A euphemism is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant.Some euphemisms are intended to amuse; while others use bland, inoffensive terms for things the user wishes to downplay. Euphemism comes from the Greek word εὐφημία (euphemia), meaning "the use of words of good omen", which in turn is derived from the Greek root-words eû (εὖ), "good, well" and phḗmē (φήμη) "prophetic speech; rumour, talk". Etymologically, the eupheme is the opposite of the blaspheme "evil-speaking." The termeuphemism itself was used as a euphemism by the ancient Greeks, meaning "to keep a holy silence" (speaking well by not speaking at all).
Purpose Euphinism :
Euphemism use ranges from a polite concern for propriety, to attempting to escape responsibility for war crimes. For instance one reason for the comparative scarcity of written evidence documenting the exterminations at Auschwitz (at least given the scale) is "directives for the extermination process obscured in bureaucratic euphemisms. Columnist David Brooks called the euphemisms for torture at Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo and elsewhere an effort to "dull the moral sensibility.
Common examples :
- adult entertaiment ,adult material
- custodian,caretaker,chalengged
- family planing
- expecting
- visit from the stork
- passed away
- affirmative action
Euphemisms may be formed in a number of ways. Periphrasis, or circumlocution, is one of the most common: to "speak around" a given word, implying it without saying it. Over time, circumlocutions become recognized as established euphemisms for particular words or ideas.
i'm here but i didnt find a nice explanation here
BalasHapus