Definition and Examples of Euphemistic Language

Definition and Examples of Euphemistic Language Euphemism is the substitution of an inoffensive expression (such as passed away) for one considered offensively explicit (died or dropped dead). Contrast with dysphemism. Adjective: euphemistic. In his Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms (2007), R.W. Holder notes that in speech or writing we use euphemism for dealing with taboo or sensitive subjects. It is therefore the language of evasion, hypocrisy, prudery, and deceit. According to Ruth Wajnryb, Euphemisms have a short shelf life- once the stigma of the original catches up to them, the battery that runs the euphemistic device goes flat. The only way forward is to invent a new euphemism (Expletive Deleted: A Good Look at Bad Language, 2005). Etymology: From the Greek, use of good words Commentary Examples:  Pre-owned for used or second-hand; enhanced interrogation for torture; industrial action for strike; misspoke for lie; tactical withdrawal for retreat; revenue augmentation for raising taxes; wind for belch or fart; convenience fee for surcharge; courtesy reminder for bill; unlawful combatant for prisoner of warUnfortunately for the CIA, enhanced interrogation turned out to be a translation of the same euphemism used by the Gestapo: verschrfte Vernehmung. (Scott Horton, Company Men. Harpers, April 2015 Dan Foreman: Guys, I feel very terrible about what Im about to say. But Im afraid youre both being let go.Lou: Let go? What does that mean?Dan Foreman: It means youre being fired, Louie. (In Good Company, 2004 Mr. Prince: Well see you when you get back from image enhancement camp.Martin Prince: Spare me your euphemisms! Its fat camp, for Daddys chubby little secret. (Kamp Krusty, The Simpsons, 1992) Paul Kersey: Youve got a prime figure. You really have, you know.Joanna Ke rsey: Thats a euphemism for fat. (Death Wish, 1974) The reconstruction of New Orleans has become a euphemism for the destruction of the citys cultural and historic heritage. (Ghali Hassan, 2006The more syllables a euphemism has, the further divorced from reality it is. (George CarlinWardrobe malfunction. (Justin Timberlakes description of his tearing of Janet Jacksons costume during a half-time performance at Super Bowl XXXVIII)Americans continually euphemize; they can never call anything by its name. You never invade anybody, you commit an incursion. (Gore Vidal, quoted in the Transatlantic Review, Spring 1975) Dont Panic The economic classification  recession was actually invented in 1937 when the economy was back in the toilet but FDR didnt want to call it a depression. And the description depression first surfaced during the Hoover administration, a substitute for a more vivid but disconcerting term of art: panic.(Anna Quindlen, Summertime Blues. Newsweek, July 7/14, 2008) Testing for Euphemisms In selecting euphemistic words and phrases I have accepted [Henry] Fowlers definition: Euphemism means the use of a mild or vague or periphrastic expression as a substitute for blunt precision or disagreeable use (Modern English Usage, 1957). A second test is that the euphemistic word or phrase once meant, or prima facie still means, something else. If that were not so, it would be no more than a synonym. (R.W. Holder, Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms. Oxford University Press, 2007) Steven Pinker and Joseph Wood Krutch on the Euphemism Treadmill - Linguists are familiar with the phenomenon, which may be called the euphemism treadmill. People invent new words for emotionally charged referents, but soon the euphemism becomes tainted by association, and a new word must be found, which soon acquires its own connotations, and so on. Water closet becomes toilet (originally a term for any kind of body care, as in toilet kit and toilet water), which becomes bathroom, which becomes restroom, which becomes lavatory. Undertaker changes to mortician, which changes to funeral director...The euphemism treadmill shows that concepts, not words, are primary in peoples minds. Give a concept a new name, and the name becomes colored by the concept; the concept does not become freshened by the name, at least not for long. Names for minorities will continue to change as long as people have negative attitudes toward them. We will know that we have achieved mutual respect when the names stay put. (Steven Pinker, The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial o f Human Nature. Viking Penguin, 2002)- Any euphemism ceases to be euphemistic after a time and the true meaning begins to show through. Its a losing game, but we keep on trying. (Joseph Wood Krutch, If You Dont Mind My Saying So, 1964) Euphemisms, Dysphemisms, and Orthophemisms During the Cold War of 1946-89, NATO had a deterrent (euphemism) against the Russian threat (dysphemism). In the mid 1980s the USSR claimed to have been invited (euphemism) into Afghanistan; the Americans claimed that the Russians were aggressors (dysphemism) there. We get invited in; they are aggressors; the orthophemism is take military action in a foreign land. (Keith Allen and Kate Burridge, Forbidden Words: Taboo and the Censoring of Language. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006) Euphemisms During the Victorian Era In the mid-19th century, the human form and its functions were so taboo that any words even hinting that people had bodies were banished from polite discourse. It became impossible to mention legsyou had to use limb, or even better, lower extremity. You couldnt ask for the breast of a chicken, but instead had to request the bosom, or make a choice between white and dark meat. Nor could you talk about trousers. There were numerous euphemisms instead, including inexpressibles, indescribables, unmentionables, inexplicables and continuations. Charles Dickens made fun of this extreme delicacy in Oliver Twist, when Giles the butler describes how he got out of bed and drew on a pair of . . .. Ladies present, Mr. Giles, warns another character. (Melissa Mohr, By Gods Nails: Careful How You Curse. The Wall Street Journal, April 20-21, 2013) In Defense of Euphemisms Euphemisms are not, as many young people think, useless verbiage for that which can and should be said bluntly; they are like secret agents on a delicate mission, they must airily pass by a stinking mess with barely so much as a nod of the head, make their point of constructive criticism and continue on in calm forbearance. Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne. (Quentin Crisp, Manners from Heaven, 1984) Transforming Schools During one of many anti-austerity protests last summer, more than 1,000 people rallied to oppose Philadelphias plans to transform schools, a pleasant euphemism generally meaning school closures and mass layoffs. (Allison Kilkenny, The Fight for Phillys Schools. The Nation, February 18, 2013) Crazy Crazy (and hence crazed and cracked) originally meant cracked, flawed, damaged (cp. crazy paving) and was applicable to all manner of illness; but it has now narrowed to mental illness. It captures the stereotypical mental patient as someone flawed, deficient (cf. mentally deficient), and is the basis for many euphemistic expressions for madness: crack-brained, scatter-brained, shatter-brained; head case, nutcase, bonkers, wacko, wacky; falling to pieces; have a (nervous) breakdown; unhinged; having a screw/tile/slate loose; one brick short of a load, not a full load; not playing with a full deck, three cards short of a full deck; one sandwich short of a picnic; two bob short of a quid, not the full quid; his elevator doesnt go to the top floor; a shingle short; and perhaps hes lost his marbles. (Keith Allen and Kate Burridge, Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as a Shield and Weapon. Oxford University Press, 1991) The Lighter Side of Euphemisms Dr. House: Im busy.Thirteen: We need you to . . .Dr. House: Actually, as you can see, Im not busy. Its just a euphemism for get the hell out of here.(Dying Changes Everything, House, M.D.)Dr. House: Who were you going to kill in Bolivia? My old housekeeper?Dr. Terzi: We dont kill anyone.Dr. House: Im sorrywho were you going to marginalize?(Whatever It Takes, House, M.D.) Further Reading Visual EuphemismWhy Do We Use Euphemisms?Biased LanguageBowdlerismCacophemismFifty Reasons Youll Never Be Told, Youre FiredGenteelismGeorge Carlins Essential DrivelGrawlixHow to Flatter an Audience With Euphemisms, Dysphemisms, and  DistinctioIndirectnessMinced OathNever Say Die: Euphemisms for DeathOrthophemismParadiastolePejorative LanguageRestauranteseSoft LanguageTaboo LanguageTitle InflationTop 20 Figures of SpeechUnder the Flapdoodle Tree: Doublespeak, Soft Language, and GobbledygookVerbosityWhat Are Weasel Words?

Natural Slope Stability Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Natural Slope Stability - Assignment Example Softening of slope cause many hills and mountain to have a landslide causing damage to infrastructure and injury to some. In UK an increasing number of landslides has been occurring because of the late study of the stability of the slope. A case study will be presented to show the evaluation of the slope geotechnically. The study considers the causes of landslides and what measures could be taken to manage the risks of these occurring and is reported elsewhere. This study also show things to consider in the effect of that climate change might have on the design and operation of roads, to identify whether any changes in current practices are required. The focus of this study is the influence of rainfall in the stability of the natural slope.This study includes in how to predict the possible continuous rainfall to avoid landslides in many areas in UK. This paper shows the study in geotechnical way. Possible solution on many landslides are given to prevent loss of life and possible damage to properties. The case study presented in this paper was done by the Scottish engineers, to predict possible slope instability that causes landslide because of continuous rainfall. The study location is in the road network of Scotland In August 2004 a series of landslides in the form of debris flows occurred in Scotland. Some of these affected the A83, A9 and A85, which form part of the trunk road network. These incidents were well reported in the media. While debris flows occur with some frequency in Scotland, they only rarely affect the trunk road network or for that matter the main local road network. However, when they do impact on the road network the degree of damage, in terms of the infrastructure and the loss of utility to road users, can have a major detrimental effect on both economic and social aspects of the use of the asset. Additionally, there is a high potential for such events to cause serious injury and even loss of life although, fortuitously, such consequences have been limited to date. The events of August 2004 followed a sustained period of heavy rainfall and, in addition, intense localised storms contributed to the triggering of at least some of the resulting debris flows. Rainfall of up to 300% of the monthly average fell in certain parts of Scotland during August 2004. Within the recent past, debris flow activity in Scotland has occurred largely in the periods July to August and November to January, but there is no certainty that such a pattern will be continued in the future. However, eastern parts of Scotland do receive their highest levels of rainfall in August. Additionally, climate change models indicate that rainfall levels will increase in the winter but decrease during the summer months but that intense storm events will increase in number. These factors, therefore, may change both the frequency and the annual pattern of debris flow events. The impacts of such events are particularly serious during the summer months due to the major contribution that tourism makes to Scotland's economy. Nevertheless, the impacts of debris flow events during the winter months should not be underestimated. Evaluation of the Study What is a Natural Slope Slope as defined in Encarta is the maximum angle at which soil can be banked without slipping. The slope can be natural (natural cliffs and hillside) or artificial or constructed (cuttings, embankments, quarries, spoil tips

Treatment of Adult Mentally Ill Offenders Research Paper

Treatment of Adult Mentally Ill Offenders - Research Paper Example   Besides, the number of inmates has tripled in the last threes decades with the notion that jails and prisons in the U.S have been converted to new mental hospitals. In recent research, an infamous prison in the state registered 33.8 % inmates who are mentally ill as per psychiatric diagnosis with chronic mental illness registering a higher rate as compared to non-chronic mental illnesses. Among all offenders in prison, depression, substance use disorders and anxiety or panic disorders are the three most common categories of diagnoses (Langan & David, 2002). â€Å"In the movie, The New Asylums by Miri Navasky & Karen O’Connor (2005), today there are over 500,000 mentally ill people who are held in jails and prison throughout America, 10 times the 50,000 that remain in the mental hospitals, although, most part of this movie shows higher percent of male inmates as compared to female inmates, numerous scenes of mentally ill people are common in the streets throughout America. According to Fred Cohen, Prison Mental Health Consultant, those who are mentally ill in the streets end up going to mental hospitals. ... Treatment in Prison All over the world and more so in the United States of America, there have been differing theories that concern the treatment that is given to prisoners as well as the services that should be provided to them in the current penal system (Langan & David,2002). In any criminal system, there are simple choices of the verdict that are given to the convicts; they are either reformative or punitive. The main aim of any reform system is to take criminals and ensuring that they are helped to move past the issues they have at hand. Punitive treatment entails the use of physical pain and torture as punishment for committing crimes. In fact, United States has been described as a punitive nation. Langan & David, 2002 argues that the main goal of the punitive system is to ensure that criminals see and understand that participating in crimes is not worth at all. A good example of a punitive method to offenders is by taking them to boot camps. Booty camps are governmental correc tional and penal systems that are predominant in the United States. Having modeled to resemble the armed forces recruit training camps, these programs are based on distress incarcerations that have military techniques. Offenders get punishment such as stocking although it has been scalped off in the recent past. In essence, critics say that these kinds of programs serve only to frustrate the offenders and do not make much distinction in their lives as is intended apart from having them pay for their crimes in harsh ways. In addition, most of the sentences that are given to these offenders cannot be easily reduced even if the offenders show sign of improvement or change. Rehabilitative penalty simply means re-enabling or making fit again prisoners to enable them to rejoin society.  Ã‚  

Roe V Wade Essay Goverment Essay Example for Free

Roe V Wade Essay Goverment Essay 1. Roe V. Wade 410 U.S. 113 (1973) and docket number 70-18. The petitioner in this particular case was wade and the respondent was Roe heard by the Burger Court (1971-1972). 2. The case was based on the enumeration, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Over non enumerated rights 1791. The ninth amendment was placed to state that this case was handled in a due process manner. 3. A pregnant single woman named Roe brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of incrimination of abortion. Hallford a Texas physician who was also under the gun, and certified to perform abortion testified on behalf of Roe. The basis of Roes lawsuit was in regards to saving her life; therefore, she did in fact have a basis to bring up this case. The Supreme Court also heard it because they knew that this was a staple case in history and they wanted to clarify the medical and legal views of abortion because a private matter especially in regards to a woman and her child had never been brought up before and it lacked a solid foundation. The Supreme Court also took into consideration two valid state interests: protecting the health of the pregnant woman and to protect the potentiality of human life. 4. The final Supreme Court decision was seven votes for and 2 votes against. 5. majority opinion and dissenting opinion 6. Roe won her case! The finalization of this case led to the instatement of these three guidelines for women still to go by today.

Depictions of gender roles in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is virtually banished from the Puritan society because of her crime. She was guilty for adultery with the town’s minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. However, the reader is kept in the dark that Dimmesdale is the child’s father until latter part of the novel. Although Hawthorne’s novel accurately depicts the consequences that Hester and Dimmesdale suffer from their sin, the novel does not accomplish the task of reflecting upon the 17th century Puritan gender roles in Hester and Dimmesdale. For one, the mental and physical states of Hester and Dimmesdale are switched. Hester takes on the more courageous role throughout the novel whereas Dimmesdale takes on the more sensitive role. In addition, Hester is examined in accordance to the gender roles set for today’s American women. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is written in a manner that accurately depicts 17th century Puritan so ciety, but does not accurately show gender roles. To begin, typical Puritan society during the 17th century was â€Å"painfully stern and somber; it was founded on the strictest, unmollified Calvinism,† (Puritan†¦). In other words, their society was very restricted and confined to religion. Civil law also played a role in the citizens’ business and social relations. Law impacted how they dressed, their religious affairs, and even their family relations. In terms of education, Puritans prospered. In fact, in Massachusetts, they required every township of fifty families to employ a teacher to educate the children. Their government was also structured upon religion because religion served as their only method of life. In terms of gender roles, the men were responsible for earning bread for... ... Letter." Ghent University Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. Ghent University, July 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. . Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, 1989. Print. Gannon, Andres. "The Puritan Influence in Contemporary American Society." The Puritan Influence in Contemporary American Society. Damien High School, 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2012. . Tyson, Lois. "Feminist Criticism." Critical Theory Today: a User-friendly Guide. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print. "Puritan Laws and Character." History of the USA. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. .

Kean University

I never thought this day would come as fast as it did. I feel like this year is just going to fly by and the next thing I know I’ll be packing to go to college, but let me not get ahead of myself. I remember always being asked, â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up? † The funny thing is, I’ve always known. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I can look back to my younger years and remember playing teacher, writing out worksheets, teaching classes with my cousins. It’s something I always enjoyed. I am apart of the Coop Education program at my high school, I am now an intern at a preschool. It is just one step closer to what I want to do in my future. I now have hands on experience with young children, being able to interact and add input with any ideas I may have. As you can see, I am a determined young lady; if I want something I am going to try my hardest to be the best I can be in the field I am interested in. Kean University has so much to offer me, especially because I know what I want to do with my life. Kean is a teaching University and elementary education is one of the most popular fields at Kean. Why else would I look any further? I have a plan, people with plans become successful. I am someone who can be a team player when needed be. I was on my schools softball team my sophomore year in high school. I believe that playing a sport, taught me sportsmanship, self-confidence, and being able to work as a unit. You are able to bond with you teammates through the rough long practices and demanding games. I enjoy being involved in school activities. I was apart of Spanish Club and was the secretary of this club in 2007. We had fund raisers, put on a show for the International Festival two years in a row, held at Bloomfield High School, and also provided semi formals ,many accomplishments were made being apart of the Spanish Club. I was also joined Stage Crew my junior year, it gave me insight as to how plays and shows are put together. It’s not an easy job; it is time consuming but a learning experience. Next time I watch a play, I know how much hard work everyone backstage put in, being a part of stage setup and lighting was something new I tried out and did enjoy. I am a determined young woman ready to attain new information in a new ambiance with different people from different walks of life. I am ready to leave my nutshell and burst into a new atmosphere I can say Kean University is where I would like to spend the next four years of my life growing. The campus is big itself, and is unlike any environment I’ve put myself in. I would like to dorm. It’s a time in my life were I can be independent. A year away from my parents and around people I am not familiar with . Life is about experiencing new things. I want to advance, study and experience this all at Kean University

How to Email Professors at Prospective Grad Schools

As an applicant to graduate school you have probably wondered more than once exactly what professors look for when they select students. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just ask them? Before you go any further, let me warn you that emails can backfire. Many applicants email professors at graduate programs they wish to attend and receive terse replies, or perhaps most commonly, no replies. For example, consider this question from a reader: I am trying to figure out a topic that would be most suitable for me. I have reached out to many professors with little luck. Occasionally, they will share articles, but rarely will I get a response to a question. My questions range from graduate opportunities to specifics about their work.   This reader’s experience is not unusual.   So what gives? Are graduate professors simply rude? Perhaps, but also consider the following contributors to the poor responses from faculty. Figuring out What You Want to Study Is Your Job First and foremost, it seems that this reader needs to do more work before contacting prospective mentors. As an applicant, realize that choosing a field of study is your task and one that you should do before emailing professors at graduate programs. To do so, read widely. Consider the classes youve taken and what subfields interest you. This is the most important part: Talk with faculty at your university.   Approach your professors for help. They should be your first line of advice in this regard. Ask Informed Questions, Not Ones Whose Answers Are Readily Available Before you email a professor for advice,   be sure that you have done your homework. Dont ask questions about information that you can learn from a basic internet or database search. For example, information about a professors research and copies of articles are easily available online. Likewise, dont ask questions about the graduate program unless you have carefully reviewed all of the information on both the departments website and the professor’s website. Professors might view answering such questions a waste of time. Moreover, asking questions about information that is readily available might signal naivetà © or, worse, laziness. This is not to say that you should never contact professors at prospective programs. Before you email a professor make sure that it is for the right reasons. Ask informed questions that show that you are familiar with his or her work and the program and simply seek clarification on a few specific topics.  Ã‚   Three basic guidelines for emailing professors at prospective graduate programs: Do not inundate the professor with questions. Ask only one or two specific questions and you will be much more likely to get a reply than if you ask a series of questions.Be specific.   Don’t ask questions that will require more than a sentence or two in response.   In-depth questions about their research usually fall in this area. Remember that professors may be pressed for time. An email that looks like it will take more than a minute or two to answer may be ignored.Don’t ask questions that are outside of a professor’s purview. General questions about financial aid, how applicants are selected by the program, and housing, for example,   fall into this area. What should you ask prospective graduate mentors?Probably the question that you are most interested in is whether the professor is accepting students. That simple, direct, question is most likely to yield a response. How Do You Ask a Professor Whether He or She Is Taking Students? In a simple email,  explain that you are very interested in the professor’s research on X and, here’s the important part, would like to know whether he or she is accepting students.   Keep the email brief, just a couple of sentences. A short, concise email will likely yield a response, even if it is a â€Å"No, I am not accepting students.† What Next? Thank the professor for his or her response, regardless. If the faculty member is accepting students then work on tailoring your application to his or her lab. Should you start a dialogue? You can’t predict how a professor will respond to multiple emails. Some might welcome them, but it is better playing it safe and avoid emailing the professor again unless you have specific questions about his or her research. Faculty doesnt want to mentor students who require hand-holding, and you want to avoid being perceived as needy. Should you decide to ask a specific question about his or her research, remember that brevity is key in receiving a response.