Forbidden Words by Keith Allan - ISBN: 9780521819602
Hardcover
A fascinating insight into taboo language and its role in everyday life, showing how we use language in order to swear, to insult, and also to be politically correct. This lively and revealing 2006 book will fascinate anyone interested in how and why we use and avoid taboos in daily conversation.

Forbidden Words

Taboo and the Censoring of Language

$216.51

  • Hardcover

    316 pages

  • Release Date

    5 October 2006

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Summary

Many words and expressions are viewed as ‘taboo’, such as those used to describe sex, our bodies and their functions, and those used to insult other people. This 2006 book provides a fascinating insight into taboo language and its role in everyday life. It looks at the ways we use language to be polite or impolite, politically correct or offensive, depending on whether we are ‘sweet-talking’, ‘straight-talking’ or being deliberately rude. Using a range of colourful examples, it shows how we u…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780521819602
ISBN-10:0521819601
Author:Keith Allan, Kate Burridge
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Imprint:Cambridge University Press
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:316
Release Date:5 October 2006
Weight:636g
Dimensions:235mm x 155mm x 23mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

’ … accessible and wide-ranging publication … this is a thoroughly engaging and fascinating book, written with brio and humour.’ Journal of Politeness Research

’ … accessible and wide-ranging publication … this is a thoroughly engaging and fascinating book, written with brio and humour.’ Journal of Politeness Research

About The Author

Keith Allan

Keith Allan is Reader in Linguistics and Convenor of the Linguistics Program at Monash University. Kate Burridge is Chair of Linguistics at Monash University.

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