Origin of Taboo Words

The term that we know as "taboo words" states the idea that certain words are considered inappropriate for certain contexts, such as around children or in polite company. The use of taboo language is apparently as old as language itself.

"You taught me language," Caliban says in Shakespeare's The Tempest's first act, "and my profit is that I know how to curse." (Shakespeare, 2004). According to some English sources tracing back to the island of Tonga, taboo was explained as 1777 (in Cook's "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean"), "consecrated, inviolable, forbidden, unclean, or cursed." explained in some English sources as being from Tongan (Polynesian language of the island of Tonga) ta-bu "sacred," from ta "mark" + bu "especially."  (taboo | Etymology, origin and meaning of taboo by etymonline, 20.02.2023). 

The presence of taboo language in the English language from such an early period and from such a diverse range of sources demonstrates the importance of taboo language in all languages, even to this day. When Cook first encountered the term "taboo," he thought that it meant something that was banned or unlawful to say or do. The concept of taboo, as it was originally conceived by Cook and others, has been expanded over the years to include all kinds of behaviours that are considered offensive or inappropriate, which are abused utterly through religions of sorts, such as limiting the freedom of women in many ways. This evolution of the concept of taboo in language and culture shows that even today, certain words, phrases, and behaviours are seen as too offensive or inappropriate to be expressed publicly. Furthermore, in some cultures and ages, some words were thought to be magical, so people refrained from uttering them to prevent any possible ill effect they may have on their lives or on the lives of others. Thus, the concept of taboo has changed over time and has been adopted by different cultures in order to serve different purposes.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular dictionary definitions of the word "taboo" today. According to Merriam-Webster, a "taboo" is "a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure and something that is not acceptable to say, mention, or do: something that is taboo." and Collins's Dictionary explained it as: "If there is a taboo on a subject or activity, it is a social custom to avoid doing that activity or talking about that subject, because people find them embarrassing or offensive." Furthermore, Cambridge Dictionary defines "taboo" as, a subject, word, or action that is avoided for religious or social reasons." As we can see from the citations above, the different sources of dictionaries agree that what is generally taboo relates to.