THE EXPRESSION OF EUPHEMISMS THROUGH METAPHOR

Authors

  • Dushatova Shohsanam Baxtiyor qizi Author

Abstract

This article investigates how euphemisms are metaphorically expressed in the English language. Euphemisms, as linguistic tools used to soften harsh or taboo subjects, often rely on metaphorical frameworks to achieve politeness or cultural appropriateness. The study draws on cognitive linguistic theories, particularly Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), to identify metaphorical mappings in euphemistic expressions. Through qualitative analysis of authentic discourse samples, the research categorizes metaphorical euphemisms into conceptual domains such as death is a journey, sex is a mechanical process, and illness is an enemy. The findings reveal the socio-cultural motivations behind metaphor selection and the dynamic role euphemisms play in shaping social norms, revealing the tight link between cognition, culture, and communication.

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Published

2025-06-03