EUPHEMISMS AND THEIR AREAS OF USAGE IN THE KAZAN-TATAR LANGUAGE


Euphemisms are expressions that enrich the vocabulary of a language, reflect the culture, lifestyle and beliefs of a nation, and define the ways psychological reactions, such as fear, respect, shame and disgust are expressed. In the general sense, taboo that is a ‘prohibition’ is at the root of a euphemism, which is a more polite, sugarcoated and implicit way of expressing what people would not want to or shy away or fear to say directly. Such expressions can be found in every language, among which the Kazan-Tatar language is a vivid example with its euphemisms reflecting the society’s culture and perspective on various issues. In Kazan-Tatar, it is observed that some of these words are related to traditions and beliefs about pregnancy, disease, death, animals thought to be dangerous, and awe for the supernatural, while others are a reflection of bashfulness, a concern for courtesy or good manners. In this study, the euphemisms used in the Kazan-Tatar vocabulary are evaluated under the categories of ‘Nouns’, ‘Verbs,’ and ‘Idioms.’ The words used in the study are recorded as the ‘euphemisms’ (ěvfěmizm) in Kazan-Tatar in several dictionaries containing explanations on the vocabulary of this language. The study attempts to analyze and document euphemisms used in the Kazan-Tatar, the purposes they serve and the areas they are used and the course of change they follow as lifestyles and beliefs change. Furthermore, it will attempt to address, as far as possible, the traditions and cultural elements that gave rise to these euphemisms.


Keywords


Kazan-Tatar Language, Taboo, Euphemism.

Author : Özge SÖNMEZLER DURAN
Number of pages: 2109-2121
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/TurkishStudies.29271
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Turkish Studies - Language and Literature
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