Linguistic Expression in Turbo-Folk Songs as a Reflection of Social Circumstances

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify the elements of language structure and mental phenomena (concepts) which have been used to code meaning in turbo-folk songs in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Through the analysis of the most popular turbo-folk songs, the authors point to the topics that are promoted by this kind of music, and, furthermore, to the differences between it and the traditional sevdah. Namely, the creators of this new kind of music often hide behind the traditional sevdah thereby sheding light on the values of turbo-folk. Having in mind its popularity in Bosnia-Herzegovina nowadays, as well as the fact that values reflect themselves in language and that language creates new values in a linguistic (cultural) community, the authors warn against the flawed value system of the young generation in today’s Bosnia-Herzegovina.