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DOI

https://doi.org/10.35192/jjoas-h.v44i1.1830

Abstract

The present research aims to investigate taboo language within an online setting. The study has two main objectives: (1) to identify the taboo language themes frequently used by Algerian comedian Mourad Oudia to create humorous content, based on Ljung's (2011) and Qanbar's (2011) classifications, and (2) to examine the impact of age and gender on Algerians' attitudes toward these themes. It focuses on exploring perceptions of taboo language across different generations in Algeria. The study employs a mixed-methods approach for data collection and analysis. To address the first research question, the initial step involved collecting primary data through content analysis. This data was then used to develop two subsequent questionnaires. The first questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions to identify the most offensive expressions, which informed the second questionnaire. The second questionnaire included two sections: demographic questions and a 14-item, five-point Likert scale measuring Algerians’ attitudes toward taboo language used by Mourad Oudia. The findings revealed that Mourad’s most frequently used taboo themes are words related to the hearer’s physical or social defects, references to the mother (family), and scatological expressions. Further results indicated that, regardless of age and gender, participants considered the religious (supernatural) theme to be the most offensive among the presented taboo expressions. While the study found that age does not significantly influence perceptions of taboo language, there was a significant gender difference, with males and females differing in their selection of the most offensive themes.

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© 2025 by the author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 Attribution license.