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.