Euphemism

Definition of Euphemism
The term euphemism refers to polite and indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and rude, or that suggest something unpleasant. The euphemism is an idiomatic expression, which loses its literal meaning and refers to something else, to hide its disgust. For example, "kick the bucket" is a euphemism that describes the death of a person. Additionally, many organizations use the term "downsizing" for the harrowing act of "firing" their employees.

The euphemism depends largely on the social context of the population. speakers and writers, where they feel the need to replace certain words that may be embarrassing to particular listeners or readers in a particular situation

Techniques for creating euphemism
The euphemism masks a rude or impolite expression, but conveys the concept clearly and cuts. to create euphemism.

It can be in the form of abbreviations, such as O. (body odor) and W. (bathroom).
Foreign words can be used to replace a rude phrase, e.g. B. Faux (fake) or faux pas (stupid mistake) .
Sometimes it is an abstraction, e.g. B. before I leave (before I die) .
You can also replace indirect expressions Direct ones that can sound offensive, such as the back end (the back or the buttocks), items not mentioned (underwear or lingerie) .
Using longer words or Sentences can also include awkward words such as gas (fart), sweat (sweat), or mentally challenged (stupid) .
The use of technical terms can reduce the rudeness of certain words such as gluteus maximus (back, buttocks, or buttocks) .
The deliberate mispronunciation of an offensive one Word can lessen its severity, such as B. damn (damn), and shoot (shit) .
Euphemism Examples in everyday life
Euphemism is often used in everyday life. Let's look at some common examples of euphemisms:

You are getting a little thin (bald) at the top .
Our teacher is familiar (pregnant) .
H e is a little tipsy (drunk).
We do not hire people with mental disabilities (stupid) .
Is a special child (disabled or learning disabled) .
Examples of euphemism in literature
Example # 1: Othello (by William Shakespeare)
Examples of euphemism that refer to sex are found in Othellopeare by William Shakeslopeare. In Act 1, Scene 1, Iago tells Brabantio:

"I am one, sir, who comes to tell you that his daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs."

Here, the expression "making the beast with two backs" refers to the act of having sexual intercourse

Example # 2: Antony and Cleopatra (By William Shakespeare)
Similarly, we note that Shakespeare uses a euphemism for sexual intercourse in his Antony and Cleopatra work ". In Act 2, Scene 2, Agrippa says about Cleopatra:

“The royal wench!
She made the great Caesar put her sword on her bed.
he loved her and she cut. the word "trimmed" is a euphemism for getting pregnant.

Example 3: The Flea (by John Donne)
John Donne uses euphemism in his poem The Flea. He says:

“Just mark this flea and mark in it:
How little is that what you deny me; d me first, and now you suck,
And in that flea our two bloods mixed.
You know this cannot be said
A Sin, nor shame, nor loss of the girl's head; with a blood of two;
And unfortunately that's more than us. “

To convince his lover to sleep with him, the poem's narrator tells her how a flea mixed both and her blood. This is a euphemism.

Example 4: Animal Farm (by George Orwell)
The Squealer, a character in George Orwell's animal farm, uses euphemisms to help the pigs achieve their political goals from the farm he says:

“For the time being,” he explains, “it has been found necessary to re-adjust the rations. ”

The replacement of the word“ reduction ”with“ readjustment ”was an attempt to suppress other animals' complaints about hunger.

Function of euphemism
Euphemism helps writers convey those ideas that have become a social taboo and are too embarrassing to mention directly on reasons of religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, and death. Hence, euphemism is a useful tool that writers can use to visually write on the difficult subjects.

Eulogy Euphony