other words, when a child is born, all kinds of taboos constrain his or her manner and behavior. Language taboo balance the relationship among man with nature, man with society ,and man with himself.
2. nationality
This characteristic can also be called uniqueness. The language is a icon of its culture and the culture is the tunnel of its language (Xing Fuyi ,1990) . A nation’s culture can be reflected in its culture, and there is no expectation to the language taboo which hides some particular culture. Besides the culture patterns of every nation have its own distinguished features and items, and the difference in history, social system, value concept, and custom between Chinese and westerners leads to a various result both in content and in form. For example, taboos related to religion, criminal, insobriety, woman liberation etc. make up a lot in English language while Chinese is much sensitive about sex and man’s titles.
3. 时代性
Language is changeable with the time goes on. A language taboo of one age may become common in another. One American humorist once list a bunch of “pregnant” expression in different times : She has cancelled all her social engagements (1856) She is in an interesting condition (1880) She is in a delicate condition (1895 ) She is knitting little bootees (1910) She is in a family way (1920 ) She is expecting (1935) She is pregnant (1956) ( Chen Yuan , 1980 :82). From this we can see, people at first are afraid to speak the word “pregnant”. But as time goes by, the sentence becomes smaller and smaller and the meaning is clearer and clearer, and at last speak it out straightforward.
II. The category of language taboo
1. Word taboo
(1) About death and misfortune
When westerners talk about “death”, they don’t abstain from it at all. But in many cases they would rather choose a more euphemistic word to replace to show their respect and sympathy such as pass away ,pass on ,pass out , close one’s day ,fall asleep ,join the great majority ,pay the debt nature , depart to god , be no more ,expire etc.
Chinese taboo about death is “superior” to westerners’. From the aspect of philosophy, in eastern culture especially in Chinese culture people more tend to talk about living, concentrate on this life and avoid the “death” word. So illness and death become the most terrifying and unwilling topic of people’s conversation. When we say，“他今天不舒服(he doesn’t feel well today) ”we actually want to avoid the unlucky word “ill”.
(2) About salacious words
These words are mostly related to some body organs, sexual behavior and unclean secretion or excretion. Although western countries are quite open to sex issues, it doesn’t mean that they could talk about “sex” without dissembling. In public place, speaking four-letter words such as fuck, shit, cunt, damn, piss etc. is an impolite manner and is regarded as lacking of education and elegance.
Chinese people are famous for their conservation on sex ethics and “sex” is a mysterious topic in China. Most Chinese expressions on sex are euphemism. For example , words like“同房”，“房事”，“夫妻生活”are used to express sexual behaviors. Words like“寻花问柳”，“拈花惹草”，“桃色事件”are used to express improper love affair.
(3) About blasphemy words Christianity has a profound impact on western culture .Westerners who believe in Christianity don’t call God’s name casually and people who don’t believe in God are also unwilling to use unrespectable words to offend God. American linguist Leonard Bloomfield says, “Many religion words like God, devil, heaven, hell, Christ, Jesus, damn etc. should be used in serious talks in English. When the rule is disobeyed, the people will be condemned and isolated by others.”
China is a multi-gods worshipping country from the primitive worshipping nature to totem and to religion. For example, people in the national minorities of southeast China have the custom to adore tiger, so whenever they meet the word 虎(tiger) ,they change it into 猫(cat).
2. Name and Title taboo
There is a big difference in name and title between Chinese and western languages. In English countries especially America where the concept “All men are created equal”, people would like to call somebody name regardless of age or status to show the equality, friendliness and kindness.
But China is a long history country of feudalism which is deeply influence by Confucianism. In ancient time the emperor, sage, parents, teachers are all addressed respectfully, or it will be regarded as lack of education and offensive to the authority .This culture taboo tradition is passed down from generation to generation and prevails still today in China.
3. Topic taboo
In daily contact, some topics regarded as taboos in English are not secrets. “People speaking English avoid talking about age, income marriage as well as weight, but we seem to make them public.” (He Zhiran, 1988:225) “The subject to be avoided are : bodily functions, or anything connected with the more private parts of the body ,details of birth ,details of unpleasant illness; income or salary of friends ,or prices of their possessions; the age of the person one is talking with ; personal questions or remarks ,such as , “Why don’t you get married ?” “I should think you would want to have some children”. Some of these are allowed in Chinese society, but they are all taboo in formal western society. (College Core English1991:25). In cross-culture communication, issues related to privacy should be careful.
III. The cause of language taboo
1. Word fetishism
Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. The link between a linguistic sign and its meaning is a matter of convention which has no relationship with each other, so there isn’t any supernatural power. But in ancient times, men can’t understand nature phenomena so as to make the linguistic sign equal to the language. This kind of language worship is called “word fetishism”. “Social members should believe that the language is the source of men’s happiness and disaster. Men who offend the source will be punished, and who appeal to it will be sheltered. All of these lead the taboo of language” (Chen Yuan, 1983: 337) All of taboos about death, illness and other disaster are produced by this way.
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