Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary
This paper focuses on English taboo vocabulary concerning female anatomy as represented in lexicography. It examines the Oxford English Dictionary and its many biases and subjectivity concerning gender, among other things. The analysis considers the three editions of the dictionary, the diachronic e...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Firenze University Press
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Lea |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-lea/article/view/14254 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849708943528427520 |
|---|---|
| author | Martina Guzzetti |
| author_facet | Martina Guzzetti |
| author_sort | Martina Guzzetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper focuses on English taboo vocabulary concerning female anatomy as represented in lexicography. It examines the Oxford English Dictionary and its many biases and subjectivity concerning gender, among other things. The analysis considers the three editions of the dictionary, the diachronic evolution of taboo words, how these have been defined in the OED, and tabooing practices like euphemism or dysphemism. Results show how linguistic censorship promotes the creation of highly inventive new expressions and sheds light on the culture(s) that enforce the use of taboo words and the ideologies behind their inevitably selective representation in lexicography. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b87a8a3b17be4bfca496a924bbd49757 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1824-484X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Firenze University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lea |
| spelling | doaj-art-b87a8a3b17be4bfca496a924bbd497572025-08-20T03:15:29ZengFirenze University PressLea1824-484X2023-12-011213715610.36253/lea-1824-484x-1425413086Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English DictionaryMartina Guzzetti0Università degli Studi di MilanoThis paper focuses on English taboo vocabulary concerning female anatomy as represented in lexicography. It examines the Oxford English Dictionary and its many biases and subjectivity concerning gender, among other things. The analysis considers the three editions of the dictionary, the diachronic evolution of taboo words, how these have been defined in the OED, and tabooing practices like euphemism or dysphemism. Results show how linguistic censorship promotes the creation of highly inventive new expressions and sheds light on the culture(s) that enforce the use of taboo words and the ideologies behind their inevitably selective representation in lexicography.https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-lea/article/view/14254female anatomygenderlexicographyoxford english dictionarytaboo language |
| spellingShingle | Martina Guzzetti Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary Lea female anatomy gender lexicography oxford english dictionary taboo language |
| title | Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary |
| title_full | Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary |
| title_fullStr | Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary |
| title_short | Forbidden Words and Female Anatomy. Gender and Language Taboos in the Oxford English Dictionary |
| title_sort | forbidden words and female anatomy gender and language taboos in the oxford english dictionary |
| topic | female anatomy gender lexicography oxford english dictionary taboo language |
| url | https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-lea/article/view/14254 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martinaguzzetti forbiddenwordsandfemaleanatomygenderandlanguagetaboosintheoxfordenglishdictionary |