Euphemism: A Technique of Expression - Case Study Example

Euphemism: A Technique of Expression Euphemism: A Technique of Expression Introduction The fact whether language is the expression of thought or it is thought itself may engender controversy but so far the figure of speech matters, language with its systematic procedures is certainly the expression of human thought that is communicated in ways suitable for listeners, audience or readers. Euphemism is such a technique of expression of thought, of which the harshness and coarseness of meaning is mitigated through tactical use, alteration and replacement of words that may offend the listeners, the audience or the readers. Use of Euphemism enriches the qualitative expression of language and at the same time it smoothens the expression of thought (Smyth). That is, language is often opaque and not eloquent or fluent without the effective use of euphemism. Euphemism often serves the purposes of diplomatic expression. Again it serves some commercial purposes also. But the prominent authors and writers have made the most effective use of Euphemism in their literary works. Moreover a man consciously or subconsciously uses lot of euphemisms in his daily affairs. As Garner says, they "thrive as much today as ever." (266). Latinate Root Definition of Euphemism Euphemism has its root in Greek language. The Greek word or pronunciation “eu” means good, “phem” means “speak”. In ancient Greece it was thought “to speak a name was to evoke the divinity whose power then had to be confronted" (Neaman & Silver 2). As Scott Alkire defines Euphemism, “Euphemisms are words we use to soften the reality of what we are communicating to a given listener or reader” (Alkire). A man uses euphemisms to communicate taboos or something that is restricted in a society. Meanwhile euphemism helps a man keep himself at a safe position away from taboo. The use of euphemism has two sides: the user and the person for whom it is used. Both of the contexts of the user and the person for whom it is used, determines the aspect of the use of euphemism. The user, in most cases, uses euphemisms to express taboos in such a way that the listeners or the readers may decode it. According to Alkire, euphemisms are used “to express what is socially difficult to express in direct terms” (Alkire). Euphemism as Modified Language of One’s Thought As to the power of language, Norman FairClough says, “Language creates reality" (172). Euphemism is often considered as one of the pillars of modified power of language. Thoughts and feelings expressed through a careful selection of euphemism are stronger than the emotional attack in language. Thoughts may come with the bitterest expression that may offend the target-audience or readers. Such expression becomes more cultured and palatable through the filter of euphemized use of vocabulary. A user of the euphemized words is provided with multiple options to present his or her thought, judgments and references to the taboo before his or her audience. In this regard the user should have clear concepts of the context in which he or she uses these euphemisms. The most practical use of euphemism is observed in the field of politics. Recently the political analysts coined a term “Blairism”. The term, though picked up historically, resembles with the functions of euphemisms. In his book “New Labour, New Language” Norman Fairclough defines the term as concealing and euphemizing blunder into correctness and smootheness (213). Fairclough shows that the choice of words makes a difference: why not simply "poverty" or "unemployment" or "crumbling and underfunded schools and hospitals?” (Salkie). Semantics and the Use of Euphemism: Various Factors Generally a set of euphemisms serves as substitute for a certain set of vocabulary that does not fit with the listeners and the readers and their environment. The feature of a subject, which both of the user or speaker and the person who is communicated with, determines the use of the euphemisms. Traditionally people are involved with the use of euphemisms in subject areas “that people do not like talking about directly. The most common of these involve death, sex, and bodily functions” (Harris). On the semantic level euphemism has great use. Normally the meaning of a word has two sides. One is denotation and the other is connotation. Denotation of a word is normally related with the direct and concreteness of the signified object or idea. It is the literal meaning of a word that is particular and explicit. But connotation is involved with the abstract qualities of the object that the word signifies (Holder 217). It is both the judgment and perception - the reader or listeners- of the object that the word is used for. It is somewhat the negative or positive perception of the readers or the listeners that they make for the object. Often it is related with the emotional and intellectual expression of the user of the word. In most cases the coarseness and harshness of the meaning of a word is euphemized with its connotation. Euphemisms are the evaluative implications of the blunt and direct words. Use of Euphemism In Different Contexts All of the thought, intended meaning of the user, the context and the intellectual level of the listener or the reader play a crucial role in determining the formation of euphemisms. A blunt and coarse word is not coarse, if it is used in a context that it is suitable for. For example, the use of the words “die”, “urinate”, “copulate” etc is fair and available in the lower and uneducated class of the society. These words are to be softened among the members of the upper class of the society for various purposes. Again a blunt word may have a set of words that can be substituted as euphemisms. But context determines the level of mitigation of the bluntness of a word. The word “die” can be replaced by “pass away”, “go to be with the Lord”, “gone to heaven”, “called home” and “departed” etc. But “go to be with the Lord” and “gone to be heaven” appeared to be more euphemized for a user who is religious. Again the phrases “called home”, “pass away”, “pass on” “departed” etc are more neutral on the point of religious belief. Therefore they are less offensive for a listener or reader who is an atheist. In this regard McCollum properly says: “Euphemisms are presumably to spare the embarrassment of others; like little white lies in a way, and they certainly have their use. …..Its harmless enough” (McCollum). Use of Euphemism in Sexual Context A user may substitute the word “copulate” with “engage in sexual intercourse”, “pitching woo”, “make love”, “have marital relation” etc. But the phrase “engage in sexual intercourse” appears to be offensive, if it is used for an underage boy or girl. It is fair for institutional language. For example it can be used by persons-such as doctors, teachers, etc-who are involved in institutional affairs. Another example of the contextual use of euphemism can give. It is the word “urinate”. People soften the bluntness and the coarseness of the meaning of this word by using the substitutes “go to the bathroom, pass water, number one, wee wee, go to the toilet, relieve yourself etc. If the person to be communicated is of the same age, all of the before-mentioned euphemisms do not serve the purpose of softened meaning. For instance, if a boss of a company is described in the way: “He has gone to pass water”, it is ridiculous and not properly euphemized. Obviously the phrase can be used for a child or a boy. When it is the case of a person of high status, it will be right to say, “He has gone to the toilet” or “He has gone to the bathroom”. Similarly the phrases “wee wee” and “relieve yourself” are too childish to be used in any formal environment. They can be fairly used by the matured in a friendly and comic environment. Euphemisms: Why they are used A good deal of the purpose of using euphuism can be extracted from it various definitions. The literal purposes of Euphemism are: i. distracting, ii. Diverting, and iii. Redirecting the hearer or the readers’ mind, iv. Hiding v. Highlighting something unexpected from the readers or hearers in order to avoid their unexpected reaction. Euphemism within the Frame Work of Cognitive Linguistic Euphemisms, if examined in the context of cognitive linguistic theories, are characterized as users’ roundabout expression of thought that is handled to distract and at the same time to redirect the listeners’ or the readers’ attention. The use of euphemism is not confined to mere selection of word or diction; rather it also involves the figurative and rhetoric use of words in sentences. The mechanism of euphemism helps the users to smoothen the flow of thought in terms of impediments regarding its coarseness and offense. Often the roundabout expression is procured under the scopes of lexicography, psycholinguistic, socio-linguistics, semantics, rhetoric, lexicography etc. Expression of thought in language can be both ornamented and enriched in cognitive affluence with the use of Euphemism. A user can easily get relief of the hindrance and at the same time, can beautify and embellish his expression under the disguise of euphemism. Politics of Using Euphemism Use of euphemism involves a good number of tactics by which users can render a purposive use in the hiding and highlighting game of politics. Euphemized language can play a crucial role to distract the hearer’s mind from the focused area of a subject. The more one is confronted with the coarseness of a word, the more one becomes inclined to use euphemisms. A coarse word is often expressed as euphemism in a round about way. But the intended thought and meaning of the use is not conveyed properly in some cases and is often misunderstood. If the word “murder” is euphemized with “terminate”, “neutralize”, “put a hit on”, the denotation of “murder” is not conveyed properly. As …… says, “A real problem with these kinds of euphemism is that they can be dangerous by clouding thought and allowing the users to fool themselves”. In some cases euphemisms are used in full sentences mostly to conceal guilt. When a prostitute solicits her client, she uses the sentence “Do you want to party?” or “Are you looking for a good time?” (Harris). Such types of euphemisms are used for commercial and political purposes. Mainly they are used to prevent a person from perceiving the negative connotation. The laser-based technology generally has a negative impression on the customers and buyers because of its radioactivity. So laser based technology is popularly introduced with the word “scanner”. For the same reason, “economical”, “thrifty”, “frugal” etc are used as substitutes for “cheap”. The word “poor” is replaced with “economically disadvantaged” and “death insurance” with “life insurance”. Coarse words are often veiled under the sweet sounding and less offensive words in order to win the popular support. The euphemized words and phrases “surveillance”, “Agent”, “administrative assistant”, “law and order”, “correctional facility”, “capital punishment”, “air support” etc are the substitutes for the political words, “spying”, “spy”, “secretary”, “repression”, “prison”, “death penalty”, “bombing” etc. Conclusion Indeed euphemisms are the expression of thought in language that is artful to convey the desired soft expression. Use of euphemism not only serves the user’s purpose to distract and redirect the intended person’s attention but also it embellishes and enriches the user’s language with cognitive assets. In the semantic level euphemisms are constructed with the connotation of the words. Use of euphemisms serves aesthetic, commercial and political purposes. No eloquent expression of thought through language is possible, if euphemisms are not used fruitfully. Certainly successful construction of euphemism includes the level of deceivability of the words and the capability of the person for whom the words are used. But the professional use of euphemism depends on the users’ competence of the cognitive linguistic theories. Works Cited Alkire, Scott. “Introducing Euphemisms to Language Learners.” 18 Aug. 2007. 26 Nov. 2008. Fairclough, Norman. New Labour, New Language. London: Routledge. 2000 Garner, B. A. A Dictionary of Modern American Usage. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 1998 Harris, Robert. “Semantics 2.” Virtual Salt. 8 June. 2000. 26 Nov. 2008. Holder, R. W. How Not to Say What You Mean: A Dictionary of Euphemisms, Oxford University Press, 217, 2003. McCollum, Phil. “Euphemisms”. British expat . 17 Apr. 2006. 26 Nov. 2008. Salkie, Raphael. “Euphemism and power”. 8 Sept 2000. 26 Nov 2008. Smyth, Herbert Weir. Greek Grammar. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, p. 678, 1920 Read More