Euphemism in Saudi Arabic and British English

This paper investigates euphemism strategies used in Saudi Arabic and English. It shows that there are some similarities and differences, which can be attributed to cultural and religious beliefs and values. The strategies of euphemism found in the Saudi responses are ‘part-for-whole’, ‘overstatement’, ‘understatement’, ‘deletion’, ‘metaphor’, ‘general-for-specific’, and ‘learned words and jargons’. The British participants employed ‘understatement’, ‘deletion’, ‘learned words and jargons’, ‘metaphors’, and ‘general-for-specific’. This indicates that Saudi Arabic seems to have more ways of expressing euphemisms. The study also reveals that there is no relationship between euphemism strategy choice and gender. Another significant finding is that the Saudis and the British resort to taboos, when handling death and lying, but hardly ever for bodily functions. Euphemistic language, like language in general, is influenced by its users’ cultural and religious beliefs, life-styles, and norms. The study suggests that increasing second/foreign language learners’ awareness of euphemism is essential for intercultural communication.

► This paper investigates euphemism strategies used in Saudi Arabic and English.
► The revealed similarities and differences can be attributed to cultural and religious beliefs and values.
► The Saudis and the British resort to taboos, when handling death and lying, but hardly, if never in bodily functions.
► Language is influenced by its users’ cultural and religious beliefs, life-styles, and norms.
► Increasing second/foreign language learners’ awareness of euphemism is essential for intercultural communication.