Taboo as Cultural Practice Among Malagasy Speakers

Lambek, Michael

doi:10.2307/2804053

Cited by 91 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, the husband and wife will also discard certain taboos that become overly burdensome through this merger (i.e., reducing numbers of taboos for working days; Brown 1999). This gender bias limits the results presented to statistical associations relating to men and not to women, although there has been research suggesting that women's taboos are not different from men's in number or content, but may be adhered to more strongly (Lambek 1992).…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of social change on wildlife consumption taboos in northeastern Madagascar

Golden¹,

Comaroff²

2015

E&S

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ABSTRACT. In Madagascar, the constellation of taboos serves as a form of informal regulatory institution and is foundational to Malagasy culture, regardless of class, ethnic group affiliation, and educational background. Many researchers have credited rapid social change as a crucial mechanism for disturbing taboos. Others suggest that taboos are innately historical. However, very little empirical research has assessed the effects of social change on taboos or quantified the stability of taboo systems over time. Here, we use a case study of the ensemble of taboos in northeastern Madagascar, still a critical aspect of social life there, as a lens through which we investigate its degree of stability over time. Our aim was: (1) to describe the food taboos of local Malagasy living in northeastern Madagascar, and (2) to quantitatively assess the stability of these taboos to address certain claims regarding cultural erosion using an empirical, hypothesis-driven approach with rich ethnographic material to aid in interpretation. We investigated the temporal stability of taboos and local adherence to the moral framework, finding that approximately 3.0% of 4857 taboos were not adhered to at least once during the course of a 7-yr follow-up study. Additionally, we quantitatively explored the mediating effects of migration, modernization, and the spread of Western religion on number of taboos and level of adherence. We found that the presence of extralocal groups and migration did not decrease the number of taboos abided by locally, but did increase rates of nonadherence. Modernization accompanied by generational shifts tended to increase rather than erode the number of taboos, and younger individuals adhered to taboos to the same degree as older individuals. The effect of Western religion depended on the denomination, but generally reduced the number of taboos, although it did not affect adherence. The ways in which social change affects the stability of taboos are complex. Migrants tended to adhere to taboos less than long-standing inhabitants, suggesting that attachment to place is significant in maintaining adherence to taboos.

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Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of social change on wildlife consumption taboos in northeastern Madagascar

Golden¹,

Comaroff²

2015

E&S

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“…Shocking and provocative (Lambek, 1992;Sabri, 2015;Skorupa, 2014), they are based on the social norms and the prohibitions assimilated by the group members (Freud, 1912;Durkheim, 1915;Webster, 1942;Cazeneuve, 1971). Taboos are cultural productions that use a set of stimuli liable to "shock or offend by transgressing internalised norms or by triggering emotionally ambivalent responses, such as simultaneous excitement and guilt" (Sabri, 2010).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural congruency and shocking buzz campaigns: contrasting the opinions of professionals and consumers

Yahia¹,

Touiti

Touzani

2016

JMBCEM

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Buzz marketing in social networks is often seen by announcers as an opportunity to reach the biggest audience. However, the risk of failure of buzz campaigns proves not to be negligible and its consequences may be serious for the company. In order to succeed in such buzz campaigns, this research study focuses on cultural aspects, and more particularly on the central role of cultural congruency. To explore these aspects, a qualitative study, based on 36 face-to-face interviews with marketing professionals/advertisers and consumers, has been carried out. The results highlight the importance of cultural values for consumers in Arab-Muslim countries, especially when buzz marketing campaigns touch the taboos. Terms used in the advertisement are also decisive in the success of a buzz campaign.JEL classification: M30, M31, M37, M39

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“…Taboos-also known as fadys-are sometimes regionally adhered to, but can also be village-or family-based, or impact just a few individuals or even a single individual within a household (Lambek 1992). Studies of urban areas of western Madagascar have revealed taboos and strong dislikes for many of the readily available sources of meat, including domestic pigs, bush pigs, goats, lemur, and fruit bats (Randrianandrianina, Racey and Jenkins 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of Domestic Cat in Madagascar: Frequency, Purpose, and Health Implications

Czaja

Wills²,

Hanitriniaina

et al. 2015

Anthrozoös

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Taboo as Cultural Practice Among Malagasy Speakers

Cited by 91 publications

References 22 publications

Effects of social change on wildlife consumption taboos in northeastern Madagascar

Effects of social change on wildlife consumption taboos in northeastern Madagascar

Cultural congruency and shocking buzz campaigns: contrasting the opinions of professionals and consumers

Consumption of Domestic Cat in Madagascar: Frequency, Purpose, and Health Implications

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