2014-08-28 Communication: synonyms and euphemisms

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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Homework: part 2 on handout, and add at least one additional word for each box

		synonyms		antonyms

old		ancient			novel
		antique			current
		antiquated		up-to-date
		elderly			new / young
		senior			junior
		mature			childish / immature
		curmudgeonly		childlike

fair		liberal			biased
		open-minded		prejudiced
		impartial		bigoted
		unbiased		unfair
		just			unjust
		tolerant		partial

perfect		immaculate		faulty
		impeccable		flawed
		faultless		second-rate/class
		flawless		imperfect
		first-rate/class

unimportant	irrelevant		essential
		trivial			urgent
		petty			vital
		insignificant		important
		unnecessary		relevant
		useless			principal
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connotation: the "extra" meaning (especially positive or negative meaning) that certain words have

"Older" has a more neutral less negative connotation than "old".

attempted murder / failed murder
completed murder / successful murder

My grandfather died yesterday. / My grandfather passed away.

"pass away" is more polite and less direct than "die"

is in a better place, passed on, left us
the departed, "my late grandfather"

sleep with, sleep together, hook up with
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euphemism: a word or expression that is used when people want to find a polite or less direct way to talk about difficult or embarrassing topics

(dysphemism: a word or expression that is intentionally more rude or direct than necessary)
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Euphemism treadmill:

old -> elderly -> seniors
lame -> crippled -> handicapped -> persons with disabilities
dumb -> mute
hearing-impaired -> hard of hearing
negro -> colored -> Black -> African American
-> person of color (this includes Latinos, Asians, Middle-Easterners and North Africans, Native Americans, etc.)
toilet -> bathroom
toilet paper -> bathroom tissue

Words for people can be "reclaimed" by those people, even if they are used in an insulting way by others.
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Homework: do the "quiz" on the handout