Okikotoba - Okikotoba

Japanese: 沖言葉 - おきことば

Taboo words used by fishermen and others at sea. There are records that in the ancient herring fishing grounds of Matsumae Domain in Ezo, there were seven taboo words, and those who violated them were severely punished. This custom is nationwide, and there are roughly similarities in the taboo words. Although there are fewer of them than mountain words, offshore words such as "nagamono" for "snake" and "etekou" for "monkey" are almost universal throughout the country, and cows and cats are also often taboo. The use of offshore words is based on the belief that if taboo words are used, the spirits of the ships (Funadama) will dislike them, leading to fewer catches.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

漁師などが海上で使用する忌言葉をいう。古く蝦夷地松前藩のにしん漁場には7つの忌言葉があって，これを犯した者は厳罰に処せられたという記録がある。この習俗は全国的なもので，忌まれる言葉にもおおよそ共通点がみられる。山言葉に比べてその数は少いが，へびを長モノ，さるをエテコウという沖言葉はほとんど全国共通で，そのほか牛，猫も忌まれることが多い。沖言葉を使用するのは，忌まれている言葉を使うと船霊 (ふなだま) 様に嫌われて漁が少くなるなどと考えられている。

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