PRAGMATICS ANALYSIS OF EUPHEMISM OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Euphemism are often used by speakers to mild their
expression in order to be acceptable by others. Euphemism can be found in many areas
includes politic, medical, media and education. In education, the uses of euphemism has been
increased in order to avoid hurting both educator’s and student’s feeling to maintain the
harmonious relationship. However, pragmatics competence was required to know the hidden
meaning behind the euphemism.
Supporting these point, this study aims to identify the form and the function of
euphemism found in English Language Teaching. It also examines the impacts of euphemism
to the interlocutory using the reflectivity between euphemism, politeness and face theory.
Euphemism in education helps the educator to use polite and comfortable words. To achieve
the goal of this study, writer used the qualitative method by using the sound recording of five
classes and interview of 10 students that were joining those five classes. The data will be
analyzed by using the theory of Beatrice Warren about the form of euphemism, Kate Burridge
theory for the function and the reflexivity of euphemism, politeness and face based on
Crespo.
The result of the study revealed that there were one form of euphemism, semantics
innovation which has been divided into some categories: particularization, implication,
reversal (irony), understatement and overstatement. The functions of euphemism were the
protective euphemism, he underhand euphemism, the uplifting euphemism, the provocative
euphemism, and the ludic euphemism. Last, the impacts of euphemism found in English
Language Teaching were affecting the face of both lecturer and student. In conclusion,
euphemism can be used in education to avoid things that may affect the relationship
between educator and students.
(Keyword: pragmatics, euphemism, politeness strategies
Generally, people may replace the offensive thing by not saying it directly and using
euphemism to state what is meant.)