名人教英文：euphemism & innuendo
the term "figures of speech" (文章之词采) should not be confused with the term "parts of speech" (英文之文法). the former refers to various ways of using words or phrases to enrich expressions for rhetorical and vivid effect. the latter refers to traditional grammar which classifies words into eight parts of speech: verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.
this week we focus on two figures of speech, namely: "euphemism" and "innuendo".
euphemism 婉词
the term "euphemism" is greek in origin: "eu" means good and "pheme" refers to speech. "euphemism" thus means "speaking in a nice way or not speaking at all". thus, euphemisms are words used to replace offensive words in order to mask unpleasantness or profanity (不敬).
when words and phrases are used euphemistically, they are used as substitutes for words which are taboo, inappropriate or too vulgar and risqué to mention in polite company. (1)
some examples of frequently used euphemistic expressions are given below:
◆"pass away" means "die".
◆"sleep with" or "get laid" means "have sex".
◆"to be in the family way" means "to get pregnant".
◆"senior citizens" simply means "old people".
◆"to be mentally challenged" is "to be mentally retarded".
innuendo 讥讽的双关语
the word "innuendo" has its origin in latin which means "to point to" or "to nod at something". an innuendo is suggestive and is often a play on words, referred to as a "double entendre" or "double speak". what is said can have a double meaning. it is like saying something without actually saying it. in other words, an innuendo is indirectly pointing at something or someone in a derogatory and unpleasant way. it is an insinuation which is at once subtle and indirect and obliquely alluding to something else. (2)
many situations - comedies and pantomimes use innuendoes, including sexual innuendoes, humorously.
in public speeches and literary essays, it is found that euphemisms and innuendoes are often used together for rhetorical effect.
for example, the sentence "we are just good friends" can mean either "we are no friends at all"; or conversely, "we are more than friends, i.e. we are lovers".
■passage of the week﹕stamina 耐力
stamina is the plural form of stamen. figuratively, it means the power of endurance.
in life, stamina come in two kinds: those arising from casting pearls before ignoramus (3), and those arising from repeated defeat. stamina imply an ability to pick oneself up when one is down, to dust oneself off and to try and try again.
those of us who are brought up to accept the ups and downs of life learn also to accept the many challenges in life, even if we are economically and socially challenged (4).
■footnotes 批注
1.句译︰用婉曲的字汇或语句往往代替禁用的、污秽的、粗鄙的、下流的、在上流社会不可能用的语句或字汇。
2.句译︰这讥讽的双关语间接地、轻描淡写地暗示着别的意思。
3.句译︰人生有两种耐力︰一种来自忍受那「对牛弹琴」的痛苦 (注︰the english word "ignoramus" means "an ignorant person" (一个无知者). there is an english idiom "to cast pearls before swine". this idiom means "to display knowledge before ignorant and unappreciative people". the chinese idiomatic equivalent approximates 「对牛弹琴」.)
4.to be economically and socially challenged = to be both poor and underprivileged 这婉词意思是「又穷又无地位」。