On the term euphemism

Abstract

Language change and word choices have a lot to do with psychological characteristics of individuals and with socio-cultural structures of societies. The phenomenon often called euphemism is a great example of how speech acts are controlled by social and psychological understandings in different societies around the world. Talking directly about some tabooed subjects such as religion/god, sex, death, excretion, bodily functions, money, race, politics, jobs, social classes etc. has often been/is avoided by a great number of speakers of various languages spoken around the globe. Essentially, euphemism means that an inoffensive expression or a word is used in place of a blunt, harsh, indecent one that is considered to be upsetting or embarrassing. In this article some of the most common topics subject to euphemisms, some forms of euphemisms and a number of Turkish and English euphemisms are examined within Freud's id-ego-super ego triangle. From the Freudian standpoint obviously the existence of euphemisms, mainly caused by taboos and social control, is the linguistic outcome of the controlling nature of the superego. Therefore, euphemisms are great linguistic mirrors reflecting societies from prudery, decency, conformity, fear, respect, grief and genteelism perspective. This study also includes the most common formations of euphemisms and change in euphemisms alongside their contents.