Metaphor and Euphemism

[David Birch]

There's an excellent book on Metaphor by Andrew Goatley published by
Routledge a couple of years ago, well worth checking out on this.  All the
best, David (Birch)


>>
>>Could anyone be so kind and explain to me how 'metaphor' and 'euphemism'
>>are related?  In which way are they similar and in which ways do they
>>differ? Is euphemism a kind of metaphor?
>>Dina
>>kath2 at zedat.fu-berlin.de
>
>Dina,
>
>I haven't run across a specific answer to your question, but I would observe
>that in the metaphor theory I have read, there is a preoccupation with
>defining metaphor and its particular characteristics.  A good deal of effort
>has gone into distinguishing metaphor from simile--or into explaining why
>there is no real distinction.
>
>With respect to euphemisism, I have this thought to offer, for what it's
>worth.  If you accept the most common definition of metaphor, you could call
>some euphemisms metaphor.  But it seems to me you would always have to
>determine case-by-case which are decidedly metaphoric.
>
>That is, most metaphor theorists define metaphor as the structuring of one
>domain of experience by another.  (I'm thinking particularly of the
>definition provided by Lakoff, Johnson, Turner.)  So if we have a metaphor
>such as The Conduit Metaphor (as Reddy discusses it), we structure our
>understanding of Language in terms of a conduit.  The logic of containment,
>transfer, and giving/receiving apply to Language, and it becomes what it is,
>in part, by virtue of the metaphor.
>
>Some euphemisms might do the same thing but not all.  For example, we no
>longer say "crippled" because of its derogatory connotation and substitute
>the euphemism "disabled."  Under the prevailing definition, this euphemism
>doesn't seem to be metaphoric.  "Disabled" doesn't bring to bear a second
>domain of experience.  To take another example, Democrats have lately
>dropped "gun control" and substituted the euphemism "gun safety."  If a
>second domain of experience is brought to bear by this, it's not readily
>apparent to me.  (Perhaps after one more cup of coffee all will become clear.)
>
>On the other hand, when we say "correctional facility" instead of "prison,"
>I suspect the substitution functions metaphorically.  We never lose the
>original idea of confinement and punishment, but it is now structured by the
>logic of error.  Of course, the change in name probably coincides with
>actual institutional changes (or hoped-for changes).  "Work farm" for
>"prison" is even more obviously metaphoric.  "Up the river" would not be a
>metaphor.  It's more of an avoidance of naming.
>
>Also, long-established synonyms suggest alternate metaphoric structures.  An
>example that comes to mind is "shortcoming" for "fault."  They are synonyms,
>and--to my ear--"shortcoming" is euphemistic.  The words call upon different
>structures, "shortcoming" having to do with reaching or journeying but
>"fault" having to do with defect, possibly a mechanical  metaphor.
>
>'Hope these thoughts are of some use.
>
>Phil
>
>Philip Eubanks
>Northern Illinois University
>eubanks1 at niu.edu