A sociolinguistic study of taboo expressions in Spanish from Spain: usage and attitudes

Abstract

The present study investigates the sociolinguistic variation of genitalia-related taboo expressions across gender, age and level of education with the purpose of unveiling how these variables affect the use of and attitudes towards said expressions. To tackle this issue, a questionnaire examining the usage, frequency of use and attitudes towards a selection of genitalia-related taboo expressions was distributed in a sample of 227 participants. Findings reveal that men, people aged 18-30 and people who have completed Bachillerato used more taboo expressions more frequently. Additionally, the results show that it is the same groups that feel the most comfortable using taboo expressions. However, the groups that displayed negative attitudes were women, participants between 18-30 and people who have completed Bachillerato, BA and MA. This paper builds upon previous research on the field of sociolinguistic variation of taboo language.

Keywords

• taboo expressions
• sociolinguistic variation
• linguistic attitudes