Investigating EFL Iraqi College Students' Awareness of Euphemistic Expressions

Abstract

All over the world and in different societies and cultures , people are always looking for different ways of favourable , gentle smooth and soft communication .The 'powerful linguistic devices ' that are embedded in the daily English language is called "euphemism". It plays an important and vital role in daily communication. It represents a significant part of English . It is used to express any aspect of everyday realities such as the business world , mass media , etc. The comprehension of such realities can not be verified unless a reasonable command of euphemism is achieved.
Euphemism is defined according to various perspectives and views. It is " that figure of speech which consists in the substitution of a word or expression of comparatively favourable implication or less unpleasant associations , instead of the harsher or more offensive one that would more precisely designate what is intended"( Simpson and Weiner , 1989:210). It is " a word or phrase that is used in place of a disagreeable or offensive word or phrase" ( Crystal,1987:8).Wardhaugh (1990:231) believes that euphemistic expressions are the substitution of non- committal , more pleasant or vague expression for one with unpleasant connotations or of less prestige . " They are words which are softer than the original ones" ( Poole, 1999:119).