Forbidden Words - Taboo and the Censoring of Language (Hardcover)

Many words and expressions are viewed as 'taboo', such as those used to describe sex, our bodies and their functions, and those used to insult other people. This 2006 book provides a fascinating insight into taboo language and its role in everyday life. It looks at the ways we use language to be polite or impolite, politically correct or offensive, depending on whether we are 'sweet-talking', 'straight-talking' or being deliberately rude. Using a range of colourful examples, it shows how we use language playfully and figuratively in order to swear, to insult, and also to be politically correct, and what our motivations are for doing so. It goes on to examine the differences between institutionalized censorship and the ways individuals censor their own language. Lively and revealing, Forbidden Words will fascinate anyone who is interested in how and why we use and avoid taboos in daily conversation.

General

Imprint:	Cambridge UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	October 2006
First published:	October 2006
Authors:	Keith Allan • Kate Burridge
Dimensions:	235 x 155 x 23mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Paper over boards
Pages:	316
ISBN-13:	978-0-521-81960-2
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Language & linguistics > General Promotions
LSN:	0-521-81960-1
Barcode:	9780521819602

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!