“EUPHEMISM” AS A COMMUNICATION STYLE IN IGBO CULTURE

Clementina Ukamaka Onyeka, Ifeoma Asuzu

Abstract


Euphemism refers to the substitution of an inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. This paper examines euphemism as a communication style in English Language. It aims at exploring the use of euphemism as a means of communication in the Igbo Culture. The objectives of this study are: to understand the meaning of euphemism and its use in Igbo language, to identify the different examples of euphemism in Igbo language, as well as to discover the different purposes or occasions where they are used in Igbo culture. The data for this study were gathered through interview of some aged people and review of related literature. There is also introspection of the researchers who are native speakers of Igbo culture. The descriptive approach to language study was also adopted. The study found out that euphemisms are used by Igbo people for different purposes such as reference to death, disease, child birth/ pregnancy, people’s characters and attributes, reference to harmful animals and in concealing of information. From the findings, it is observed that the Igbo language has rich euphemistic expressions which are used to avoid speaking directly about sensitive topics. One can therefore deduce that euphemisms exist in the Igbo language like in other languages as a means of replacing sensitive topics with inoffensive expressions. The study concludes that euphemism is a very rich figure of speech in Igbo culture and researchers are encouraged to go into this area of study for further research.


Keywords


Euphemism, Communication Style, Igbo Culture.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abrantes, A.M. (2005). Euphemism and co-operation in discourses E. Grillo (ed.), power without Domination, Dialogism and the Empowering Property of Communication, Armsterdan: John Benjamin Press, Pp. 85-103.

Adibe, G.E. Igbo Issues: Values, Chi, Akalaka, Ikenga, Magic, Agwu and Manipulation of Divinities. Onitsha: Midfield Publishers.

Allport, C. (1983). “Language and Cognition” In R. Harris (ed.) Approaches to Language (80-94). London: Pergamon Press.

Chamizo Dominguez, P.J & F. Sanchez Benedito. (2005). “Euphemism and dysphemism: Ambiguity and Supposition, Language and Discourse”. 2: 78-92.

Crespo, F. E. (2005). Euphemistic Strategies in Politeness and Face Concerns. Pragmalinguistica, 13:77–86.

Cruse, A. (2006). A Glossary of Semantics and Pragmatics. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

Goffman, E. (1967). On Face-Work. In: Goffmann, E, (ed.)., Interaction Ritual, Pantheon, New York: Oxford University Press 5-45.

Holder, Bob. (2008). Dictionary of Euphemisms. New York: Oxford University Press.

Hymes, Dell (1964). "Introduction: Toward Ethnographies of Communication". American

Anthropologist. 66 .1964: (6): 1–34.

McGlone, M. & Batchelor, J. A. (2003). Looking out for Number One: Euphemism and Face. Journal of Communication, 53:251–264.

Nypson, C. A. (2006). Literature made easy. Tema: Folie Books.

Omachonu, Gideon. S. (2011). “Serial Verb Constructions in Igala. Journal of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria. Volume 14, Number 2 (pp. 263-281).

Pearson, J., & Nelson, P. (2000). An Introduction to human communication: Understanding and sharing (p. 6). Boston, MA: McGraw- Hill.

Rafiu, K.A. & Adekunle, B. O. (2020). Coda violation among the Igbo-English in Ilorin: Ilorin University Press.

Ramiah, C.K.,& Wah, L.B. (2006). Heritage Awareness among Singaporeans. Archives Quarterly (Taiwan), 5 (4), 94-116.

Ren, C. & Yu, H. (2013). Euphemism from Sociolinguistics Perspective. Studies in Sociology of Science. 4(4), 45-48.

Riffaterre, Michael. (1959). Criteria for Style Analysis, WORD, 15: 1, 154-174

DOI: 10.1080/ 00437956. 1959. 11659690. https://doi.org/10.1080.00437956.1959. 11659890.

Samoskaite L. (2011) 21st Century Political Euphemisms in English Newspapers: A Semantic and Structural study. Department of English philology, Vilnius Pedagogical.

Stendhall (1971). Nemoirs of an egotist. London: Chatto and Windus, 1975. Wood, Michael, Stendhal. Ithaca, NY:. Cornell, University Press.

Taylor, K. (2007). Cultural Heritage Management: A Possible Role for Chaters and Principles in Asia. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 10 (5), 417-433.

Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. (1989). Springfield: Merriam-Webster Inc., Print.

http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/euphemism


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Clementina Ukamaka Onyeka, Ifeoma Asuzu

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ISSN (Print):   2695-2319

ISSN (Online): 2695-2327

 

 

   

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.