Aspects of Taboos and Euphemisms in Women’s Language

Abstract

This paper provides insight into some of the research findings regarding two main aspects of women’s language, namely taboos
and euphemisms. The main aim is to reveal topics that are considered as taboos, and the linguistic devices that women employ to express
them. Exploring the motives that have given way to the creation of euphemisms we reached the conclusion that fear that people have of
supernatural powers, superstitions and even the concern that we can cause offence to other human beings if we use a direct language,
prevail among other reasons that account for their use. Furthermore, we will focus on the main areas that make a fertile ground for
producing many euphemisms. We will be introduced to the lexicon of disease, death, sex and tabooed body-parts. The various ways
euphemisms are conceptualized reflect directly the mindset and mentality of the community that uses them. Undoubtedly, euphemisms
represent a wealth of vocabulary in oral culture. Thus, this topic is of a great interest for lexicographers, linguists and literaticians.