The Representation of Taboos in Proverbs: An Anthropological and Functional Perspective

Abstract

Until now, taboo in culture to some extents has represented inherited moral values that can be applied to the modern context. Nevertheless, among existing  studies that have investigated this phenomenon, none has applied Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as the framework and none has made use of Bangkanese proverb as the data. Thus, the purpose of this study is to reveal the representation of taboos in Bangkanese Malay proverbs based on the anthropological perspective and based on SFL framework. To obtain the purpose, this study applied qualitative approach with questionnaire as well as interview as the data collection techniques and transitivity system as the analysis framework.  Seventy responses via qualitative questionnaires were successfully gathered and five informants were interviewed to collect the taboo expressions. The obtained taboo expressions were analyzed with Hallidayan transitivity system. The findings reveal that taboos in Bangkanese proverbs cover action alone as well as both action and expression. Further, most experiences in the taboo proverbs are represented in material processes followed with one relational and one verbal process. The major occurrences of material processes are believed to achieve the embedded values brought by the taboo proverbs since the processes of actions represent concrete meanings.