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Euphemism is, as R. W. Holder
defines, the "mild or vague or periphrastic expression
as a substitute for blunt precision or disagreeable truth."
It is used to avoid particular embarrassment or obscure negative
connotation. Almost every culture develops its own way of
saying certain things in a ‘better’ way. This is the English
way. How about the Chinese and Taiwanese way?
C. Lee & K. Chen
By Holder, R.W.
Euphemisms are widely used in the language
of commerce and industry:
| Income protection |
= |
Tax avoidance |
| Natural break |
= |
The intervention of advertisements
in a TV broadcast |
| Negative growth |
= |
A decline |
| Revision of
prices |
= |
An increase in price |
Military jargon contains euphemistic expressions,
such as:
Air support
|
= |
Attacking the enemy from aircraft/dropping
of bombs |
| A border incident |
= |
Opposing soldiers start shooting each
other |
| To deliver |
= |
To drop on an enemy, especially bombs
|
| Delivery vehicle |
= |
A missile that carries a bomb |
| incursion |
= |
An unprovoked attack |
| intervention |
= |
A military invasion |
| Pre-emptive
strike |
= |
An unprovoked attack without warning |
To terminate/
To liquidate/
To eliminate |
= |
To kill |
You may find these euphemisms are created
to make the military actions less guilty for the soldiers.
There are some euphemisms referred to sex:
Go to Denmark
|
= |
To have a sex change operation |
| Sleeping partner |
= |
Someone with whom you regularly copulate
extra-martially |
| AC/DC |
= |
Indulging in both homosexual and
heterosexual practices |
| Vatican roulette |
= |
The use of the ‘safe period’ method
of contraception |
Euphemism is the language that might
be misleading, but euphemisms may also help people to deal
with troublesome, embarrassing and uncomfortable situations.
It helps people to turn their face away from direct connection
with those things that are morally barred. Is there any Chinese
euphemism you can remember? Tell its difference from English
one, and what causes the difference.
Source: Holder, R.W. (1990) The Faber Dictionary of Euphemisms.
New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux.
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