EUPHEMISM IN HAUSA AND YORUBA: A COMPARATIVE SOCIOLINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION OF POLITENESS STRATEGIES
Keywords:
Euphemism, Hausa, Politeness Theory, Sociolinguistics, YorubaAbstract
This paper analyses euphemism in Hausa and Yoruba as a sociolinguistic and cultural phenomenon, in terms of the functions of indirect expressions in politeness, moral discretion, and social intercourse. A qualitative research design was used in collecting the data by conducting semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and an examination of media texts and daily conversations based on the selected communities of the Kano and Oyo States. They came up with about forty-five euphemistic terms and divided them into thematic areas which included death, sexuality, religion, body functions and social relations. Hymes SPEAKING model and Politeness Theory by Brown and Levinson provide the framework of the analysis to consider the use of context and face management. The results indicate that the application of euphemism in both languages is socially structured based on the sociolinguistic variables such as age, gender, religion, and social status. Although euphemism is used in both languages to lessen face-threatening behavior, Hausa euphemism are more consistent with Islamic standards of humility and respect, and Yoruba euphemism are more of a blend of indigenous and Christian beliefs. The paper has shown that the application of euphemism in both cultures is a pragmatic practice that is anchored in cultural practices and not a simple substitution of words. It suggests the need to conduct more comparative studies on the euphemism of other Nigerian languages and its incorporation into language teaching and intercultural communication.
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