A PRAGMATIC STUDY OF SWEARING IN ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study tries to examine the swear words uttered by the characters in Arthur Miller’s Death of a salesman using psycholinguistic approach. The aim of the study is to show the types of swearwords. It also aims to make clear the kinds of swear words that point to causal language. Three sources of taboo are found in this literary text: religion, body or intellectually helpless and perversity. Besides, it aims at showing the usability of the adapted model. One of the purposes of the study is to prove that swearwords can be used to interpret literary texts. The model of the study is adapted from Vingerhoets’ et. (2000) Model of Crying as the notions of the model are more relevant to the aims of study. The findings of analysis showed the usability of the adapted model .

The study shows a detailed explanation of the notion of swearing . Moreover, after conducting the analysis of literary texts, the conclusions of the study are presented.