ABSTRACT
This Research study investigates Taboo expressions in Isoko language of Delta state, Nigeria. It examines this by his identifying these expressions and explaining the social and cultural context in which they are avoided. The Theoretical framework adopted in this work to analyze the data is the SPEAKING model constructed from the Ethnography of communication which was propounded by Dell Hathaway Hymes in the year 1972. The data investigated here are subjective to death, sex, disease and appearances.
This Research aims and focuses on addressing an existing gap in the knowledge of prohibited words especially in regards to the Isoko language, as not many literature works are written on this topic, in order to serve as a relevant guide to understanding the language better. The fact that this project focuses on the Isoko language is such a defining factor. This study raise and answers questions like what are taboos, why they exist, the relationship between taboos, euphemism, society and culture, the functions these expressions , what contextual factors have to be in place to determine the presence and absence off these expression.
Previous literature which aided a successful completion of this study include works from Elugbe “The Edoid language family tree”, Oriabor Blessing “ Euphemistic expression in Edo”, Hymes “ Language in culture and Society, Chunming Gao “ A sociolinguistic study of English taboo”, Muhammed Tamir “ A reading of selected Nigerian literary texts”.
The data collected and used in this project study were sourced both directly and indirectly. First, from a primary source which involved a one on one interview with two competent native speakers between the ages of thirty five to forty five, Secondly, the data used here consists of various articles from various scholars and linguist.
Major results and findings in this study reveal that taboo expressions provides a pathway to help doublespeak and disguise our words without hiding people’s true intention. It serves as an effective and responsible way to communicate, it highlights the people attitude and view on the use of euphemism in the Isoko language, It tells how not many people in the Isoko land realize that there is a difference between idiomatic expressions and euphemisms.
In conclusion, our curiosity and exploration of taboo in Isoko language has revealed that they are not only a reflection of the Isoko people’s culture world view but also their social realities. The researcher recommends more further research be done on Taboo expressions especially in Isoko language because embedded in the taboos are the fears, hopes and aspirations of the Isoko people.
