Euphemism

Euphemism

 

What is Euphemism?

A euphemism is a polite expression used in place of words or phrases that otherwise might be considered harsh or unpleasant to hear. Euphemisms are used regularly, and there are many examples in every day language. 

Euphemism

1.      the substitution of a milder, vaguer word or expression for one considered to be offensive or unpleasant.

2.      The word or expression so substituted.

"Put to sleep" is a euphemism for "kill".

A euphemism is a polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something embarrassing, taboo, or unpleasant. Euphemisms are especially common in reference to bodily functions and illegal behavior, and to substitute for curse words.

Euphemism is an idiomatic expression which loses its literal meanings and refers to something else in order to hide its unpleasantness. For example, “kick the bucket” is a euphemism that describes the death of a person.

Euphemism itu merupakan salah satu dari figure of speech (majas atau gaya bahasa). Bahasa Indonesian yaitu adalah eufimisme.

Euphemism itu adalah penghalusansuatu kata yang dianggap offensive, tabu, atau sensitive untuk dikatakan.

7 Types of Euphemism

Euphemisms, words or phrases that substitute for provocative or emotionally charged terms, are employed for various reasons:

1. Abstraction: Some euphemisms serve to distance people from unpleasant or embarrassing truths, as when we say that a dead person passed away or a celebrity who has canceled an appearance is suffering from exhaustion.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Mispronunciation: Alteration of pronunciation is a form of euphemism, as when we say frigging or shoot, or jeez or cripes, 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.

5. 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 labeling them a socialist outright.

6. Personification: One form of euphemism is when things that some people prefer not to mention candidly, such as genitals, are assigned personal names.

7. Slang: Much of slang, derived to produce a vocabulary exclusive to a social group, is euphemism, as in the use of joint for marijuana (itself a slang term, derived from the Spanish names Mary and Juana — closely related to “Mary Jane,” yet another euphemism).

Function of Euphemism

Euphemism helps writers to convey those ideas which have become a social taboo and are too embarrassing to mention directly. Writers skillfully choose appropriate words to refer to and discuss a subject indirectly which otherwise are not published due to strict social censorship e.g. religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, death etc. Thus, euphemism is a useful tool that allows writers to write figuratively about the libelous issues.

Tujuannya bisa macam-macam, contohnya:

1. Memakai euphemism untuk bersikap sopan:

A: "You are between jobs now." [A: kamu lagi menganggur sekarang.)

Si A memakai "between jobs" untuk menggantikan kata "unemployed". Dalam kasus ini, mengganggur bukanhal yang tabu, offensive, atau direndahkan, tetapi untuk beberapa orang ini bias menjadi isu yang sensitif.

Mungkin si A mau mengucapkannya lebih halus untuk tidak menyinggung lawan bicaranya.

2. Memakai euphemism untuk hiasan supaya bahasanya lebih 'tinggi':

"Don't expectorate in the sinks." [Jangan meludah di wastafel.]

Kata "expectorate" di sini sebenarnya sama saja kayak our common word "spit". Kita menggunakan kata "expectorate" untuk hiasan saja, soalnya bahasanya terkesan lebih 'tinggi' gitu.

Euphemism tipe bahasa 'tinggi' ini dinamakan "genteelism". Hati-hati menggunakan genteelism secara berlebihan karena membuat bahasa kita terlalu dibuat-buat dan terlalu verbose (verbose = menggunakan bahasa terlalu berlebihan dari yang dibutuhkan).

3. Memakai euphemism untuk menutupin makna aslinya yang super kotor (saking makna aslinya tidak bias dibikin sopan):

"The army has neutralized the people in that area." [Pasukan bersenjata telah membunuh orang-orang di area tersebut.]

Di sini kita memakai kata "neutralized" untuk menggantikan kata "murdered, killed". Makna aslinya sudah tidak bisa lagi dibuat lebih sopan, hasilnya diganti dengan kata yang lebih halus saja.