Euphemism & Dysphemism: Language Used as Shield and WeaponOxford University Press, 1991 - 263 sayfa We all use euphemisms. We ask for directions to the "ladies room" or convey the news that someone has recently "passed away." In fact, euphemisms have existed throughout recorded history: they are used by preliterate peoples, and have probably been around since human language first developed. And the same is true of offensive language, or "dysphemisms"--words used as weapons against others, or as release valves for anger and frustration. In this fascinating study, Keith Allan and Kate Burridge examine the linguistic, social, and psychological aspects of this intriguing universal practice. They cover the many shapes euphemism can take, from circumlocution and acronym to hyperbole and understatement, metaphor, and even technical jargon (many medical terms ultimately derive from euphemisms--stool, for instance, comes from "go to the stool," and diabetes comes from a Greek word meaning "to go a lot," since people with diabetes urinate frequently). They discuss the many euphemisms and dysphemisms for tabooed body parts (there are, the authors point out, at least 1,200 terms for vagina and 1,000 for penis), bodily functions, death, and disease. They describe euphemisms used to avoid religious blasphemy, from the archaic "egad" and "zounds" and "gadzooks" to the modern equivalents, such as "Jiminy Cricket" and "golly" or "gosh." They even discuss the political use of euphemism; for instance, when at war, to shield the public from upsetting details (or shield politicians from the voter), concentration camps become "pacification centers," bombing raids become "surgical strikes," and bombs dropped on our own troops become "friendly fire." (President Reagan, a master of euphemism, insisted that the attack on Grenada was not an "invasion," but rather a "rescue mission.") Along the way, the authors provide illuminating discussions of word origins, the use of bawdy language in Shakespeare, and many other fascinating topics. With thousands of examples drawn from speech, literature, newspapers, television, and film, Allan and Burridge invite us all to ponder and enjoy the creative products of the human mind as it confronts the problem of talking in different contexts about sex, lust, disapproval, anger, disease, death, fear, and God. |
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Sayfa 9
... character from Old Dutch . For these reasons , we opted for a special consideration of Middle Dutch . Much of the material we discuss comes from oral tradition in English and other languages ; but we also draw heavily from written ...
... character from Old Dutch . For these reasons , we opted for a special consideration of Middle Dutch . Much of the material we discuss comes from oral tradition in English and other languages ; but we also draw heavily from written ...
Sayfa 187
... character , and it seems to make no difference if the disease is the result of a tumor or an accident of some sort . The role of patient is not one that is readily accepted in the context of mental illness . Onlookers are much more ...
... character , and it seems to make no difference if the disease is the result of a tumor or an accident of some sort . The role of patient is not one that is readily accepted in the context of mental illness . Onlookers are much more ...
Sayfa 217
... character and Doll's obvious distaste for him have been established , presumably in order to explain the ensuing trouble— very little of which is quoted here . The title Ancient is a form of “ ensign " ( i.e. , the lowest grade of ...
... character and Doll's obvious distaste for him have been established , presumably in order to explain the ensuing trouble— very little of which is quoted here . The title Ancient is a form of “ ensign " ( i.e. , the lowest grade of ...
İçindekiler
Introductory Remarks on Language Used | 3 |
Euphemism Dysphemism and CrossVarietal | 11 |
Euphemism in Addressing and Naming | 33 |
Telif Hakkı | |
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addressing Ages American animals appear associated Australian avoid become behavior believed blood bodily body called cancer cause century chapter common comparable context course cunt dead death denote derives described dialects discussion disease Dutch dysphemism dysphemistic earlier effect effluvia English epithets euphemism euphemistic example expressions face fact fear female figurative French fuck function give given hand Hearer human instance jargon kind language Latin least less linguistic literal look male matter meaning mental mentioned metaphor Middle motivated nature normally noun once one's organs original particular patients penis perhaps person possible prick probably quoted reader reason reference seems sense sexual shit similar social society someone Speaker speaking style suggests taboo talk things tion typically usually utterance vagina verb vocabulary woman women