Euphemism from sociolinguistics perspective
ISSN 1923-0176 [Print]
ISSN 1923-0184 [Online] www.cscanada.net www.cscanada.org
Studies in Sociology of Science
Vol. 4, No. 4, 2013, pp. 45-48
DOI:10.3968/j.sss.1923018420130404.C613
Euphemism From Sociolinguistics Perspective
CHI Ren[a],*; HAO Yu[a]
[a]
*
acknowledged that in every language, there are a certain amount of euphemisms. Euphemisms are used in place of some sensitive, unpleasant, disturbing and taboo topics.
Enright stated “A language without euphemisms would be a defective instrument of communication” (Enright, 1985,
p.29). Hugh Rawson also affirmed “Euphemisms are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain spoken, ever get through a day without using them” (Rawson, 1981,
p.3). With the development of the society, more concerns are given to human rights and privacy and our society is becoming more polite than before. Therefore, in order to keep a good impression, people will certainly resort to using more euphemisms. As is alleged, since 1970s, the biggest change in English, especially in American
English, is “Return to euphemism”.
Euphemism has been attracting people’s attention for a long time. When people want to talk about some sensitive, unpleasant, offensive or taboo topics and want to be polite at the same time, they would probably use euphemisms.
When Adam and Eve began to use “fig leaves” to cover up certain parts of their bodies, human beings have already planted the seed for the use of euphemism. That is why some linguists call euphemisms “linguistic fig leaves”. Many linguists, sociologists, anthropologists and rhetoricians have noted the important role that euphemism plays in different aspects of real-world communication.
Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, China.
Corresponding author.
Received 8 August 2013; accepted 20 October 2013
Abstract
Euphemism is a proper language style that people pursue in
ISSN 1923-0184 [Online] www.cscanada.net www.cscanada.org
Studies in Sociology of Science
Vol. 4, No. 4, 2013, pp. 45-48
DOI:10.3968/j.sss.1923018420130404.C613
Euphemism From Sociolinguistics Perspective
CHI Ren[a],*; HAO Yu[a]
[a]
*
acknowledged that in every language, there are a certain amount of euphemisms. Euphemisms are used in place of some sensitive, unpleasant, disturbing and taboo topics.
Enright stated “A language without euphemisms would be a defective instrument of communication” (Enright, 1985,
p.29). Hugh Rawson also affirmed “Euphemisms are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain spoken, ever get through a day without using them” (Rawson, 1981,
p.3). With the development of the society, more concerns are given to human rights and privacy and our society is becoming more polite than before. Therefore, in order to keep a good impression, people will certainly resort to using more euphemisms. As is alleged, since 1970s, the biggest change in English, especially in American
English, is “Return to euphemism”.
Euphemism has been attracting people’s attention for a long time. When people want to talk about some sensitive, unpleasant, offensive or taboo topics and want to be polite at the same time, they would probably use euphemisms.
When Adam and Eve began to use “fig leaves” to cover up certain parts of their bodies, human beings have already planted the seed for the use of euphemism. That is why some linguists call euphemisms “linguistic fig leaves”. Many linguists, sociologists, anthropologists and rhetoricians have noted the important role that euphemism plays in different aspects of real-world communication.
Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, China.
Corresponding author.
Received 8 August 2013; accepted 20 October 2013
Abstract
Euphemism is a proper language style that people pursue in
References: Allan, K., & Burridge, K. (1991). Euphemism and dysphemism: Language used as shiled and weapon Chambers, J. K. (1995). Sociolinguistic theory. Blackwell: Oxford Press. Enright, D. J. (Ed.). (1985). Fair of speech: The uses of euphemism Fasold, R. (2000). The sociolinguistics of language. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. Linfoot-Ham, K. (2005). The linguistics of euphemism: A diachronic study of euphemism formation Rawson, H. (1981). A dictionary of euphemisms and other doubletalk