tabù

Tabù, in Italian, denotes a prohibition or restricted practice recognized by a culture or social group, the violation of which invites social or spiritual sanction. Taboos may concern persons, objects, places, words, or actions and can be explicit rules or informal expectations. They function to regulate behavior, protect individuals and sacred domains, and delineate boundaries between the sacred and the profane.

Etymology and history: The term derives from the Polynesian tabu or tapu, meaning sacred or forbidden. It entered Western discourse in the 18th century via explorers such as James Cook and was adopted by anthropology to describe cultural prohibitions. In Italian usage it appears as tabù, with the accent indicating stress.

Types and examples: Taboos vary widely across cultures. Common categories include religious or sacred taboos (forbidden actions around deities or holy places), dietary taboos (forbidden foods), sexual or marriage taboos (prohibitions on certain unions or acts), language taboos (avoidance of certain terms or names), and death or burial taboos. Some societies prohibit discussing or naming the dead, while others impose strict rules on touching objects deemed sacred.

Social function and change: Taboos reinforce group identity and social hierarchy, enforce concepts of purity and danger, and constrain behavior to prevent perceived harm. They are dynamic, shifting with social change, and can reflect power relations as rules broaden, relax, or reinterpret categories. In modern contexts, secular taboos—on topics such as race, sexuality, or violence—persist and adapt to new media and institutions.