Chapter 2 What is meaning (2-2) 2.8.8 Euphemism 2.8.8.1 Definition Euphemism is the use of pleasant, mild or indirect words or phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 305] Respectively, morticians (also called undertakers) and a garbage man may be euphemistically replaced by funeral directors and a sanitation engineer. 2.8.8.2 Distinction between a taboo word and a euphemism. A taboo word, a dirty word, is the word or the linguistic expression that refers to a taboo act or behaviour in a society, a culture or a speech community while a euphemism is the word or the linguistic expression that replaces a taboo word or serves to avoid a frightening or unpleasant subject. It is crucial to recognize that a taboo word and its euphemism share the same denotative meaning but they differ in their connotative meanings: the taboo word has a negative connotation whereas its euphemism has a positive connotation. Below are a number of common euphemisms and their taboo words: Euphemisms social disease criminal assault Handicapped mentally ill Underprivileged developing or less developed (country) (more) developed (country) senior citizens laid to rest Perspiration Intoxicated Abdomen Odour Expectorate retarded or unusual hard of hearing Taboo words Syphilis Rape Crippled Insane Poor poor (country) rich (country) the aged buried sweat drunk belly stink or smell spit mentally defective deaf
Below are a few expressions of euphemism: - Pass away is a euphemism for die. - He was his Majesty s guest for two years is a euphemism for He was in jail for two years. 2.9 Hyponymy 2.9.1 Definition Hyponymy is a relation in which the referent of a word is totally included in the referent of another word. In other words, hyponymy is the relationship between each of the hyponyms 22 (the lower word) and its superordinate 23 (the higher word): cook grill toast boil fry 24 roast bake smoke stir-fry sauteù deep-fry 22 Hyponyms are also referred to as subordinates or specific lexical items. 23 Superordinates are also referred to as hyper(o)nyms or generic lexical items. 24 stir-fry = fry (vegetables, meat, etc.) for a short time in very hot oil while stirring them sauteù = fry (food like potatoes) quickly in a little fat deep-fry = fry (food like potatoes) quickly in hot fat that completely covers them
Exercise 9: Each of the following sentences presents a pair of words. Which of them is a superordinate and which, a hyponym? 1. She reads books all day mostly novels. 2. A crocodile is a reptile. 3. There s no flower more beautiful than a tulip. 4. He likes all vegetables except carrots. Exercise 10: Draw a chart to show the relationship between a superordinate and a hyponym. 1. luggage and suitcase 2. green vegetable and bean 3. animal and foal 4. animal and child 5. fowl and rooster 6. plant and coconut 7. plant and rose
Exercise 9 Answer Keys 1. 2. 3. 4. SUPERORDINATE books reptile flower vegetables HYPONYM novels crocodile tulip carrots Exercise 10 1. luggage and suitcase luggage suitcase briefcase handbag (or purse) trunk rucksack (or backpack) 2. green vegetable and bean green vegetable cabbage lettuce Brussels sprout bean broccoli 3. animal and foal animal fish bird insect bug mammal reptile human animal (beast) dog horse sheep stallion mare foal
4. animal and child animal fish bird insect bug mammal reptile human animal (beast) man woman child 5. fowl and rooster Fowl turkey chicken goose duck rooster (American)/cock (British) hen chick 6. plant and coconut plant flowering plant bush /shrub tree moss grass pine palm gum palm 7. plant and rose coconut betle nut plant sago tree bush /shrub flowering plant moss grass lily daisy violet tulip rose