Euphemism and Hyperbole
Euphemism
Some topics are unpleasant to talk about - death, sex and toilet habits for example. People often use round-about ways of referring to these topics in order to avoid using harsh words or giving offence.
In this case one doesn't mean exactly what one says - one is using a figure of speech called a euphemism. For example:
- My late uncle (instead of "my dead uncle")
- My uncle passed away! (instead of "died")
- May I use the toilet? (toilet means to wash!)
- May I use the lavatory? (lavatory also means to wash!)
- They made love (when there was no love involved!)
One way of being gentler in one's language is to avoid the use of words with strong negative connotations, and to simply place a "not" in front of a pleasanter word. For example:
- "not very clever" instead of "stupid"
- "not very handsome" instead of "ugly"
- "not polite" instead of "rude"
One form of euphemism common today falls under the heading of being "politically correct". Opinion on whether these euphemisms are a good thing or a bad thing are divided. The fact that some PC phrases tend to the ridiculous does not take away from the fact that language can be used as a weapon of power, and we need to be sensitive in the terms we use. A general rule of style, however, is that simple terms are often the best.
- "blind" becomes "visually impaired"
- "third world" becomes "developing world"
- "Red Indian" becomes "Native American"
Exercise One
Rewrite the following euphemisms to show what the speaker really means.
- Can I use the little girl's room?
- You are being economical with the truth!
- Gentlemen adjust your dress!
- Where can I powder my nose?
- That man is vertically challenged!
- The clerk in the bank borrowed the client's money to offset his debts!
- She has my book on permanent loan!
- The house is suitable for rennovation.
- His leadership style is hardly very democratic!
- They slept together!
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech which uses exaggeration for effect.
- I am so hungry I could eat a horse! (not literally of course!)
- She is as big as a house these days! (not literally one hopes!)
- I'd kill for a pizza! (One hopes not!)
Exercise Two
Write a dialoue between two people in which each person tries to outdo the other in exaggeration (hyperbole)
start:
Person 1: I'm so ... I could ...
person 2: That's nothing - I'm so ... I could ... etc
