Patterns of Change in Taboo Word Use Across Times and Demographic Communities in Simalungun

Taboo words exist in most culture, generally are being cultural specific and relating to bodily functions or aspects of culture that are sacred. The taboo words are avoided, considered inappropriate and loaded with affective meaning. Those who are violating the taboo words will be considered to impolite and punished socially. The research was intended to ascertain the use of taboo words across times in Simalungun, ascertain the use of taboo words across demographic areas in Simalungun and formulate the patterns of change in the use of taboo words in Simalungun. The research methodology used in this research was descriptive qualitative approach with multi case types which were using two or more subjects, settings, or depositories of data. The data sources were collected from 45 informants of different ages and sexes who were born in 1930 to 2020 and who resided in Pematangsiantar, Pematangraya and Saribudolok. After having analyzed the collected data, there are three findings. Firstly, the taboo words that are used stably across time (from 1930 to 2020) in Simalungun are 63 words, out of 109 words that are classified into ten categories, namely a) sexual organ category, b) sexual activity category, c) excretion category, d) cursing category, e) swearing, in the category, f) calling people, g) action category, h) disease category, i) dwelling ghost category and j) name of God category. Secondly, the use of aboo words in three different demographic areas, namely: in Pematang Siantar, Pematang Raya and Saribu Dolok are the same in eight categories, but different in two categories, namely in sexual organ and in swearing. These differences in the two categories also happen in Pematang Raya in which Simalungunese speakers purely dwell and all interactions not limited demographic area related interaction, affect the use of taboo words: 23 words in Pematangsiantar, 21 words in Pematangraya, and 18 words in Saribu Dolok. Thirdly, the pattern of change in the use of taboo words in Simalungun happens only in two categories of taboo words, they are in (a) sexual organ and (b) swearing. In the other 8 categories, the use of taboo words are still relatively stable; no change across time.