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.

This 2006 book examines how we use language to swear, to insult, and also to be politically correct.

About the Author
Keith Allan is Reader in Linguistics and Convenor of the Linguistics Program at Monash University. Kate Burridge is Chair of Linguistics at Monash University.

Reviews
' ... accessible and wide-ranging publication ... this is a thoroughly engaging and fascinating book, written with brio and humour.' Journal of Politeness Research



Book Information
ISBN 9780521525640
Author Keith Allan
Format Paperback
Page Count 314
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 520g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 157mm * 18mm