Publications

Publication details [#62637]

Sze, Felix, Monica Xiao Wei and Aaron Yiu Leung Wong. 2017. Taboos and euphemisms in sex-related signs in Asian sign languages. Linguistics 55 (1) : 153–206.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Place, Publisher
De Gruyter

Annotation

This article explores sex-linked euphemisms in four Asia sign languages, to wit Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL), Jakarta Sign Language (JakSL), Sri Lankan Sign Language (SLSL) and Japanese Sign Language (JSL). It examines whether direct visual reference to sex-linked body parts or concepts is taboo to Deaf signers and if so, what strategies they assume to form the corresponding euphemistic expressions. It is asserted that albeit Deaf signers are used to the visual explicitness of the signing modality, the very iconic nature of certain sex-linked signs can still be insulting at times, thus giving rise to euphemistic expressions. While certain euphemistic strategies by the Deaf signers aim at toning down the level of visual iconicity originally associated with the taboo signs, most of the remaining strategies display notable likeness to those employed in spoken languages, proposing the universality of these verbal politeness strategies across language modalities.