EUPHEMISMS Euphemisms are used to present a certain context in a less distasteful, offensive, and defamatory manner. It is less expressive. It is used as a tool to sugarcoat ideas and to make them more acceptable especially in formal conversations. The use of euphemisms may also prove how poetically inclined and how artistic a writer can be in presenting their ideas. Euphemisms also give an impression that everything will be better soon. For instance, the use of “ you did not make it” rather than simply saying “you failed.” Since it is taboo and less vulgar it is made more acceptable especially in a polite society. In courtrooms words are not sugarcoated. They tend to narrate how things happen in a very direct manner. They do not balk they simply depict the “true meaning” like in rape cases. In the Diplomatic context they tend to be formal and lessen the degree of their choice of words to avoid chaos and informality. This is also to keep the medium of exchanging ideas free from political turmoil. I the text “Vietnam: What I Remember” David Powell presented his experiences in a very poetic manner. He recalled how the Vietnam war was so traumatizing and he used different euphemisms to express his feelings towards this. In the news reports it shows how euphemisms can present a different idea or meaning. Using euphemisms challenge the readers to read between the lines and to think deeper. It gives a poetic twist and adds a little more creativity. Euphemisms add more enthusiasm and it states opinions in a polite manner. If we use Euphemisms too much it might be complicated to understand and it may change its meaning and message.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:25:09 +0000