Abstract
1Paradoxically, neologisms which underline novelty can often serve to euphemize what they designate. Although the mechanisms of lexical creation and the domains in which they turn up do not completely overlap, it turns out that the two are very often linked. The politically correct gives rise to lenifying periphrasis to designate various disabilities (visually impaired) or devalued occupations (cleansing personnel). Lexical innovations have an apotropaic value to designate unpleasant or shocking realities (the suburbs or banlieues in the French social context). Direct borrowings put the emphasis on the negative aspects in imported criminal actions, such as skimming, smash and grab… or deviant or high risk behaviour, such as balconing… But these euphemistic neologisms wear out their initial function, as the present-day meaning of the verbe deceder (cf. English deceased), which etymologically means ‘to leave’, used to avoid the verb mourir (to die), has in fact become a synonym.
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