Speaking the unspeakable: why do we avoid reality through euphemism and taboo?
Most of us have experienced a reluctance to talk directly about things that might embarrass us, frighten us, or that are for some reason just plain difficult. To help us cope with the messy and frightening aspects of life, we’re provided with a linguistic escape hatch in the form of ‘euphemism’. This is avoidance or evasive language — deodorant language, the sort of language that disguises stinking reality, or at least makes things smell just that little bit sweeter. Euphemism is about taboos (those things that go bump in the night), and it’s about politeness — but sometimes it’s about skeletons in cupboards. Watch your mouth at this event and listen to some colourful examples of how forking distasteful English can be.
Bio
Kate Burridge is Professor of Linguistics at Monash University and a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. She has authored / edited more than 20 books on different aspects of language and is a regular presenter of language segments on radio. Kate has been a panelist on ABC TV’s Can We Help, and has given a TED Talk on taboo language.
5:30pm @Horse Bazaar, 397 Lt Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000.
Also speaking at this location at 7:00pm is Dr Kate Douglas and at 8:30pm is Prof Simon Colton.
This event is hosted in a venue that is wheelchair accessible.
Please reach out to knowledge@melbourne.vic.gov.au to request an Auslan interpreter for this event.
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