LING*1000DE – Prof. GomezWINTER 2022 – ASSIGNMENT 3: Short Essay on Taboos and Euphemisms(Please refer to p. 520 of the textbook, An Introduction to Language)———-It has been said that culture influences language and language, in turn, may influence the culture in which it is embedded.All societies have certain behaviours or acts that they consider inappropriate, not in good taste, or just plainly unacceptable, or taboo. In addition, the words or expressions used to talk about or describe these taboo acts are then also considered inappropriate, not in good taste, unacceptable, taboo, or even “dirty”.From a linguistics perspective, language is not intrinsically obscene or clean. What we do know though, is that in any given society or culture, people’s attitudes, that is, how they feel about particular words or linguistic expressions reflect their views toward the behaviours and acts of the language users.Some words that we consider slang may be taboo, while a scientific or standard word with the same meaning may be more acceptable in “polite society.”Taboo acts and behaviours give rise to taboo words or expressions, which then give rise to euphemisms (see page 522 of your textbook), which are “words or phrases that replace a taboo word or serve to avoid frightening or unpleasant subjects”.And so, we may find that rest room or powder room are euphemisms for toilet, which used to be a euphemism for lavatory. Lavatory is now a more acceptable than toilet.In this assignment, you are asked to identifyi) Five (5) taboo concepts (actions, behaviours) in Canadian society. Explain what they are, what they reveal about what Canadian society considers polite.ii) Identify the language (the words or expressions) related those actions 5 actions which are also considered taboo, and that we should not use when talking in polite society.iii) Identify 5 euphemisms that are used to cover up the unpleasantness of the terms in ii) that people find offensive.iv) Five (5) taboo concepts (actions, behaviours) in another culture / society. Explain what they are, what they reveal about what the other culture / society that you’re drawing your data from considers polite.v) Identify 5 euphemisms that the other culture or society uses to cover up the unpleasantness of the taboo terms. Please translate the euphemisms into English.Your short 1,000-word (not including references) essay should consist of the following:1. Introduction (about 100 words)2. Points i), ii), iii), above about Canadian culture and Canadian English (about 500 words)3. Points iv) and v) (about 300 words)4. Conclusion (about 100 words)5. References (at least 3, maximum 10 scholarly references. Choose your references wisely). Please use Chicago Style 16th edition, (Author year) style.
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