Are there languages with no euphemisms? The Next CEO of Stack OverflowAre there any languages that mark nouns as mass?How do languages with imperfect aspect typically convey distinctions between habitual, iterative, and progressive aspects?What is the relationship between syntax and semantics?Languages with no past tense?Why can verbs with imperfective morphology have a perfective meaning?Is language is more about “intent” rather than a great tool for communication?Is there a term that refers to eliminating a word from a text being translated in order to achieve dynamic equivalence?Are there any languages that either effectively don't have verbs or that somehow get around using a “standard” verb system?What are some plausible patterns that could develop in alien languages?Triggering emotions with language
Small nick on power cord from an electric alarm clock, and copper wiring exposed but intact
What is a typical Mizrachi Seder like?
Shortening a title without changing its meaning
Is the 21st century's idea of "freedom of speech" based on precedent?
How can I separate the number from the unit in argument?
Why does the freezing point matter when picking cooler ice packs?
Is it "common practice in Fourier transform spectroscopy to multiply the measured interferogram by an apodizing function"? If so, why?
How to coordinate airplane tickets?
How does a dynamic QR code work?
How can the PCs determine if an item is a phylactery?
Prodigo = pro + ago?
Could a dragon use its wings to swim?
Does Germany produce more waste than the US?
Is it correct to say moon starry nights?
Finitely generated matrix groups whose eigenvalues are all algebraic
What does this strange code stamp on my passport mean?
Can this transistor (2N2222) take 6 V on emitter-base? Am I reading the datasheet incorrectly?
Is a distribution that is normal, but highly skewed, considered Gaussian?
How exploitable/balanced is this homebrew spell: Spell Permanency?
Man transported from Alternate World into ours by a Neutrino Detector
Arrows in tikz Markov chain diagram overlap
Is it possible to make a 9x9 table fit within the default margins?
Is it a bad idea to plug the other end of ESD strap to wall ground?
That's an odd coin - I wonder why
Are there languages with no euphemisms?
The Next CEO of Stack OverflowAre there any languages that mark nouns as mass?How do languages with imperfect aspect typically convey distinctions between habitual, iterative, and progressive aspects?What is the relationship between syntax and semantics?Languages with no past tense?Why can verbs with imperfective morphology have a perfective meaning?Is language is more about “intent” rather than a great tool for communication?Is there a term that refers to eliminating a word from a text being translated in order to achieve dynamic equivalence?Are there any languages that either effectively don't have verbs or that somehow get around using a “standard” verb system?What are some plausible patterns that could develop in alien languages?Triggering emotions with language
I feel that euphemisms are a function of how society views certain aspects of life and feels that they should not be talked about directly. So are there languages with no euphemisms?
semantics sociolinguistics
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
add a comment |
I feel that euphemisms are a function of how society views certain aspects of life and feels that they should not be talked about directly. So are there languages with no euphemisms?
semantics sociolinguistics
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
15
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
6
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13
add a comment |
I feel that euphemisms are a function of how society views certain aspects of life and feels that they should not be talked about directly. So are there languages with no euphemisms?
semantics sociolinguistics
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
I feel that euphemisms are a function of how society views certain aspects of life and feels that they should not be talked about directly. So are there languages with no euphemisms?
semantics sociolinguistics
semantics sociolinguistics
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
asked Mar 28 at 9:51
Ishan UpadhyayIshan Upadhyay
3615
3615
15
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
6
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13
add a comment |
15
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
6
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13
15
15
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
6
6
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Their presence across all known world languages constitutes a linguistic universal according to research from Allan and Burridge (1991)
Refer to this article here. And to this paper, here
As @Wilson interestingly points out, it's not easy to say, "There exists one", also because, where do you draw a line and say this particular saying is not a Euphemism for something slightly more taboo. Since there is no scale, no definite measure. All languages will mostly have some sort of euphemism construction.
Unless they are artificial languages or very specific sociolect (like in a precision field like surgery), where you have to be totally clear about the point you are making and slight confusion can make a lot of deprecation.
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
add a comment |
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one.
Euphemisms do not require the currently spoken language to accommodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words that are being spoken.
The only way you could have a language where a particular euphemism doesn't work is if that language simply never defines the word that the speaker wishes to use. But that still doesn't mean that the speaker is incapable of using any euphemisms.
Even in a strict context which doesn't allow for nuance, you can be euphemistic. Imagine a world of mathematics where being a "circle" is considered as offensive language. I could still introduce euphemisms by saying things like:
Tommy is an n-gon with a [particular size of] n.
All I need to change to nuance my euphemism is change my statement about how big the value of n is.
Anyone who understands the existence of euphemisms (which is a cultural thing) will understand that I'm trying to get away with calling Tommy a circle (or close to it) without saying so.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It's hard to answer a question with a definite negative, since that leaves the possibility open for someone to come along later and say, "I know an example which disproves your position".
But I think that naturally occurring human languages are all going to have euphemisms, since humans seem to like that.
The only languages I know which do not have euphemisms are ones which are designed to be unambiguous. They include Lojban and SQL.
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue thatLEFT JOINis a euphemism forLEFT OUTER JOINbecause the latter is unpleasantly long to type!
– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
|
show 2 more comments
If I say, "you know best", I mean you are wrong but I can't be bothered to offend or argue with you. This is a euphemism for the speaker but not necessarily for the listener if they do not realize they have been closed down.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
add a comment |
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "312"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2flinguistics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f30990%2fare-there-languages-with-no-euphemisms%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Their presence across all known world languages constitutes a linguistic universal according to research from Allan and Burridge (1991)
Refer to this article here. And to this paper, here
As @Wilson interestingly points out, it's not easy to say, "There exists one", also because, where do you draw a line and say this particular saying is not a Euphemism for something slightly more taboo. Since there is no scale, no definite measure. All languages will mostly have some sort of euphemism construction.
Unless they are artificial languages or very specific sociolect (like in a precision field like surgery), where you have to be totally clear about the point you are making and slight confusion can make a lot of deprecation.
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
add a comment |
Their presence across all known world languages constitutes a linguistic universal according to research from Allan and Burridge (1991)
Refer to this article here. And to this paper, here
As @Wilson interestingly points out, it's not easy to say, "There exists one", also because, where do you draw a line and say this particular saying is not a Euphemism for something slightly more taboo. Since there is no scale, no definite measure. All languages will mostly have some sort of euphemism construction.
Unless they are artificial languages or very specific sociolect (like in a precision field like surgery), where you have to be totally clear about the point you are making and slight confusion can make a lot of deprecation.
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
add a comment |
Their presence across all known world languages constitutes a linguistic universal according to research from Allan and Burridge (1991)
Refer to this article here. And to this paper, here
As @Wilson interestingly points out, it's not easy to say, "There exists one", also because, where do you draw a line and say this particular saying is not a Euphemism for something slightly more taboo. Since there is no scale, no definite measure. All languages will mostly have some sort of euphemism construction.
Unless they are artificial languages or very specific sociolect (like in a precision field like surgery), where you have to be totally clear about the point you are making and slight confusion can make a lot of deprecation.
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
Their presence across all known world languages constitutes a linguistic universal according to research from Allan and Burridge (1991)
Refer to this article here. And to this paper, here
As @Wilson interestingly points out, it's not easy to say, "There exists one", also because, where do you draw a line and say this particular saying is not a Euphemism for something slightly more taboo. Since there is no scale, no definite measure. All languages will mostly have some sort of euphemism construction.
Unless they are artificial languages or very specific sociolect (like in a precision field like surgery), where you have to be totally clear about the point you are making and slight confusion can make a lot of deprecation.
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
edited Mar 29 at 5:38
Manuel B
32
32
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
answered Mar 28 at 11:15
WiccanKarnakWiccanKarnak
9391424
9391424
add a comment |
add a comment |
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one.
Euphemisms do not require the currently spoken language to accommodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words that are being spoken.
The only way you could have a language where a particular euphemism doesn't work is if that language simply never defines the word that the speaker wishes to use. But that still doesn't mean that the speaker is incapable of using any euphemisms.
Even in a strict context which doesn't allow for nuance, you can be euphemistic. Imagine a world of mathematics where being a "circle" is considered as offensive language. I could still introduce euphemisms by saying things like:
Tommy is an n-gon with a [particular size of] n.
All I need to change to nuance my euphemism is change my statement about how big the value of n is.
Anyone who understands the existence of euphemisms (which is a cultural thing) will understand that I'm trying to get away with calling Tommy a circle (or close to it) without saying so.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one.
Euphemisms do not require the currently spoken language to accommodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words that are being spoken.
The only way you could have a language where a particular euphemism doesn't work is if that language simply never defines the word that the speaker wishes to use. But that still doesn't mean that the speaker is incapable of using any euphemisms.
Even in a strict context which doesn't allow for nuance, you can be euphemistic. Imagine a world of mathematics where being a "circle" is considered as offensive language. I could still introduce euphemisms by saying things like:
Tommy is an n-gon with a [particular size of] n.
All I need to change to nuance my euphemism is change my statement about how big the value of n is.
Anyone who understands the existence of euphemisms (which is a cultural thing) will understand that I'm trying to get away with calling Tommy a circle (or close to it) without saying so.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one.
Euphemisms do not require the currently spoken language to accommodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words that are being spoken.
The only way you could have a language where a particular euphemism doesn't work is if that language simply never defines the word that the speaker wishes to use. But that still doesn't mean that the speaker is incapable of using any euphemisms.
Even in a strict context which doesn't allow for nuance, you can be euphemistic. Imagine a world of mathematics where being a "circle" is considered as offensive language. I could still introduce euphemisms by saying things like:
Tommy is an n-gon with a [particular size of] n.
All I need to change to nuance my euphemism is change my statement about how big the value of n is.
Anyone who understands the existence of euphemisms (which is a cultural thing) will understand that I'm trying to get away with calling Tommy a circle (or close to it) without saying so.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one.
Euphemisms do not require the currently spoken language to accommodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words that are being spoken.
The only way you could have a language where a particular euphemism doesn't work is if that language simply never defines the word that the speaker wishes to use. But that still doesn't mean that the speaker is incapable of using any euphemisms.
Even in a strict context which doesn't allow for nuance, you can be euphemistic. Imagine a world of mathematics where being a "circle" is considered as offensive language. I could still introduce euphemisms by saying things like:
Tommy is an n-gon with a [particular size of] n.
All I need to change to nuance my euphemism is change my statement about how big the value of n is.
Anyone who understands the existence of euphemisms (which is a cultural thing) will understand that I'm trying to get away with calling Tommy a circle (or close to it) without saying so.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Mar 28 at 14:41
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
answered Mar 28 at 14:36
FlaterFlater
1912
1912
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Flater is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
It's hard to answer a question with a definite negative, since that leaves the possibility open for someone to come along later and say, "I know an example which disproves your position".
But I think that naturally occurring human languages are all going to have euphemisms, since humans seem to like that.
The only languages I know which do not have euphemisms are ones which are designed to be unambiguous. They include Lojban and SQL.
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue thatLEFT JOINis a euphemism forLEFT OUTER JOINbecause the latter is unpleasantly long to type!
– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
|
show 2 more comments
It's hard to answer a question with a definite negative, since that leaves the possibility open for someone to come along later and say, "I know an example which disproves your position".
But I think that naturally occurring human languages are all going to have euphemisms, since humans seem to like that.
The only languages I know which do not have euphemisms are ones which are designed to be unambiguous. They include Lojban and SQL.
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue thatLEFT JOINis a euphemism forLEFT OUTER JOINbecause the latter is unpleasantly long to type!
– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
|
show 2 more comments
It's hard to answer a question with a definite negative, since that leaves the possibility open for someone to come along later and say, "I know an example which disproves your position".
But I think that naturally occurring human languages are all going to have euphemisms, since humans seem to like that.
The only languages I know which do not have euphemisms are ones which are designed to be unambiguous. They include Lojban and SQL.
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
It's hard to answer a question with a definite negative, since that leaves the possibility open for someone to come along later and say, "I know an example which disproves your position".
But I think that naturally occurring human languages are all going to have euphemisms, since humans seem to like that.
The only languages I know which do not have euphemisms are ones which are designed to be unambiguous. They include Lojban and SQL.
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
answered Mar 28 at 10:16
WilsonWilson
1,866520
1,866520
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue thatLEFT JOINis a euphemism forLEFT OUTER JOINbecause the latter is unpleasantly long to type!
– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
|
show 2 more comments
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue thatLEFT JOINis a euphemism forLEFT OUTER JOINbecause the latter is unpleasantly long to type!
– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
4
4
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
"Little Johnny Lobjan never uses euphemisms," said the teacher. "He's so... so... unambiguous." :)
– Luke Sawczak
Mar 28 at 11:14
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
Of course a euphemism is kind of an ambiguity, right? As in, is she actually powdering her nose or has she really gone for a slash like everyone believes?
– Wilson
Mar 28 at 11:17
7
7
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue that
LEFT JOIN is a euphemism for LEFT OUTER JOIN because the latter is unpleasantly long to type!– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
@Wilson: euphemism is replacing an unpleasant word or phrase with a neutral one which might or might not change the face meaning. Egg is a chicken fruit after all. And one could argue that
LEFT JOIN is a euphemism for LEFT OUTER JOIN because the latter is unpleasantly long to type!– Quassnoi
Mar 28 at 13:14
5
5
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
@Wilson To be unambiguous, is that an ASCII code 47 or 92 slash?
– Graham
Mar 28 at 21:46
4
4
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
Yeah, TRUNCATE is definitely a euphemism in SQL. Since when has destroying something's entire contents been known as truncating? Have we ever heard Mr Trump threatening to "truncate" North Korea?
– Dawood ibn Kareem
Mar 28 at 23:29
|
show 2 more comments
If I say, "you know best", I mean you are wrong but I can't be bothered to offend or argue with you. This is a euphemism for the speaker but not necessarily for the listener if they do not realize they have been closed down.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
add a comment |
If I say, "you know best", I mean you are wrong but I can't be bothered to offend or argue with you. This is a euphemism for the speaker but not necessarily for the listener if they do not realize they have been closed down.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
add a comment |
If I say, "you know best", I mean you are wrong but I can't be bothered to offend or argue with you. This is a euphemism for the speaker but not necessarily for the listener if they do not realize they have been closed down.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
If I say, "you know best", I mean you are wrong but I can't be bothered to offend or argue with you. This is a euphemism for the speaker but not necessarily for the listener if they do not realize they have been closed down.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
answered Mar 29 at 13:53
Jonathan KimmittJonathan Kimmitt
1
1
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Jonathan Kimmitt is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
add a comment |
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
2
2
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
Hi Jonathan ! Welcome the Linguistics SE . we use comments for suggestions or short definitions, The OP doesn't need to know the definition of Euphemism, it's implied when he asks a more complex question on it. Hope you find Linguistics SE nice to be on!
– WiccanKarnak
Mar 29 at 13:58
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Linguistics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2flinguistics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f30990%2fare-there-languages-with-no-euphemisms%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
15
I feel like this is more of a cultural question than a linguistic one. Euphemisms do not require their language to accomodate them. Euphemisms rely on a person's understanding that A is a less extreme version of B, regardless of the language of the words.
– Flater
Mar 28 at 14:33
6
Whether a word is currently being used as a euphemism might be arguable and culturally dependent. Wiktionary says this about toilet: "From Middle French toilette ('small cloth')...from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. Toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures." Is toilet still a euphemism? I would guess that, to most US English speakers, a "toilet" is a fixture for receiving excrement and its euphemistic sense has been lost. This is why phrase "eau de toilette" used in perfume commercials is funny to me.
– WaterMolecule
Mar 28 at 18:55
...at the very opposite end of the spectrum (and a little off-topic), waaay past "water closet" territory, I'm reminded of the Star Trek episode "Darmok", where the alien species speaks entirely in allegory (eg “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” == "working together"). In this case, it's entirely possible to construct a language without (active) verbs (blurring cultural & linguistic).
– michael
Mar 29 at 4:15
There are some languages which may fall into this category, but which not enough is known to say for sure, without talking to the few experts. I am thinking specifically of Pirahã. I would not be at all surprised to find that Pirahã does not have euphemisms.
– Tharpa
Mar 29 at 15:13