Post on 15-Jul-2015
transcript
TYPES AND FORMS OF EUPHEMISMS
USED IN MINANGKABAUNESE
Rusdi Noor Rosa
FBS UNIVERSITAS NEGERI
PADANG
KIMLI 2014
Rationale Human is eager to please
The expressions that needs euphemizing in one culture may not need to be euphemized in another culture.
Source of data: Palanta series entitled “Jawi Naiak Innova”
written in Minangkabaunese language
taking palanta (traditional coffee shop) as the setting.
Sitting in palanta reflects the traditional Minangkabunese activities in which they share ideas, provide suggestions, mantain the traditional culture, and sometimes criticize the government policy.
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Some basic ideas to the
emergence of euphemisms
to avoid taboo words (early use of euphemisms)
to substitute an offensive or unpleasant word for a more pleasant one (Leech, 1981; Enright, 1985)
to provide an alternative to a dispreferred expression and to keep mutual cooperation in a conversation (Allan and Burridge, 1991)
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Euphemism as a culturally
related term
is closely related to culture, tradition, mentality, social community
serves as a bridge connecting language with folklore
reflects cultural characteristics (euphemisms are mirrors of culture)
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Euphemisms and Culture
culture influences the way people choose the
expressions in their communication
the expressions that need euphemizing in
one culture may not need to be euphemized
in another culture
a certain familiarity with the cultural
background of euphemisms is essential to
the decoding of euphemisms
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Euphemisms
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Positive Negative
stylistic euphemisms
exaggerating euphemisms
traditional euphemisms
narrowing euphemism
making the items
more important
than they really are
closely connected
with taboos
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Forms of Euphemisms
phonetic lexical grammatical rethorical
Abbreviation
Reduplication
Distortion of
pronunciation
Loan words
Substitutions
Vague words
Stories from
religious works
Negations
Ellipsis
Periphrasis
Metaphors
Positive Euphemisms
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Yo, lah! Kok lah batambah jo nan labiah gadang masuak
yes if after add (passive) by who more big enter
ka Muaro dalam duo atau tigo hari ko.
into muaro in two or three day this
„Sure! If there are more people coming into Muaro in the next two
or three days.‟
The euphemism used in this sentence is the word Muaro which is
a name of a place in Padang in which a local prison is located.
This word is used to euphemize the word prison which sounds
unpleasant as it is a place for arresting people who committed a
crime. By using the word Muaro, the expression „coming into
Muaro‟ sounds more pleasant because it is common activities
done by people such as coming into schools, offices, etc.
Other words in Minangkabaunese used to euphemize the word
prison includes kandang situmbin, hotel prodeo, bajarajak basi
and tansi.
Positive Euphemisms
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Nagari awak banyak tukang teori.
country we (poss.) many handyman theory.
„In our country there are many theorists.‟
The word theorist that should mean a person whose job is
creating as well as developing theories based on their research
projects, in this sentence, means a person who likes telling many
things without any single evidence. By using this word, the
unpleasant meaning can be minimized, and the word sounds
more pleasant.
Negative Euphemisms
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Ratusan manusia kailangan angok dibueknyo.
thousands people lose breath make (passive)
„Thousands of people lose their breath because of it.‟
The expression kailangan angok (lose their breath) is used to
euphemize the word “death”. This word is taboo since death is
the unexpected event when a person leaves the world forever.
In Minangkabaunese, other words used to euphemize death
include maningga, bakapeh muncuang, and lah pai.
Negative Euphemisms
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Bini kalau sadang datang bulan, ijan digauli jo.
wife if while come moon not get along with too
„If your wife is in her menstrual period, don‟t get along with her.‟
The activity of getting along with is a usual activity done by
people as social creatures. However, in this sentence, the
expression getting along with is used to euphemize the sexual
activity of husband and wife which is taboo to be delivered
literally. Therefore, in Minangkabaunese, this word is always
euphemized.
Other expressions in Palanta column used to euphemize this
activity are bacampua baua antaro laki-laki jo padusi, sosoh, and
bagalintin pintin.
Negative Euphemisms
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A name of a certain animal is also euphemized in
Minangkabaunese. Look at the following sentence.
Awak ambiak se contoh inyiak balang.
we take only example old people striped.
„Let‟s take a striped old people as an example.‟
The expression inyiak balang literally translated as „striped old
people‟ means a „tiger‟. It is a carnivorous animal which is wild
and frightens not only other animals but also human. Many of
this animal are found in the area of Minangkabaunese, so saying
its name is considered taboo. This is an interesting phenomena
since it is one of the proves that there is a relationship between
ecology and linguistics.
Phonetic Device
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Kasudahannyo basuo bagalintin pintin dek patugeh.
finally meet squeeze by officer
„Finally, the officers found them squeezing.‟
The word bagalintin pintin is formed through reduplication of the
first set of sounds
... harusnyo indak banyak lo cik minyaknyo.
should not much too shit oil
„... They should not have too many illogical reasons.‟
The word cik is formed by eliminating the sounds /ir/ situated in
the middle of the word cirik meaning “shit” in English
Lexical Device
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Urang sasek bawo tu mah Lin!
people mistake bring that lin
„That‟s people who brought it mistakenly, Lin!‟
The word sasek bawo is a compound word that substitutes the
meaning of stealing. In fact, that person has already stolen Lin‟s
sandal, however, this expression is replaced by the expression
“brought it mistakenly‟.
Other lexical devices include name of certain places, and loan
words.
Rethorical device Antah kok ado lo tungkek nan mambao rabah.
or if present also stick which bring collapse
„Or if there is a stick collapsing.‟
The word tungkek (stick) in the sentence does not mean a „real‟
stick. It is a metaphorical expression referring to a person or a
leader that he himself gives bad influence to a group of society he
is leading.
Another use of rethorical device is by using periphrasis through
which topics and terms that are too touchy to be dealt with
openly may be alluded to. For example, the expression aksi
damai sambia basalam is a euphemism of “giving a bribe to the
police officer for not being ticketted” which sounds too vulgar and
too offense.
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Grammatical Device
Samakin banyak urang nan masuak.
more many people that enter
„More and more people come.‟
This sentence eliminates some of its elements. The elements
deleted are the word ka (into) and panjaro (prison). In daily
speech, Minangkabaunese people intentionally omit some
offensive words and expressions, and hide some vulgar and
impolite descriptions to achieve the desired effect.
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Forms of Euphemisms
phonetic lexical grammatical rethorical
Reduplication
Blending
Distortion of
pronunciation
Proper noun
Loan words
Substitutions
Ellipsis
Metaphorical
expression
Periphrasis
Types of Euphemisms
Positive Negative
Name of place
Replacing bad
attitudes with
names of
occupations
Death
Sensitive body
organs
Sexual activities
Certain animal
Findings
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