Euphemism

Euphemism

1. EUPHEMISM

2. definition it carries a connotative meaning. a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. Its opposite is the dysphemism.

3. examples To Soften an Expression Passed away instead of died Correctional facility instead of jail On the streets  for homeless . Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled Pregnancy termination instead of abortion On the streets instead of homeless

4. examples To Be Polite Adult entertainment instead of pornography Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor  Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight Comfort woman instead of prostitute Domestic engineer instead of maid Sanitation engineer instead of garbage man Sleep together instead of have sex

5. examples Euphemisms to be  Im polite Blow chunks instead of vomited Dracula's Tea Bags instead of tampons Well-hung instead of having a large penis Making whoopee instead of sex

6. etymology Euphemism : from the Greek word ευφημί α (euphemia), meaning “the use of good omen” : from the Greek root words eu ( ευ ) , “good/well”, and pheme ( φήμι ) “speech/speaking”, meaning glory, flattering speech, praise.

7. usage used by the Ancient Greeks as euphemism meaning “to keep a holy silence” used to avoid words considered rude used for dissimulation, to refer to taboo topics(such as disability, sex, excretion, and death) in a polite way, and to mask profanity.

8. evolution PERIPHRASIS or CIRCUMLOCUTION : to speak around a given word, implying it without saying it. TABOO DEFORMATION or MINCED OATH : to alter the pronunciation or spelling of taboo words. PEJORATION or SEMANTIC CHANGE : process described by W.V.O. Q uine and more recently dubbed the “euphemism treadmill”

9. Types of euphemism ABSTRACTION : Some euphemisms serve to distance people from unpleasant or embarrassing truths, as when we say that a dead person passed away. Ex : Passed away  for die.

10. Types of euphemism INDIRECTION : A euphemism may replace an explicit description of an action, as when people speak of going to the bathroom or of others sleeping together. Ex: Hide the sausage instead of sex your place or mine ? - when offering sex

11. Types of euphemism LITOTES : Sometimes, euphemism occurs in the form of this rhetorical device in which the gravity or force of an idea is softened or minimized by a double negative, as in the reference to someone as being not unattractive. Ex: "not so big" for short "not exactly a supermodel" for ugly "not true" for a lie

12. Types of euphemism MISPRONUNCIATION : Alteration of pronunciation is a form of euphemism so as not to offend people by using profanity (figurative or literal). : These types of euphemisms, involving rhyme, alliteration, or shortening, are also called minced oaths . Ex: shoot instead of shit gosh instead of god

13. Types of euphemism MODIFICATION : A bluntly offensive noun can be transformed into a euphemism by converting it to an adjective, as in saying someone has socialist leanings rather than labelling them a socialist outright. Ex: "...makes her look slutty" instead of "...is a slut"

14. Types of euphemism PERSONIFICATION : One form of euphemism is when things that some people prefer not to mention candidly, such as genitals, are assigned personal names. Ex: "Dick" for penis

15. Types of euphemism SLANG : Much of slang, derived to produce a vocabulary exclusive to a social group, is euphemism. Ex: "screwed up" is a euphemism for fucked up

16. Euphemism vs. idioms a substitution for an expression that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver, using instead an agreeable or less offensive expression, or to make it less troublesome for the speaker.  an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.  euphemism idioms