EnglishRhetoricFiguresofRelationshipFiguresofRelationship9.Euphemism

委婉語9.Euphemism委婉語

Euphemism---eu:good;pheme:word;ism:idea,FromGreekword“euphemismos”meaning“goodspeech”,9.Euphemism

Euphemism:SaysomethingunpleasantinapleasantwayItisafalsewordsubstitutedforthetruewordinordertoshockofrealty.9.Euphemism

Definition：Or:theuseofapleasant,politeorharmlesssoundingwordorexpressiontomakeharsh,rudeorinfamoustruths.A.Death,illness,oldage1)todie:topassaway;（逝世了）

todepart;（去世了）

togotosleep;togotoheaven;togotothenextworld;togotowest;（歸西了）(moretocome)

A.Death,illness,oldage

togotoglory:（升天了）

tojointhemajority(去見祖先了)tobegone(逝世了)tobenomore（不在了）AndInChinese:誰來料理他的后事？

A.Death,illness,oldage2)oldage,senility:

gettingon(inyears);pastone’sprime;feelingone’sage;secondchildhoodOldpeople:seniorcitizensStupidpupil,Fatpeople3)stupidpupil

:aslowlearner;under-achiever;cerebrallychallenged4)Fatpeople:weight-watchers;peopleofgenerousgirthwearersofplus-sizeclothesB.Toilethabits,etc.1)tourinateortodefecate\emptybowels\shit\makeabowelmovement:togothebathroom;dotheirbusiness;

answernature’scall;(infants)sitonthepotty;(dogs)makingamess(intheparks,onthestreets)Toilet2)Men’slavatory:

Gent’s;Gentlemen’s

thejohn(e.g.IsawJohncomeintothejohn.)thewashroom;head(navy);watercloset(W.C.)Toilet3)Women’slavatoryLadies’;thepowderroom;

Mrs.Jones

C.Povertyand

unemployment1)DISMISS,SACK\firelayoff;easesb.out;give/getthewalkingticket;pinkslipC.Povertyandunemployment2)penniless:outofpocket;

hardup;inreducedcircumstances;badlyoffC.Povertyandunemployment3)indebt:indifficulties;inembarrassingobligationto…4)thepoor:thehave-nots;theunderprivileged5)unemploymentmother:welfaremother6)livingondole:onrelief;onwelfarebenefits7)slums:sub-standardhousingD.Menialjobsorprofessionsoflowsocialstanding1)amaid,housekeeper,etc.domestichelp;day-help;live-inhelp2)chiefwaiter,waitress:captain;hostess3)realestateagent:realtor(不動產經紀人)4)hairdresser:beautician;hair-stylist;hairdresserD.Menialjobsorprofessionsoflowsocialstanding6)undertaker

(殯葬者):mortician;personindeathcareindustry7)rat-catcher:pestcontroloperator;exterminatingengineer(撲滅老鼠工程師);D.MenialjobsorprofessionsoflowsocialstandingThemotivehereisplainlyto“uplift”theseprofessionsbyname,ifnotbystatus.Itreflectsasenseofinferiorityaswellasastrivingfor“betterthings.”E.Politicalandmilitaryactivities1)lies:terminologicalinexactitude;2)aggression:preemptiveaction;policeaction3)retreat,rout:phasedwithdrawal4)admitdefeat:concedethevictoryto5)concentrationcamps:strategicvillagesorhamletsF.Somerecentexamplesforeuphemism1)todyehair:totintorcolorhair2)manicurist:anailtechnician3)

janitor(gatekeeper):superintendent;custodian4)short,nottall:verticallychallengedF.Somerecentexamplesforeuphemism5)notbeautiful:aestheticallychallenged6)mistress(ofmarriedman):outsidewife7)roguestates:stateso