Euphemisms

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According to Webster’s, a euphemism is “the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.” Very often, we use euphemisms out of social nicety–to not offend or overstep in polite company. The famous writer George Orwell, warned of euphemism (Links to an external site.) used in a more dangerous way–as a tool for governments and the military to obscure truth and manipulate the masses:

In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of the political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenceless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Arctic lumber camps: this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them. Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, ‘I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so’. Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:

‘While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement.

We have discussed the power of language at length–to communicate and to persuade–and now I want you to consider the role language plays in manipulating and distorting the truth (for political ends or otherwise).
Please read “Are Children Being Kept in Cages” Download “Are Children Being Kept in Cages”and “When Euphemism Disguises Truth,” Download “When Euphemism Disguises Truth,”

You should also watch my video “Euphemisms and Connotative Language,” found in this week’s module.

Now, in a 250 word Initial Post, discuss the implications of these articles–How is language used to deceive? How can we guard against this deception? Is euphemistic language lying? Where have you seen euphemistic language in your own observations?

Sample Solution

Euphemisms in Political Discourse

Introduction

Euphemisms are words or phrases that are used to replace words or phrases that are considered to be offensive, impolite, or unpleasant. Euphemisms are often used in political discourse to obscure the truth, manipulate the masses, and avoid responsibility.

Examples of euphemisms in political discourse

Here are some examples of euphemisms that are commonly used in political discourse:

  • Collateral damage: This term is used to describe the civilian casualties that occur during military operations. It is a euphemism for the deaths of innocent people.
  • Enhanced interrogation techniques: This term is used to describe torture and other inhumane treatment of prisoners. It is a euphemism for brutality.
  • Preemptive strike: This term is used to describe a military attack that is launched without provocation. It is a euphemism for aggression.
  • Render: This term is used to describe the abduction and transfer of people to secret detention facilities. It is a euphemism for kidnapping.
  • State-sponsored terrorism: This term is used to describe terrorism that is carried out by governments. It is a euphemism for murder.

The dangers of euphemisms in political discourse

Euphemisms can be dangerous because they can be used to obscure the truth and manipulate the masses. For example, the term “collateral damage” is often used to minimize the impact of civilian casualties. This can make it easier for people to accept the use of military force, even when it results in the deaths of innocent people.

Euphemisms can also be used to avoid responsibility. For example, the term “enhanced interrogation techniques” is often used to describe torture. This allows governments to use torture without having to admit that they are doing so.

How to avoid being manipulated by euphemisms

There are a few things that you can do to avoid being manipulated by euphemisms:

  • Be aware of the different types of euphemisms that are commonly used.
  • Ask yourself what the real meaning of a euphemism is.
  • Consider the context in which a euphemism is being used.
  • Be critical of the information that you are presented with.

Conclusion

Euphemisms are a common part of political discourse. However, it is important to be aware of the dangers of euphemisms and to be critical of the information that you are presented with.

Creative response

Here is a creative response to the prompt:

A dystopian world where euphemisms are the only language that is spoken

In the dystopian world of Euphemism, the only language that is spoken is euphemisms. The government has banned all other forms of language in order to control the population.

People are not allowed to speak about the things that are really happening in the world. They are only allowed to use euphemisms. For example, instead of saying “war,” people are required to say “pacification.” Instead of saying “poverty,” people are required to say “temporary economic hardship.”

The government uses euphemisms to manipulate the population. They want people to believe that everything is okay, even when it is not.

One day, a young woman named Anya decides that she has had enough. She is tired of living in a world where the truth is hidden behind euphemisms. She decides to speak out against the government.

Anya goes to the town square and starts to speak to the people. She tells them about the real world. She tells them about the war, the poverty, and the oppression.

The people are shocked. They have never heard anyone speak the truth before.

Anya’s speech inspires the people to rebel against the government. They overthrow the government and establish a new society where people are free to speak the truth.

 

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