Lorraine Kirby, St Albans, UK
Interesting:
Definition of dysphemism:
The substitution of a more offensive or disparaging word or phrase for one considered less offensive. The opposite of euphemism. Adjective:dysphemistic.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Political Euphemisms :)
The word I find quite irritating when used as a political euphemism for 'dirty great problem' is 'issue'. My toes curl when a politician launches a sentence with the words... "the issue is this....". The word is thrown around so much because it's rather bland, non-specific and non-scary. Iraq becomes a 'complex issue'.... not a bloody war going horribly wrong. And a cabinet minister found with his trousers down becomes a 'sensitive issue'.
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I completely agree ...
ReplyDeleteYeah that really is interesting. Even though politicians use a lot of Euphemistic language in speeches and what not, I never thought that they could use the opposite in the same way. Then again sometimes they really just want to give off their opinion/views in the most appropriate diplomatic way possible even if that means exaggerating or hiding the facts.