Dysphemism
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Look up dysphemism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
In language, dysphemism,a malphemism,b and cacophemismc refer to the usage of an intentionally harsh (rather than polite) word or expression; roughly the opposite of euphemism.[1]
Referring to the paper version of an online magazine as the "dead tree edition" or conventional postal mail as "snail-mail" are examples of dysphemisms.
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[edit] Related terms
While "dysphemism" or "malphemism" may be either offensive or merely humorously deprecating, "cacophemism" is usually deliberately offensive. The term "orthophemism" has been offered to refer to a neutral name or expression.[citation needed]
Some humorous expressions can be either euphemistic or dysphemic depending on context because terms which can be dysphemic can also be affectionate. For example, pushing up daisies can be taken as either softer or harsher than died.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^a dysphemism - from the Greek dys δύς "mis-" and pheme φήμη "reputation"
- ^b malphemism - from the Latin malus "bad"
- ^c cacophemism - from the Greek kakos κακός "bad"
[edit] References
- ^ "Languages within language: an evolutive approach - Iván Fónagy - Google Books". Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=Cm3xl7C9Rh4C&pg=PA268&dq=cacophemism&hl=en&ei=59jvTeTeBcabtwey6r3ACQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=cacophemism&f=false. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
[edit] Further reading
- Allan, Keith., Burridge, Kate. Euphemism & Dysphemism: Language Used As Shield and Weapon, Oxford University Press, 1991. ISBN 0735102880.
