Euphemization of human physiology and physiological needs in modernist English literature on the example of J. Joyce’s novel “Ulysses”
https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2025-79-1-23-27
Abstract
The article studies the features of the euphemization of human physiology and physiological needs in modernist English literature (based on the novel by J. Joyce’s “Ulysses”). The relevance of the article is the necessity of the phenomenon of euphemization to improve and preserve the integrity of languages to a certain extent, due to the formation of “political correctness” as a public phenomenon. Constant lexical changes in the language (neologisms, dysphemisms, argot words, etc.) and their connection with taboo contexts (“death”, “woman”, “physiology”, etc.) can lead to the violation of its integrity and rules, as well as to the degradation of society as a whole. In addition, the concept of “physiology and physiological needs” has been unacceptable and is still considered unethical in oral and written (including literary) form till this day. To reduce the level of usage of such vocabulary, it is important to study euphemization as a linguistic and cultural phenomenon. The novelty of the article is an attempt to study the phenomenon of euphemization in one of the taboo contexts “physiology and physiological needs”, whose unethicality did not affect J. Joyce’s writing of his novel “Ulysses”. The writer uses euphemisms to reflect this taboo concept, and deliberately breaks language rules in the novel. The purpose of the article is to study euphemization as a linguistic and cultural phenomenon in the taboo context of “physiology and physiological needs” based on specific literary material. The tasks are as follows: 1) to investigate the linguistic and cultural phenomenon of euphemization, its features and functions; 2) to analyze the relationship between euphemization and formed British character, as well as between the taboo concept of “physiology and physiological needs”, language in general and obscene vocabulary; 3) to give examples of the studied concept’s euphemisms from the novel “Ulysses” by J. Joyce.
About the Author
F. V. Varfolomeev
Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Varfolomeev Fedor Vitaliyevich, English language teacher,
29 Srtenka Str., Moscow, 127051
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Review
For citations:
Varfolomeev F.V. Euphemization of human physiology and physiological needs in modernist English literature on the example of J. Joyce’s novel “Ulysses”. Philology and Culture. 2025;(1):23-27. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/2782-4756-2025-79-1-23-27
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