Euphemism in Prophet's Speeches: A Functional Approach

Euphemism can be defined as a pleasant word or phrase used to avoid shocking or embarrassing things. Euphemism is a famous linguistic phenomenon that involves using a polite expression instead of an impolite one. In effect, euphemism and dysphemism are regarded as linguistic tools that are dominant in all languages whether in spoken or written discourses. Euphemism in the Prophetic Speech, that is one of the prime sources of Islamic teachings and values, gains a special significance since it is used in contexts which are closely related to Muslims. Thus, euphemism is one of the rhetorical devices representing a serious problem which the translators of the Prophetic speech face. In effect, excretion, sexual affairs and death represent the most common and important topics in such Prophetic speeches. Such topics may reflect some kind of integration of the Prophetic speeches and euphemism as a sociolinguistic phenomenon. Hence, the translator's cross-culture knowledge on the one hand and language awareness devices are, on the other, highly recommended.