Analysing the Taboo in Igbo Worldview
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Date
2016
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Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
This paper evaluates the taboo phenomenon in lgboland, and the various methods atonement could be efiected whenever offences arc committed. There have been persistent doubts amongst scholars of sociolinguistics, anthropology and Sociology as to what constitutes a taboo in Igboland. The paper offers ample insight to address this sceptism. The research adopted Owerri Municipality (otherwise known as Owerre Nchi lse) lmo State, as its study sample. Owerri Municipality therefore, served as sample frame and a micro yard stick through which the taboo phenomenon in the macro Igbo society was evaluated. The data collection method relied on both written literary works on taboo, as well as oral interviews with two prominent traditional Leaders in Owerri Municipality, In analyzing these data, the stratified mode which identified related literatures and the interviews conducted, were methodically knitted to buttress the argument in this paper, that in Igbo worldview, taboos truly exist and that certain factors give rise to, or constitute what could be classified as taboo. This paper also gave hints that the concept of taboo exists with some variations among some Igbo communities. However, it was also clarified in this paper that these variations in most cases, are insignificant, and therefore, do not affect the efficacy of taboo whether in its Sociolinguistic or cultural forms or its indispensability in Igbo culture worldwide.
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Keywords
Taboo, Igbo, Owerri municipality, Atonement, Sociolinguistics