What Can Taboo Words Tell Us About Language Choices? Saudi Females’ Attitudes towards Taboo Words in English and Arabic

Abstract

This paper contributes to ongoing sociolinguistic research on the intricate relationship between attitudes and language practices in bilingual and multilingual contexts. The study aimed to investigate the attitudes of Arabic-English bilingual Saudi females towards taboo words and the factors influencing the construction of these attitudes. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving an online survey and interviews. The survey data were analysed using paired samples t-test, while NVivo software facilitated the thematic analysis of the interviews. The results revealed contrasting attitudes; although Arabic taboo words were rated as more acceptable in the survey, interviewees expressed that English taboo words were more acceptable. The study also highlights the significance of factors such as the semantic context of words, gender dynamics and the relationship between interlocutors and modes of communication in determining the perceived weight and acceptance of taboo words.