Microsoft Word stilistika O'UM. doc

Euphemism. 
Euphemism is a periphrasis which is used to rename an 
unpleasant word or expression. E.g. death: the journey’s end, sleep; to die; to cross 
the bar; to join the majority. Usually euphemisms are defined as words or phrases 
which produce some mild effect. Instead of saying “to lie” people usually use such 
expressions as; to tell stories, to possess a vivid imagination. 
Euphemisms do not live for a long time. We trace periodical changes in 
terminology; the mad house: lunatic asylum, mental hospital; idiots, feeble-minded, 
low-medium, mental defectives. These changes in the system of nomination are 
signposts of progress in the development of the language. 
We distinguish the following groups of euphemisms: religious, moral, medical, 
political etc. The political euphemisms always delude public opinion, distort the 
political events. Instead of saying “a liar” in the political sphere we usually come 
across such expressions as: terminological inexactitudes; capitalists are called “free 
enterprises: unemployment is called “building up of labour reserves”. 
One and the same word may be periphrased by different euphemisms in 
different speech situations. For example, the word “liar” in private conversation may 
have the following euphemisms: untruther, story-teller, fabulish; in press: reckless 
disregarder for truth, dissimulator, misleader, falsier, fabricator etc. 

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101 
In emotive prose euphemisms are usually expressed by metonymy, metaphor 
or periphrases. One of the stylistic functions of euphemisms – is to produce a 
humorous effect or to distort the truth, to make the statement milder. Eg.: 
intoxication- drunkenness, perspiration- sweat etc.
Hyperbole. Hyperbole - is a stylistic device in which emphasis is achieved 
through deliberate exaggeration: million - coloured rainbow (Shelley) 
Actually, there are seven colours in the spectrum, Shelley's hyperbole 
emphasizes the beauty of that rainbow. 
Hyperbole is one of the most common expressive means of our everyday 
speech. 
So hyperbole is a statement fancifully exaggerated through excitement or for an 
effect. 
By such overstatement something is represented as much greater or less, better 
or worse: When people say «I've told you fifty times. They mean to scold and very 
often do (Byron) 
Hyperbole can be trite and genuine. The main stylistic function of hyperbole is to 
express emotions. In hyperbole the emotive meaning usually dominates over the 
logical one.