ABSTRACT

This study investigates the euphemistic expression as a marker for maker for gender in Edo. In achieving the goal of this research, the study adopted the model of Ethnography of communication employed by Dell Hymes in 1964. Also, the qualitative research method was used as a methodology for this study in order to identify the different euphemistic expression between men and women in the Edo society and to compile a detailed list of those expressions. The findings of this study show that women are linguistically subordinate to men in Edo. Also, there is an expectation of how women ought to express and comport themselves, but for men there is an exception. The study also reveals that the lexical expressions were from the standard Edo which is the Oredo in Benin.