The study aimed at investigating the applicability of euphemisms in daily conversation among the Haya Speech community. This was a study undertaken in the qualitative research paradigm, whereby qualitative research approach was employed and data were analysed and presented in terms of words/ narratives. The study was conducted at Bukoba district in Kagera region – Tanzania. Bukoba district council is made by several wards, but this study included seven wards which are; Kateelero, Kemondo, Karabagaine, Maruku, Ibweera, Bujugo and Kashaaru. The study was guided by Semiotics theory. The theory was propounded by Ferdinand de Saussure. It deals with the study of signs and sign-using behaviour. During data collection, interview and observation techniques were employed whereby, face to face interview was employed and a total of 30 respondents were involved during interview process. The total of 20 respondents were involved during observation, and both interview and observation made the total of 50 respondents who were included in this study. The respondents were chosen from two groups: elders and youths Haya language speakers. Snowball sampling was used to get the respondents. Through snowball sampling, the researcher managed to interview thirty respondents, where after interviewing one respondent, then he was directed to the next respondent believed to possess knowledge about akafubo or akashweeko meaning euphemism. The total of 10 categories of euphemisms used among the Haya were found. They include: Euphemisms connected with: physiological disabilities, improper behaviour, tools and instruments, abstract/nontangible things and euphemisms connected with sexing and sex organs. Other euphemisms revealed are connected with: food and drinks, body functions, and euphemisms connected with beliefs. Also, the total of 4 factors for why euphemisms are not much used nowadays among the Haya were found. The factors include: economic factors, psychological factors, moral decay and carelessness among the people. The researcher concludes that, being conversant in a given language as well as complying with the norms of a given society is determined through euphemism use during conversation.
| Published in | International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 13, Issue 5) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13 |
| Page(s) | 203-211 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Community, Conformity, Euphemisms, Haya Language, Taboo Words
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APA Style
Mberwa, O. J. (2025). The Use of Euphemisms as One of Face Saving Tactics in Haya Language. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 13(5), 203-211. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13
ACS Style
Mberwa, O. J. The Use of Euphemisms as One of Face Saving Tactics in Haya Language. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2025, 13(5), 203-211. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13,
author = {Osmundus John Mberwa},
title = {The Use of Euphemisms as One of Face Saving Tactics in Haya Language
},
journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {203-211},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20251305.13},
abstract = {The study aimed at investigating the applicability of euphemisms in daily conversation among the Haya Speech community. This was a study undertaken in the qualitative research paradigm, whereby qualitative research approach was employed and data were analysed and presented in terms of words/ narratives. The study was conducted at Bukoba district in Kagera region – Tanzania. Bukoba district council is made by several wards, but this study included seven wards which are; Kateelero, Kemondo, Karabagaine, Maruku, Ibweera, Bujugo and Kashaaru. The study was guided by Semiotics theory. The theory was propounded by Ferdinand de Saussure. It deals with the study of signs and sign-using behaviour. During data collection, interview and observation techniques were employed whereby, face to face interview was employed and a total of 30 respondents were involved during interview process. The total of 20 respondents were involved during observation, and both interview and observation made the total of 50 respondents who were included in this study. The respondents were chosen from two groups: elders and youths Haya language speakers. Snowball sampling was used to get the respondents. Through snowball sampling, the researcher managed to interview thirty respondents, where after interviewing one respondent, then he was directed to the next respondent believed to possess knowledge about akafubo or akashweeko meaning euphemism. The total of 10 categories of euphemisms used among the Haya were found. They include: Euphemisms connected with: physiological disabilities, improper behaviour, tools and instruments, abstract/nontangible things and euphemisms connected with sexing and sex organs. Other euphemisms revealed are connected with: food and drinks, body functions, and euphemisms connected with beliefs. Also, the total of 4 factors for why euphemisms are not much used nowadays among the Haya were found. The factors include: economic factors, psychological factors, moral decay and carelessness among the people. The researcher concludes that, being conversant in a given language as well as complying with the norms of a given society is determined through euphemism use during conversation.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Use of Euphemisms as One of Face Saving Tactics in Haya Language AU - Osmundus John Mberwa Y1 - 2025/10/30 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13 DO - 10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13 T2 - International Journal of Language and Linguistics JF - International Journal of Language and Linguistics JO - International Journal of Language and Linguistics SP - 203 EP - 211 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-0221 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20251305.13 AB - The study aimed at investigating the applicability of euphemisms in daily conversation among the Haya Speech community. This was a study undertaken in the qualitative research paradigm, whereby qualitative research approach was employed and data were analysed and presented in terms of words/ narratives. The study was conducted at Bukoba district in Kagera region – Tanzania. Bukoba district council is made by several wards, but this study included seven wards which are; Kateelero, Kemondo, Karabagaine, Maruku, Ibweera, Bujugo and Kashaaru. The study was guided by Semiotics theory. The theory was propounded by Ferdinand de Saussure. It deals with the study of signs and sign-using behaviour. During data collection, interview and observation techniques were employed whereby, face to face interview was employed and a total of 30 respondents were involved during interview process. The total of 20 respondents were involved during observation, and both interview and observation made the total of 50 respondents who were included in this study. The respondents were chosen from two groups: elders and youths Haya language speakers. Snowball sampling was used to get the respondents. Through snowball sampling, the researcher managed to interview thirty respondents, where after interviewing one respondent, then he was directed to the next respondent believed to possess knowledge about akafubo or akashweeko meaning euphemism. The total of 10 categories of euphemisms used among the Haya were found. They include: Euphemisms connected with: physiological disabilities, improper behaviour, tools and instruments, abstract/nontangible things and euphemisms connected with sexing and sex organs. Other euphemisms revealed are connected with: food and drinks, body functions, and euphemisms connected with beliefs. Also, the total of 4 factors for why euphemisms are not much used nowadays among the Haya were found. The factors include: economic factors, psychological factors, moral decay and carelessness among the people. The researcher concludes that, being conversant in a given language as well as complying with the norms of a given society is determined through euphemism use during conversation. VL - 13 IS - 5 ER -
Department of Education and Science, University of Iringa, Iringa, Tanzania
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