Euphemism
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| + | [[Image:The Big Swallow.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This page '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is part of the [[linguistics]] series.<br> | ||
| + | <small>Illustration: a close-up of a [[mouth]] in the film ''[[The Big Swallow]]'' (1901)</small>]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | '''Euphemism''' is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of [[doublespeak]], to make it less troublesome for the speaker. | ||
| - | ===Sexual euphemisms=== | ||
| - | :''[[It as a euphemism for sexual intercourse]]'' | ||
| - | The Latin term ''[[pudendum]]'' and the Greek term ''αιδοίον'' (''[[aidoion]]'') for the genitals literally mean "[[shameful]] thing". ''[[Groin]],'' ''[[crotch]],'' and ''[[loins]]'' refer to a larger region of the body, but are euphemistic when used to refer to the [[genitals]]. The word ''masturbate'' is derived from Latin, the word ''manus'' meaning hand and the word ''sturbare'' meaning to defile. In [[pornographic]] stories, the words ''rosebud'' and ''starfish'' are often used as euphemisms for ''[[anus]],'' generally in the context of [[anal sex]]. | + | A '''euphemism''' is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver, or to make it less troublesome for the speaker, as in the case of [[doublespeak]]. The deployment of euphemisms is a central aspect within the public application of [[political correctness]]. |
| - | ''[[Sexual intercourse#In humans|Sexual intercourse]]'' was once a euphemism derived from the more general term ''intercourse'' by itself, which simply meant "meeting" but now is normally used as a synonym for the longer phrase, thus making the town of [[Intercourse, Pennsylvania]], a subject of jokes in modern usage. | + | It may also substitute a description of something or someone to avoid revealing secret, holy, or sacred names to the uninitiated, or to obscure the identity of the subject of a conversation from potential eavesdroppers. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse. |
| - | + | ===Sexual euphemisms=== | |
| - | The "[[baseball metaphors for sex]]" are perhaps the most famous and widely-used set of polite euphemisms for sex and relationship behavior in the U.S. The metaphors encompass terms like "hitting it off" for a good start to relationship, "Striking out" for being unlucky with a [[love interest]], and "running the bases" for progressing sexually in a relationship. The "bases" themselves, from first to third, stand for various levels of sexual activity from [[Tongue kiss|French kissing]] to "petting", itself a euphemism for manual genital stimulation, all of which is short of "scoring" or "coming home", sexual intercourse. "Hitting a home run" describes sex during the first date, "batting both ways" (also "switch-hitting") or "batting for the other team" describes [[bisexuality]] or [[homosexuality]] respectively, and "stealing bases" refers to initiating new levels of sexual contact without invitation. Baseball-related euphemisms also abound for the "equipment"; "Bat and balls" are a common reference to the [[Sex organ|male genitalia]], while "glove" or "mitt" can refer to the female anatomy. | + | :''[[sexual euphemisms]]'' |
| - | + | The use of euphemisms is at its highest in sexual matters, closely followed by morbid matters. | |
| - | There are many euphemisms for [[birth control]] devices, sometimes even propagated by the manufacturers: Condoms are known as "rubbers", "sheaths", "love gloves", "diving suits", "raincoats", "Johnnies" (in Ireland and to a lesser degree Britain) etc. The [[Combined oral contraceptive pill|birth control pill]] is known simply as "The Pill", and other methods of birth control are also given generalized euphemisms like "The Patch", "The Sponge", "Shots", etc. There are also many euphemisms for menstruation, such as "having the painters in", being "on the rag", "flying the flag" (originally a euphemism for hanging out the bedsheet after a wedding night as a testament to the woman's virginity), or it simply being "that time of the month", Munster playing at home (Irish). | + | *[[The birds and the bees]] |
| - | + | *[["It" as a euphemism for sexual intercourse]] | |
| - | Euphemisms are also common in reference to [[sexual orientation]]s and lifestyles. For example in the movie "[[Closer (film)|Closer]]" the character played by [[Jude Law]] uses the euphemism "He valued his privacy" for being gay. | + | *[[Carnal knowledge]] for [[intercourse]] |
| + | *[[Sex worker]] for [[prostitute]] | ||
| + | ==Etymology== | ||
| + | Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek ''εὐφημισμός'' (euphēmismós), from ''εὐφημίζω'' (euphēmízō), from ''εὔφημος'' (eúphēmos, “uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words”), from ''εὖ'' (eû, “well”) + ''φήμη'' (phḗmē, “a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk”), from ''φάναι'' (phánai, “to speak, say”). | ||
| - | As an aside, the use of euphemisms for sexual activity has grown under the pressure of recent rulings by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] regarding what constitutes "decent" on-air [[broadcast]] speech. The [[FCC]] included many well known euphemisms in its lists of banned terms but indicated that even new and unknown coinages might be considered indecent once it became clear what they referenced. George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say On TV" evolved into the "Incomplete List of Impolite Words", available in text and audio form, and contains hundreds of euphemisms and dysphemisms to genitalia, the act of having sex, various forms of sex, sexual orientations, etc. that have all become too pejorative for polite conversation, including such notables as "getting your pole varnished" and "eating the tuna taco". Carlin also did a bit on the uses of the word "fuck", originally only a dysphemism for the sex act but becoming an adverb, adjective, noun, etc. This "diversity" is also mentioned on in the movie [[The Boondock Saints]] after the main characters commit a [[mass murder]] of bosses followed by a violent joke on a friend who is in the Mafia. | + | ==See also== |
| + | * [[Distancing language]] | ||
| + | * [[Dysphemism]] | ||
| + | * [[Code word (figure of speech)]] | ||
| + | * [[Double entendre]] | ||
| + | * [[Litotes]] | ||
| + | * [[Minced oath]] | ||
| + | * [[Newspeak]] | ||
| + | * [[Polite fiction]] | ||
| + | * [[Pun]] | ||
| + | * [[Sexual slang]] | ||
| + | * [[Slander and libel]] | ||
| + | * [[Spin (public relations)]] | ||
| + | * [[Thomas Bowdler]] | ||
| + | * [[Word play]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Current revision
Illustration: a close-up of a mouth in the film The Big Swallow (1901)
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A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver, or to make it less troublesome for the speaker, as in the case of doublespeak. The deployment of euphemisms is a central aspect within the public application of political correctness.
It may also substitute a description of something or someone to avoid revealing secret, holy, or sacred names to the uninitiated, or to obscure the identity of the subject of a conversation from potential eavesdroppers. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse.
[edit]
Sexual euphemisms
The use of euphemisms is at its highest in sexual matters, closely followed by morbid matters.
- The birds and the bees
- "It" as a euphemism for sexual intercourse
- Carnal knowledge for intercourse
- Sex worker for prostitute
[edit]
Etymology
Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismós), from εὐφημίζω (euphēmízō), from εὔφημος (eúphēmos, “uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words”), from εὖ (eû, “well”) + φήμη (phḗmē, “a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk”), from φάναι (phánai, “to speak, say”).
[edit]
See also
- Distancing language
- Dysphemism
- Code word (figure of speech)
- Double entendre
- Litotes
- Minced oath
- Newspeak
- Polite fiction
- Pun
- Sexual slang
- Slander and libel
- Spin (public relations)
- Thomas Bowdler
- Word play
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Euphemism" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
