Taboo ; a reflection of society

Evidence of language change in correspondence to a shift in societal values and beliefs is prominent in what ideas are considered to be taboo by a particular society in time. Taboo involves profanity, expletives, gestures and other social behaviours that are interpreted as inappropriate or rude in a particular context. Use of taboo is generally associated with a relatively informal register and often functions to generate covert prestige amongst some social groups. One of the first examples of profanity in media and popular culture was “Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn” in 1939 in the film “Gone with the wind”. This comparatively tempered use of profanity contrasts starkly with the language employed in contemporary media discourse where profanity and expletives such as the f-word and even the c-word are common. The broadening and growing acceptance of the “taboo” concept of profanity in the English language and in the public domain as exemplified by an increased use of such terms and this reflects a shift in societal values and beliefs.

A secondary type of shift regarding taboo involves certain ideas that were previously considered shocking and deeply offensive making way for other ideas in response to a changing society. The western world is increasingly embracing secularism and this is reflected in our language choices. The television program “Deadwood” encapsulates this notion of a shift in taboo in reflection of a variance in societal values. It is the deeply religious era of the late 1800s, where blaspheming and being sacrilegious were considered to be the most shocking and insulting linguistic choice an individual could make. However, rather than depicting the crude and offensive nature of the characters through having them taking the Lord's name in vain as a type of profanity, they employ current day expletives such as the f-word and c-word. This decision acknowledges a shift in the predominance of Christianity and consequently the magnitude of offence that can be generated by blaspheming. In a contemporary context, religious-based profanity is considered to many people as comparatively tempered as opposed to the crudely and sexual-based expletives utilised today.

Waltzing Matilda - our unofficial anthem

The famous song by Banjo Patterson is often regarded as the “unofficial anthem” of our nation. This notion is likely  due to the fact that it is positively loaded with Australian imagery (“billabong” “billie” “coolahbah”), and lexus (“jumbuck”, “tucker-bag” and “swaggie”). Whilst it would be a rarity to come across an individual today who employs lexus such as “jumbuck”, “tucker-bag” and “swaggie” in their vernacular, such vocabulary is part of an archaic hyper-Australian idiolect which is associated with a poignant sense of patriotism. A contemporary example is the ubiquitous usage of “g-day” and “mate” as indicators of Australianness.

Most notably, Waltzing Matilda is widely thought to encapsulate concepts that many regard as inherent to an Australian identity such as irreverence, a laid back attitude, a disregard for establishment and the rigid norms of propriety and a mockery and lack of respect for authority. Its lack of popularity in the Australian National Anthem Quest of 1973 could easily be attributed to such themes which evidently many perceive to be defamatory to Australians in the eyes of other nations. 

Forging an Australian National Identity

As a nation colonised by the British and part of the Commonwealth, loyalty to the Monarchy has long been considered an integral element to the Australian identity. However since colonisation there has existed a desire within the Australian community to diverge from the influence of our “Mother Country” and forge an individualised Australian identity based on Australian values. This notion of shifting from British ideals has gained momentum in society and has been exemplified in a myriad of key events that have taken place in recent Australian history.

In 1963 the Holt government announced that their current Australian currency which had been inherited by Britain was going to be replaced in favour of decimal coinage. This decision reflected the attitude of Australians at that time who were keen to implement steps which would legitimise the notion of constructing an independent Australian identity through divergence from Monarchical influence. The people of Australia offered over 1000 suggestions for the name of the new currency. Whilst some such as the “austral” and the “emu” were more neutral, many such as the “deci-mate”, “the boomer”, “the roo”, the kanga, and the “dinkum” shared a common ground in reflecting quintessential Australian values like good humour, larrikin-ism and a joking attitude.

Unfortunately for contenders like the “deci-mate”, the government at the time of the currency shift was Liberal and lead by PM Harold Holt. The liberal party are generally typified by right-wing conservatism and a comparatively greater sense of loyalty to the Monarchy, thus they favoured a name which denoted and reinforced Australia's ties to the colony. After Holt's “close and careful examination” “the royal” was announced to an expectant nation and subsequently met with collective disapproval and scorn. Whilst a relatively neural term, “dollar” was eventually decided on, Australia's reaction to the blatantly Monarchist “royal” name is evidence of the nation's almost unanimous yearning to distinguish ourselves from the colony and create a distinctly Australian identity typified by our own national values.

Soon after the currency shift came the implementation of metrication in Australia which was initiated in 1970 and was completed by 1988. Along with our original currency, the imperial measuring system was another inheritance from our mother country. Although contrastingly to the “dollar” vs. “royal” debacle, this shift was necessitated by both the aim of further forging a distinctly national identity and practicality which was also met with acceptance from the general public. Despite the inherent advantages of the metric system which involve substantially increased efficiency in teaching mathematics and science, a large proportion of the UK reject the system as they perceive it as submission to the European Union.

In the midst of the metrication came another integral decision implemented by the Whitlam government in 1973. They decided that Australia needed a new national anthem that would signify us as a separate and distinct entity from the colony and celebrate our uniqueness. A nation wide survey was held to determine a replacement for “God Save the Queen”, a song which celebrates Australia as a nation of subservience to the colony and connotes the subjugation of ours people under the empire. “Advanced Australia Fair” was selected and became the national anthem, except on occasions of exceptionally regal significance. “Advanced Australia Fair” purports our country as a young, independent, generous, prosperous, democratic and secular nation who doesn't pander to the Monarchy. The song correlates to the social movement which was gaining momentum in the 70's which saw for the first time an embracing of Australian cultures and attempts to eradicate the notion of a cultural cringe.

However in 1976 the Fraser government highlighted their alignment with the monarchy by reinstating “God Save the Queen” as the default anthem. Since 1945, Australia has seen the permanent migration of more than seven million people and our nation is becoming more and more culturally diverse by the day. It is for this reason that one could argue that an anthem such as “God Save the Queen” which signifies our British origin was irrelevant to a substantial proportion of Australian society in the 1970's because it does not reflect our status as a multicultural country. To compensate for the uproar of protest from the Australian people a plebiscite was conducted (as an optional additional question in the 1977 referendum) to chose the Nation Song which would be used when it was desired to markedly distinguish a separate Australian Identity. “Advance Australia Fair” received 43.29%, Waltzing Matilda received 28.28%, Song of Australia received 9.65% and God Save the Queen received 18.78%. Thus “Advance Australia Fair” was once again reinstated on April 1984 under the conduction of PM Bob Hawke.

The initial decision to shift from “God Save the Queen” and the unanimous outcry when it was reinstated in 1976 signifies the extent to which the dynamics and values of Australian society have shifted. The concept that the majority of Australian people no longer identify with the British ideals and values conveyed in their anthem reflects the necessity for us to pioneer a national image that symbolises what typifies Australian culture and our way of life.