Breaking the gender stereotypes in public communication: Normalizing obscenities in digital media
Keywords:
communication, gender, obscenities, politics, societyAbstract
This paper presents a Computer Mediated Discourse Analysis of unconventional language use in social media. It is clear that both males and females make deliberate choices in language use. Speakers use obscenities in their speech for the purposes of creating humour thus arousing the interest of their audience. The use of swear words has become a symbol of acceptance and inclusiveness. Strong language not only creates attention, but also brings to perspective pivotal issues that affect the society in one way or another. The modern society is going through a drastic social transformation in language use whereby the use of previously unaccepted taboo language is liberally used in social media. This is spawned by digital media which allows people to freely float what was otherwise considered taboo in the pulic sphere. The politicalspace in Kenya is one such area where strong language is liberally used.
References
Achebe, C. (1958). Things Fall Apart. London: William Heimann.
Anudo, C. N., & Awuor, E.Q. (2016). Misogynistic Discourse: A Case Study of Fish Trade in Homabay County, Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR), vol 2, (9), 435-444.
Anudo, C. N., & Kodak, B. (2017). A Conceptual Analysis of Love Metaphors in Selected Dholuo Popular Music. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development.
Carey, K., Kinney, J., Eckman, M., Nassar, A.& Mehta, K. (2015). Chang’aa Culture and Process: detecting contamination in a killer brew: Journal of Procedia Engineering 107, 395-402.
Cavazza, N. & Guidetti, M. (2014). Swearing in Political Discourse: Why Vulgarity Works. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, vol, 33 (5), 1-11.
Coats, s. (2021). ‘Bad language’ in the Nordics: Profanity and gender in a social media corpus, Acta Linguistica Hafniensia, 53:1, 22-57, doi:10.1080/03740463.2021.1871218.
Defrak, M.& Kahlaugh, P. (2019). Language Choice Matters: When Profanity Affects How People Are Judged. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, vol, 38 (1), 126-141.
Grant, A.M., & Mayer, D.M. (2009). Good soldiers and good actors: Prosocial and impression management motives as interactive predictors of affiliative citizenship behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94, 900-912
Gray, J. (February, 5, 1988). Nine Detainees Released. Four Tell of Torture. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com
Jdetawy, L.F. (2019). ‘The nature, types, motives and functions of swear words: a sociolinguistic analysis.’ International Journal of Development Research, vol 09(04), 27048-27058.
Joshua, F.S. (2020). A Pragmatic Analysis of the Discourse of Humour and Irony in Selected Memes on social media. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies. Vol 2(2), 76-95.
Muhanović, M., Babić, N.& Latić, E. (2018). An Analysis of Gender Differences in the use of Swear words on Facebook. Journal of Education and Humanities, vol 1(2), 89-98.
Mzalendo (2013) Ayiecho Olweny Experience: Retrieved from https://info.mzalendo.com
Mzalendo (2017) Anyang’ Nyong’o Experience: Retrieved from https://info.mzalendo.com
Nyarwath, O. (1996). Philosophy and Rationality in Taboos with Special Reference to the Kenya Luo Culture. Unpublished Master’s Thesis: University of Nairobi.
Owiti, B. (2013). Humour in Pakruok among the Luo of Kenya: Do Current Theories of Humour Effectively Explain Pakruok: International Journal of Linguistics vol 5 (3), 28-42.
Osen, G. (September 3, 2019). Don’t judge a woman by her motherhood- Millie Odhiambo. Retrieved from https://www. the star.co.ke
Pluszczyk, A. (2015). An Analysis of Swearing from a Positive Perspective. Alfinge 27, 103-127.
Samora, M. (2014). Millie Odhiambo accuses Moses Kuria of removing her panty in parliament. Retrieved from https://www. standardmedia.co.ke
Shek, T.L.D & Lin, L (2017). Use of Foul Language among Chinese Adolescents: Developmental Change and Relations with Psychosocial Competencies. Journal of Adolescent Health 60, 313-319.
