The Evolution of Language
Euphemism: (eu=good;
phem=speech); a word or phrase used in place of a term that might be considered
too direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive. The English language is dynamic. It
changes constantly, and every year we average over 2000 new words or new word
meanings that are added to our dictionaries. Learning new ways of saying old
words is a constant in American society and it keeps teachers and writers busily
aggravated while giving us the fuel to shake our heads and roll our eyes in
disapproval.
Though the English language has used euphemisms and
rewording since its birth, using words as empowerment tools for political or
societal gain has taken on new forms and has used words and word play with
increasing leverage. Words alone have the power to change opinions and gather
support for most anything. Leaders in every field use euphemisms to redefine, in
both positive and negative ways, how our most important issues are framed and
discussed.
Think of how our past would have changed if literal words
were used more often. Look at just a handful of euphemistic words or phrases and
their literal meanings: passed away/dead; job creators/rich; visually
impaired/blind; soon-to-have/poor; weapons of mass destruction/bomb; taxing the
estates of the wealthy/death tax; embryo reduction procedure/abortion;
democracies/countries that support the USA; love child/illegitimate child; illegal
aliens/immigrants;
Euphemisms are broken into many categories including:
abstractions, slang, redirections, and mispronunciations (usually with profanity).
With euphemisms, we can imply a meaning without actually saying it. We can
critique someone’s clothing without sounding self-righteous or judgmental; for
example, “That makes him/her look fat or trampy.” Instead of, “He/she looks fat
or like a tramp.” Instead of saying someone is stupid, we can say, “He isn’t
very bright.” My wife can say of me, “He isn’t always the best dresser,” instead
of, “He has no sense of style,” (every morning I ask her, “Do my clothes match?)
Through euphemisms, we can seem proper
when we talk about death, birth, sex, intelligence, God, and religion.
Now that we are in full swing of the political campaigning
season, the words and speeches of our politically ambitious will be twisted and
mixed beyond recognition. Just think, how would you be described by anyone who
is running for office? I think they would describe me as a “new wave, big
boned, stylistically challenged, soon to have, educator.”
