ABSTRACT
This study focuses on sociolinguistics study of taboo in Edo (Benin). Taboo is generally acknowledged to be a socio-cultural phenomenon associated with superstition, custom and hierarchical power. Every human society prohibits or restricts certain kinds of behaviour, although those prohibited in one society are not necessary the same as in another. If a community or the society as a whole regards some articles or certain acts as taboo, usually, the names of these acts and things must not be mentioned or talked about, at least in public. Consequently, words and expressions related to social taboo become verbal taboo or linguistic taboo. Data for this study was collected in 2018-2019 during a visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II (Ogidigan II). The theoretical framework of analysis for this study is contextual theory but covering Malinowski, Hymes, Halliday and Fishman postulations. Findings revealed that true, they all recognize that though strictly tabooed words in a language may be comparatively few in number, the practice of taboo is rather extensive in language use. Their analyses are specific and clear-cut as to what taboo words are. Nevertheless, they fail to tell us why words have become taboo in the first place, how the practice of taboo varies with time, place and forms of society and what other linguistic and paralinguistic factors are responsible for these changes. The study recommends that taboo words or practices should be adhered to for the smooth and peaceful co-existence among members of the Edo (Benin) speech community.
Keyword: Awua (Taboo), Ẹdo, Ọba, Sociolinguistics, Context
