Preface “Euphemisms & Dysphemisms” Writing for New Technologies Purpose To convey not only the...
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Preface “Euphemisms & Dysphemisms” Writing for New Technologies Purpose To convey not only the power but the absurdity sometimes in regards to the extent of euphemisms and dysphemisms in our society and language today. Many examples are provided, though not really any straight graphics. Audience This presentation is timed to advance automatically. Typically, it will be shown on its own without necessarily a speaker (though one could talk before and/or after if they wished.) I see it being used in English classrooms of about junior high level and above. Notes: I want to know if the information presented is clear enough. Also, is there enough time to comfortably read it? I have tried to pad it with as much time as I can to read slides while keeping with the music.
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Transcript of Preface “Euphemisms & Dysphemisms” Writing for New Technologies Purpose To convey not only the...
Preface“Euphemisms & Dysphemisms”Writing for New Technologies
PurposeTo convey not only the power but the absurdity sometimes in regards to the extent of euphemisms and dysphemisms in our society and language today.Many examples are provided, though not really any straight graphics.
AudienceThis presentation is timed to advance automatically. Typically, it will be shown on its own without necessarily a speaker (though one could talk before and/or after if they wished.) I see it being used in English classrooms of about junior high level and above.
Notes: I want to know if the information presented is clear enough. Also, is there enough time to comfortably read it? I have tried to pad it with as much time as I can to read slides while keeping with the music.
The Power of Language
Euphemisms
( and other –mismses )
Dysphemisms
&
brought to you byTimothy Alder
BASICALLYa euphemism makes
somethingsound better
and a dysphemism makes somethingsound worse
( “stingy” )
( “thrifty” )
YOO-fuh-mizum
DIS-fuh-mizum
For
example:“sanitary landfill” &
“garbage dump”“pre-owned vehicle” &
“used car”
Ridiculous Meter:
The Euphemism Treadmill
what once was “nice” becomes “rude”(euphemisms become
dysphemisms)
lame
crippled
handicapped
disabled
lamecrippledhandicappeddisabledBUT!
The Dysphemism Treadmill
what once was “rude” becomes “okay”(dysphemisms become
euphemisms)
“that sucks”offensive
objectionable
questionable
accepted
pre-1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Ridiculous Meter:
dysphemisms are actually quitecommon in everyday speech
Common Dysphemisms
no sports team actually“slaughters the other team”
no company actually“crushes their competition”
Went
better
Euphemisms vs. Dysphemisms
Balance
Dysphemisms
Euphemisms
Dearly
departedGon
erest
dust
Worm
Croaked
( perhaps they are too common… )
Passed
away
to his plac
eto a
foodBi
tthe unde
rSix
footTakin
gnap
a dirtBoug
htfarm
theKicke
dbucke
tthePushin
gdaisie
sup
The Military and Eu(-phemisms)
DECRYPTING
neutralizing a target
Killing an enemy
collateral damagefriendly fire
accidental killing
shooting a teammate
DECRYPTED
Ridiculous Meter:
euphemisms & dysphemismsare all around us
on signs
on TV
in everyday speech in books
on things at the store
but their true poweris that we often don’t notice
them
euphemism?
dysphemism?
dysphemism?
euphemism?
euphemism?
euphemism?
dysphemism?
you must always ask yourself
what are they really saying?
what does that really mean?
why are they really hiding it?
truth
find
fin
© 2006 Sean Hanley
