[Abstract] As an indispensable and natural part of English l(8)
2013-08-17 01:11
导读：5.4For disguise Everything has merits and demerits, and euphemism is not the exception. One of the characteristics of euphemisms is its vagueness.[22] So they are employed to conceal harsh and unpleas
5.4For disguise
Everything has merits and demerits, and euphemism is not the exception. “One of the characteristics of euphemisms is its vagueness.”[22] So they are employed to conceal harsh and unpleasant things in communications, creating a harmony environment. But it is this special feature that creates chances for politicians and businessmen to make use of euphemisms to achieve their selfish goals.
Politicians are famous for their ability to play words. They can even turn facts upside down. They try their effort to persuade people that they live a better life under their leadership thereby to get support and hold their positions. One of the effective methods they use is the usage of euphemisms. Therefore, many euphemisms about politics can be seen. For example, “logistical strikes” is for “bombing attacks”; “defoliation” is for “destroying crops”, and so on.
If you want to survive the sharp commercial competition, you have to keep alert and attract customers, the sources of benefits, by means of advertisements. Euphemism is a common but successful way used in commercial advertisements, for it seems that everybody prefers compliments and praise to harsh and upsetting truth. Airline companies are experts in using euphemisms. They call the first-class “deluxe class”, the second-class becomes “first-class” and the third-class is “economic class”, “business class” or “tourist class”. In this case, passengers in the third-class will not feel inferior and don’t lose their faces when they tell others they take the “economic class”, and passengers in other classes are uplifted at the same time.
Euphemism that functions as disguise is a kind of deceit for they cover up the fact of matters.
6. Conclusion
The emergence of euphemisms is closely related to language taboos and religion. Euphemisms are formed through various devices like phonetic devices, spelling devices, vocabulary devices, grammatical devices and rhetorical devices. Euphemisms are now used in almost all fields of life such as in daily life, in the field of education, etc. They perform the function of evasion when they are used to replace taboos. Besides evasion, they are employed for politeness, elegance and disguise. Since euphemisms play an important role in language, it is a good way for English learners to improve their English study by learning and employing English euphemisms.
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