SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF HAUSA EXPRESSIVE TABOOS

Abstract

This paper focused on the Sociolinguistic Analysis of Hausa Taboos. The paper adopted qualitative method of data gathering which includes primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected based on administering structured interview with the Hausa native speakers and the secondary data were gathered from the examination of the existing Hausa literature, online sources, journals, seminars and dissertations. This paper classified Hausa taboos investigated, into the following: disability taboos, profanity taboos, scatological/obscenity/sexual taboos, abuse/insult taboos and death taboos. It was discovered that taboo words exist in Hausa communities and the Hausa speakers express taboo words in their socio-cultural interactions. The findings reveal that taboo words expressed among Hausa speakers are considered offensive, prohibited, restricted, disallowed, unlawful, embarrassing, provocative, shameful, shocking, traumatizing and hurtful. Also, the paper revealed that Hausa taboos are products of Hausa culture, traditional religion, belief and tradition of the people in their socio-cultural interactions.