Four-letter words and the Urdu learner's dictionaries in Pakistan
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Date
2010-10-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Language in India
Abstract
The paper aims to analyze the way the Urdu learner's dictionaries treat the taboo/four letter words. In the characteristic Pakistani context, most of the taboo words are related to sexual organs, acts and excretions. In the present study, the macro-and micro-structures of the selected dictionaries have been analyzed to find out (i) whether the taboo words have been included or not (ii) whether meanings have been defined and exemplified in an appropriate manner. It was revealed that the treatment given to the taboo words in the dictionaries selected for investigation was shabby. This is a matter of grave concern as it is tantamount to depriving the users of the much-needed information about the most important aspect of their lives -sex. It seems that these words have been treated in this way in the dictionaries under the misplaced notions of decency and modesty. The paper concludes with the observation that the inclusion of the taboo words in the dictionary and provision of explicit and precise information on them will enhance the users' awareness of the word as well as the world.
Description
Keywords
Urdu Learner, Taboo Words, Dictionaries
Citation
Language in India, 10(10), pp 484-494, October 2010