Metaphors and Euphemisms – The Case of Death in English and Serbian

Jun 23, 2026

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Contrastive analysis of euphemisms for death in English and Serbian using Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The study explains how metaphors operate with a mitigating capacity, functioning as a strong source for euphemistic reference. By linking metaphorical structure to cognitive processing, the paper clarifies how language choices soften negative, unwanted, and undesirable meanings associated with death. Findings illuminate cross-linguistic patterns in euphemistic framing and conceptualization.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time20 min

Introduction

Theoretical Framework: Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Contrastive Analysis of Death Euphemisms

Mitigating Capacity of Metaphors

FAQs

What is the main focus of the paper?

The paper analyzes euphemisms for death in English and Serbian through a contrastive lens.

Which theoretical framework does the paper use?

It uses Conceptual Metaphor Theory as initiated by Lakoff and Johnson (1980).

How do metaphors contribute to euphemistic reference?

Metaphors provide a “mitigating capacity,” enabling euphemistic reference by hiding unwanted negative meanings.

Jun 23, 2026

Upload by Levi