Euphemisms in English Everyday Discourse Eufemismy V anglickém jazykovém prostředí

1 THEORETICAL PART
The aim of the theoretical part is to introduce the terminology dealing with 
euphemisms. At the very beginning of the chapter the euphemisms are defined and their 
formation is described. Since there are lots of ways of euphemizing and categories into 
which the euphemisms can be divided, I have chosen the classification by Rawson 
which I found the most suitable for this thesis. Although the euphemisms are 
understood as stable items of the language they undergo a process of entering and 
leaving a word stock. This development is also described in the theoretical part and also 
supported by a number of examples.
Since the euphemisms are used in order to soften a meaning of a word they are 
usually employed when speaking about sensitive topics. We call them taboos and they 
are an integral part of the euphemizing. In the theoretical part various types of taboos 
are defined and exemplify. Only the most common areas such as sex, relations, food, 
body parts and bodily effluvia, dying and disease are chosen because of their very high 
frequency of occurring in an everyday discourse. The division of taboo words is based 
on books by Keith Allan and Kate Burridge. 
There are other phenomena which are closely related to the euphemisms and 
they are briefly described in the thesis since they show us different aims of how a 
euphemism can be used. One of them is a political correctness, which is in a current 
society passionately discussed. Being political correct means not to sound abrupt and 
offensive and choose rather neutral words when describing one’s physical appearance, 
race, religion or sexual orientation. The theoretical part offers different points of view 
on the relation between euphemisms and political correctness.
This part portrays also a phenomenon of doublespeak which uses euphemisms as 
well, but for a completely different purpose. It provides a clarification of who the users 
of doublespeak are, in which realm of life it is applied, how it works and what impact it 
has as it is a kind of a language game speaker plays with the audience. The sources of 
information are books and articles written by William Lutz.

---

9