The nature and dynamics of taboos in Igbo land

Abstract

Those who study continuity and change in language have much to discover by delving into the unmentionable. In a striking example of scholarly squeamishness, it has been relatively recently that the effects of taboo on language development have really made an appearance in the mainstream of linguistic literature. In the name of decency and decorum, discussion of taboo, even within historical linguistic textbooks, focused on remote examples involving the primitive word, magic, and taboos on dangerous animals. In Igbo land, some words cease to be used due to the development of a taboo. In this case, a taboo word is one that has come under prohibition, usually because of the sacred status and reference of the word in question because of fear inspired by the referent. Hence, among the Igbo people of South-East Nigeria, linguistic taboos are powerful forces, and they are extremely important in so far as ethical principles and rules of conduct have been preserved over the ages through the observances of taboos. This provided explanations of the reasons, motives, values, and purposes of behaviour among the Igbo people. This paper therefore presents a sociolinguistic analysis of taboo phenomena in Igbo land. Taboo words are examined and explained in their socio-cultural and communicational contexts in Igbo land. In other words, they are treated as a dynamic phenomenon. The Hymes Pragmatic Theory which emphasizes on knowing the vocabulary, grammar, and context of every word, is used in this work. The paper concludes with discussions that encourage further studies on taboo as a cultural and linguistic phenomenon.