Everyone says it, and I just have no idea what it means. I'm too embarrassed to just ask someone, so I figured I'd ask here. Can anyone help me out? Can you give me some examples in which the expression could be used? Thanks.
2006-08-01 05:40:10 · 6 answers · asked by doubled254 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Taboo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. The term was borrowed from the Tongan language and appears in many Polynesian cultures. In those cultures, a tabu (or tapu or kapu) often has specific religious associations. It was a word brought back by Captain James Cook in 1777 after a long sea voyage to the South Seas and introduced into the English language.
When an activity or custom is classified as taboo it is forbidden and interdictions are implemented concerning it, such as the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals. Some taboo activities or customs are prohibited under law and transgressions may lead to severe penalties. Other taboos result in embarrassment, shame, and rudeness.
Taboos can include dietary restrictions (halal and kosher diets, religious vegetarianism, and the prohibition of cannibalism), restrictions on sexual activities and relationships (intermarriage, miscegenation, sex between people of the same sex, incest, animal-human sex, adult-child sex, sex with the dead), restrictions of bodily functions (burping, flatulence, restrictions on the use of psychoactive drugs, restrictions on state of genitalia such as circumcision or sex reassignment), exposure of body parts (ankles in the Victorian British Empire, women's faces in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, nudity in the US), and restrictions on the use of offensive language.
No taboo is known to be universal, but some (such as the cannibalism and incest taboos) occur in the majority of societies. Taboos may serve many functions, and often remain in effect after the original reason behind them has expired. Some have argued that taboos therefore reveal the history of societies when other records are lacking.
Taboos often extend to cover discussion of taboo topics. This can result in taboo deformation (euphemism) or replacement of taboo words. Marvin Harris, a leading figure in cultural materialism, endeavoured to explain taboos as a consequence of the ecologic and economic conditions of their societies.
Also, Sigmund Freud provided an analysis of taboo behaviours, highlighting strong unconscious motivations driving such prohibitions. In this system, described in his collections of essays Totem and Taboo, Freud postulates a link between forbidden behaviours and the sanctification of objects to certain kinship groups. Freud also states here that the only two "universal" taboos are that of incest and patricide, which formed the eventual basis of modern society.
2006-08-01 05:45:54 · answer #1 · answered by buffalobjf 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Taboo - off limits, forbiddin, prohibited.
Ex.
I was told that asking stupid questions on Yahoo Answers was taboo.
2006-08-01 06:08:20 · answer #2 · answered by Caitlin S. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Taboo" means : Prohibited......Ban.....Not allowed......Restricted. etc.
Here are some examples using "Taboo"
1. Going in market place with open face for Muslim girls is Taboo in Iran.
2. One cannot get entry into Hindu temples with shoes on...its taboo.
3. I wished to ask some questions relating to sex but teacher told me curtly sex talk is taboo in class-room.
Enough ?
2006-08-01 05:53:18 · answer #3 · answered by indraraj22 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means "off limits"
2006-08-01 05:51:09 · answer #4 · answered by garjar22 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means it is forbidden.
2006-08-01 12:02:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
forbbiden
2006-08-01 06:12:21 · answer #6 · answered by *♥lovebug♥* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋