Addis Ababa University College of Humanities, Language Studies and Communication Department of Linguistics (Graduate Program)
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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, LANGUAGE STUDIES, JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS (GRADUATE PROGRAM) A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF LINGUISTIC TABOOS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EUPHEMISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN OROMO BY BIRHANU TAKELE BAYISA December, 2017 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 0 A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF LINGUISTIC TABOOS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EUPHEMISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN OROMO BY BIRHANU TAKELE BAYISA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN LINGUISTICS December, 2017 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 1 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, LANGUAGE STUDIES AND COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS (GRADUATE PROGRAM) A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF LINGUISTIC TABOOS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING EUPHEMISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN OROMO BY BIRHANU TAKELE BAYISA APPROVED BY: ___________________ _____________ ____________ Advisor Signature Date __________________ _____________ ____________ Examiner, Internal Signature Date __________________ _____________ ____________ Examiner, External Signature Date ___________________ ____________ ____________ Chair person, Department of Signature Date Graduate Committee December, 2017 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 2 Declaration I the undersigned declare that the dissertation hereby submitted for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in general linguistics at Addis Ababa University is my own work and has not been previously submitted at another university for any degree. To the best of my knowledge, it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, except references have been duly acknowledged. Name of the Candidate: Birhanu Takele Bayisa Signature:____________________ Date of submission: ____________________ This dissertation has been submitted for examination with my approval as University Supervisor. Name of the Supervisor:__________________ Signature:______________________ Date of submission: ____________________ 3 Acknowledgments I would like to thank and express my sincere appreciation to all those who have helped, assisted and contributed to the successful completion of this dissertation. Without their help and support, this journey would not have been possible. Primarily, all the compliments, praise and thanks to God who enabled me succeed in my work. I am also very much greteful to my advisor Dr. Telemriam Fufa for his guidance and constant supervision as well as providing me with necessary information and support without which the completion of this work would not have been possible. I am greatly indebted to the Addis Ababa University and Madda Walabu University for the financial support they provided for this study. Besides, I am grateful to Addis Ababa University, particularly to Afaan Oromoo and literature department which invited me to present seminar paper from part of my dissertation on 2015’s conference. I also thank all the staff that gave me their precious time and commented on my presentation at the forum. My heartfelt thanks go to the zonal culture and tourism bureaus of Bale, Eastern and Western Hararghe, Eastern Wollega and Horro Guduru Wollega zones of Oromia Region for the invaluable information they gave me regarding my study as well as for the suitable conditions they created to me to meet with my respondents during data collection. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Gemechu Kedir, Dr. Birhanu Oljira, Dr. Tilahun Telila, Lemi Kibebew (PhD candidate), Mr.Wolde Eshetu, Mr. Feyisa Eticha, Mr. Bala Sukanna, Abebe Lemessa (PhD candidate), Bedilu Teka (PhD candidate), for their very constructive and insightful comments which is helpful to the refinement of this dissertation. I am thankful to my beloved wife, Terefech Feyisa, for her love, support, encouragement and sacrifice she made for me. I would also like to thank my little son, Sagni Birhanu, who always gives me love and happiness, and who bore with me when I deprived him of myself during the study. i I have furthermore to thank my brother Mosisa Takele and my whole family who encouraged me to complete this study. Also I offer special thanks to my colleagues: Habtamu Duguma, Diriba Demiso, Indalkachew Degu, Zelalem Wannaw, Beyenu Gedefa, Abebu Hailu, Ayantu Daniel, and Merga Wannaw who were always ready to give me their warm-hearted encouragement, friendship and support for the successful completion of this study. To all the above individuals and to several friends and colleagues whose names were not listed and who have assisted me directly or indirectly I feel very much indebted. ii Table of Contents Contents Page Acknowledgments................................................................................................................ i Table of Contents............................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………...x Abstract ……………………………………………….………………………………….xi CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 1.1. The People and the Language..................................................................................2 1.2. Background of the Study .........................................................................................8 1.3. Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................12 1.4. Objectives of the Study..........................................................................................15 1.4.1. General Objective ............................................................................................15 1.4.2. Specific Objectives ..........................................................................................15 1.5. Significance of the Study.......................................................................................16 1.6. The Scope of the Study..........................................................................................17 1.7. Research Methodology ..........................................................................................17 1.7.1. Research Design...............................................................................................17 1.7.2. Source of Data and Sampling Technique.........................................................18 1.7.2.1. Source of Data ..........................................................................................18 1.7.2.2. Sampling Technique.................................................................................18 1.7.3. Instruments and Data collection procedures ....................................................19 1.7.3.1. Research Instruments ...............................................................................19 1.7.3.1.1. Focus Group Discussion ...................................................................20 1.7.3.1.2. Observation.......................................................................................21 1.7.3.1.3. Unstructured Interview .....................................................................21 1.7.3.1.4. Introspective Method ........................................................................22 1.7.3.2. Procedure..................................................................................................22 1.7.4. Method of Data Analysis .................................................................................22 1.8. Theoretical Framework of the Study .....................................................................23 1.8.1. Pragmatic Approach to Euphemism ................................................................24 iii 1.8.1.1. Euphemism and Context of Situation.......................................................25 1.8.1.2. Euphemism and Speech Act Theory ........................................................26 1.8.1.3. Euphemism and Face Theory...................................................................28 1.8.1.4. Euphemism and Politeness Theory ..........................................................29 CHAPTER TWO ...............................................................................................................34 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON TABOOS AND EUPHEMISMS..........................34 Intoduction .........................................................................................................................34 2.1. Taboo .....................................................................................................................34 2.1.1. Origins of Taboo..............................................................................................34 2.1.2. The Power of Taboos.......................................................................................36 2.1.3. From Taboo Acts to Taboo Words ..................................................................37 2.1.4. Definition of Taboo (words) ............................................................................39 2.1.5. Categories of Linguistic Taboos ......................................................................42 2.1.5.1. Taboos Related to Death ..........................................................................47 2.1.5.2. Taboos Related to