What was the purpose of joking speech registers in some Aboriginal languages?

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Distinctive features of Australia's Indigenous languages — Australian Aboriginal languages A discussion of the languages of Indigenous Australians.

In some Australian Aboriginal languages, special speech registers were developed to facilitate specific social interactions defined by kinship systems. The purpose of the register used in joking relationships was to provide a culturally appropriate framework for camaraderie, sexual license, or the expression of bawdy insults.1

These registers were distinct from ordinary speech and served as a mechanism for managing social behavior, as kinship categories dictated the nature of interactions between individuals. While some registers were designed for joking and vulgarity, others were used to show extreme deference to specific affines, such as a mother-in-law, by avoiding questions and imperatives while employing honorifics.1