EXPRESSING PROFANITY IN CEBUANO AND BAHASA SUG

This ethnographic paper deals with the expression of profanity in Cebuano and Bahasa Sug. Data has shown that various profanities in these two languages are based on religion, sex, effluvia, and assault to the “face”. Spanish and Arabic loanwords are manifested in Cebuano and Bahasa Sug, respectively, due to religion. Sex-based profanities, effluvia, and profanities against the “face” are expressed using the indigenous languages. It is noteworthy that Cebuano has more expressions of profanity compared to Bahasa Sug. For the Christian Cebuanos, uttering profanity is more of a pardonable venial sin in contrast to the unpardonable mortal sin. For the Muslim speakers of Bahasa Sug, Islam is a way of life which goes strongly with the observance of adat, the customary laws. Hence profanity among speakers of Bahasa Sug is sanctioned by the Islamic faith and declared haram, religiously forbidden.