I. Brainstorming

Do you know what taboos and euphemisms are? Can you list some examples about taboos and euphemisms in Chinese?

II. Taboos and euphemisms

(1) Taboo refers to a prohibition on the use of, mention of, or association with particular objects, actions, or persons. Euphemism is an expression that substitutes one which may be seen as offensive or disturbing to the addressee. •

(2) Taboo and euphemism are actually two sides of the same coin.

(3) What is taboo or not taboo depends on the context. Taboos and euphemisms are mostly culture-specific.

III. Communicative Competence

(1) Linguistic competence: grammaticality presented by Chomsky

(2) Communicative competence: four components presented by Hymes 

  1) Grammaticality: whether (and to what degree) something is formally possible

  2) Acceptability: whether (and to what degree) something is feasible 

  3) Appropriateness: whether (and to what degree) something is appropriate 

  4) Effectiveness: whether (and to what degree) something is in fact done