Peculiarities of Euphemisms in English and Difficulties in Their Translation
INTRODUCTION 2
CHAPTER I. THE NOTION OF EUPHEMISMS IN ENGLISH 5 I.1. Definition of Euphemisms 5 I.2. Classification of Euphemisms 6 I.3. Ambiguity and Logic 9
CHAPTER II. SOURCES OF EUPHEMISMS 15 II.1. The Language of Political Correctness 15 II.2. Obscurity, Officialese,Jornalese, Commercialese 20 II.3. Vogue Words 24 II.4. Woolliness 27 II.5. Euphemisms Used in Different Spheres of Our Life 29
CHAPTER III. TRANSLATION OF EUPHEMISMS 34 III.1. Grammatical Difficulties in Translation 34 III.2. Lexical Difficulties in Translation of Euphemisms 36 III.3. Stylistic difficulties in translation of euphemisms 41 III.4. Terrorism and war articles in translation of euphemisms 44
CONCLUSION 54
BIBLIOGRAPHY 57
ANNEX 60
INTRODUCTION
This Diploma thesis is devoted to the problem of euphemisms in the English language. Euphemism (from Greek word meaning “to use words of good omen”: eu= well+ pheme = speaking) is the substitution of words of mild or vague connotations for expression rough, unpleasant. Euphemisms are words or phrases which can not be understood literally. Euphemism is sometimes figuratively called “a whitewashing device. Euphemism is used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by a conveniently more acceptable one. For example the word to die has the following euphemisms: to expire, to pass away, to depart, to join the majority, to kick the bucket, etc… . Euphemisms are words or expressions that speakers substitute for taboo words in order to avoid a direct connotations with topics that are embarrassing, frightening or uncomfortable: God, the devil, sex, death, money, war, crime or religion. These topics seem to be cross cultural. A linguistic consequence of cultural taboos is the creation of euphemisms. The euphemism as a linguistic phenomenon shows no signs of disappearing. In present-day English euphemisms are mostly based on some social and ethical standard
CHAPTER I. THE NOTION OF EUPHEMISMS IN ENGLISH 5 I.1. Definition of Euphemisms 5 I.2. Classification of Euphemisms 6 I.3. Ambiguity and Logic 9
CHAPTER II. SOURCES OF EUPHEMISMS 15 II.1. The Language of Political Correctness 15 II.2. Obscurity, Officialese,Jornalese, Commercialese 20 II.3. Vogue Words 24 II.4. Woolliness 27 II.5. Euphemisms Used in Different Spheres of Our Life 29
CHAPTER III. TRANSLATION OF EUPHEMISMS 34 III.1. Grammatical Difficulties in Translation 34 III.2. Lexical Difficulties in Translation of Euphemisms 36 III.3. Stylistic difficulties in translation of euphemisms 41 III.4. Terrorism and war articles in translation of euphemisms 44
CONCLUSION 54
BIBLIOGRAPHY 57
ANNEX 60
INTRODUCTION
This Diploma thesis is devoted to the problem of euphemisms in the English language. Euphemism (from Greek word meaning “to use words of good omen”: eu= well+ pheme = speaking) is the substitution of words of mild or vague connotations for expression rough, unpleasant. Euphemisms are words or phrases which can not be understood literally. Euphemism is sometimes figuratively called “a whitewashing device. Euphemism is used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by a conveniently more acceptable one. For example the word to die has the following euphemisms: to expire, to pass away, to depart, to join the majority, to kick the bucket, etc… . Euphemisms are words or expressions that speakers substitute for taboo words in order to avoid a direct connotations with topics that are embarrassing, frightening or uncomfortable: God, the devil, sex, death, money, war, crime or religion. These topics seem to be cross cultural. A linguistic consequence of cultural taboos is the creation of euphemisms. The euphemism as a linguistic phenomenon shows no signs of disappearing. In present-day English euphemisms are mostly based on some social and ethical standard
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