FUNCTIONS OF TABOO WORDS AND EUPHEMISMS FOUND IN CHASE ATLANTIC'S SONG LYRICS: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY

Abstract

This research examines the use of euphemistic mechanisms in portraying the phenomenon of toxic relationships in the song lyrics of the band Chase Atlantic. Through a sociolinguistic approach, this research explores how the motivations behind verbal provocation and linguistic deviation are aesthetically packaged within the alternative/dark pop genre. This descriptive qualitative study employs text analysis to identify data units, specifically phrases and clauses within the lyrics, that represent these issues. The analysis seeks to map the discursive landscape to uncover linguistic anomalies, conceptual distinctions, and descriptions of physical abuse that are obscured with euphemisms. The findings indicate that Chase Atlantic’s use of euphemistic language does not serve to soften conventional meanings but rather acts as a provocative instrument that both normalizes and obscures destructive boundaries within the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. The novelty of this research lies in the shift of the subject matter to the modern hybrid music genre, demonstrating that the pragmatics of contemporary discourse outside traditional rap music can serve as a critical arena for examining the influence of the speaker’s identity on linguistic deviation.