The Euphemistic Expressions in EFL Classrooms: Teacher Strategies in Instructional Communication
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26740/nld.v6n1.p51-60Keywords:
Euphemism, Standard English Grammar, Professional communication, Language learning, Teacher-student interactionAbstract
Euphemistic expressions play a significant role in educational discourse, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms where cultural sensitivity and affective support are central to learning. This study investigates how English teachers in Indonesia strategically use euphemism to manage classroom interaction and provide feedback without threatening students’ self-esteem. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, focusing on two secondary school English teachers in South Sulawesi. Data were collected through non-participant classroom observations, with detailed field notes capturing authentic teacher–student exchanges, and were validated through post-lesson clarification. Thematic analysis revealed seven recurrent categories of euphemistic strategies: politeness markers, softening language, downplaying language, indirect requests, minimization of errors, correction with positive feedback, and reassurance. These strategies were not merely linguistic substitutions but pedagogical tools for fostering respectful communication, reducing anxiety, and sustaining learner engagement. Findings suggest that euphemism contributes to the affective dimension of language pedagogy by aligning instructional clarity with socio-cultural expectations of respect and harmony. The study highlights the importance of integrating euphemistic strategies into teacher education and professional development. While limited in scope, it provides a foundation for further research on the pragmatic and pedagogical functions of euphemism in EFL contexts.
Downloads
References
Alghazo, S., Bekaddour, S., Jarrah, M., & Hammouri, Y. (2021). Euphemistic strategies in Algerian Arabic and American English. ExELL, 9(1), 80–105. https://doi.org/10.2478/exell-2022-0004
Al-Jabri, H., Allawzi, A., & Abushmaes, A. (2021). A comparison of euphemistic strategies applied by MBC4 and Netflix to two Arabic subtitled versions of the US sitcom how I Met Your Mother. Heliyon, 7(2), e06262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06262
Alqahtani, S. M., Busabaa, N. A., & Salih, H. M. O. (2022). A Change in Saudi Attitudes From Use of Euphemism to Taboo: A Sociolinguistic Study. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(3), 561–571. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1303.12
Al-Ramahi, R. A., Ab Rashid, R., Al-Smadi, O. A., & Ismail, H. H. (2021). The discursive strategies used by Langston Hughes in the construction of whiteness and blackness. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(1), 662-674. https://doi.org/10.52462/jlls.45
Blum-Kulka, S., House, J., & Kasper, G. (1989). Cross-cultural pragmatics: Requests and apologies. Ablex.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge University Press.
Cao, Y. (2020). Analysis of pragmatic functions of english euphemism from the perspective of pragmatic principles. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 10(9), 1094–1100. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1009.12
Chovanec, J. (2019). Euphemisms and non-proximal manipulation of discourse space: The case of blue-on-blue. Lingua, 225, 50–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2019.04.001
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Fitriyani, S., & Andriyanti, E. (2020). Teacher and students’ politeness strategies in EFL classroom interactions. IJELTAL (Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics), 4(2), 259-273.
Gu, M. M. (2010). Identities constructed in difference: English language learners in China. Journal of Pragmatics, 42(1), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2009.06.006
Halmari, H. (2011). Political correctness, euphemism, and language change: The case of “people first.” Journal of Pragmatics, 43(3), 828–840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2010.09.016
Halmari, H. (2011). Political correctness, euphemism, and language change: The case of ‘people first’. Journal of Pragmatics, 43(3), 828-840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2010.09.016
Haryanto, H., Weda, S., & Nashruddin, N. (2018). Politeness principle and its implication in EFL classroom in Indonesia. XLinguage" european Scientific Language Journal", 11(4), 90-112.
He, H. (2018). A Study on the Application of Euphemism From the Perspective of Politeness Principle. 2nd International Conference on Economics and Management, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences (EMEHSS 2018), 151(Emehss), 152–157. https://doi.org/10.2991/emehss-18.2018.30
He, H. (2018). A Study on the Application of Euphemism From the Perspective of Politeness Principle. Proceedings of EMEHSS 2018, 151, 152–157. https://doi.org/10.2991/emehss-18.2018.30
Hess, J. (2017). Equity and Music Education: Euphemisms, Terminal Naivety, and Whiteness. Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, 16(3), 15–47. https://doi.org/10.22176/act16.3.15
Hojati, A. (2012). A Study of Euphemisms in the Context of English-speaking Media. International Journal of Linguistics, 4(4), 552–562. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v4i4.2933
Hyland, F., & Hyland, K. (2001). Sugaring the pill: Praise and criticism in written feedback. Journal of Second Language Writing, 10(3), 185–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(01)00038-8
Khodashenas, M. R., & Karimnia, A. (2016). Euphemistic Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Learners: Death and Lying in Focus. The Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances, 4(1), 63–80. https://doi.org/10.22049/jalda.2018.26169.1052
Lee, H. Y. (2020). Linguistic politeness in the chinese language and culture. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 10(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1001.01
Lee, H. Y. (2020). Linguistic politeness in the Chinese language and culture. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 10(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1001.01
Llurda, E., & Mocanu, V. (2024). English in Spain: Education, attitudes and native-speakerism. World Englishes, 43(2), 315–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12651
Locher, M. A., & Watts, R. J. (2005). Politeness theory and relational work. Journal of Politeness Research, 1(1), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1515/jplr.2005.1.1.9
Lyster, R., & Ranta, L. (1997). Corrective feedback and learner uptake. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 19(1), 37–66. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263197001034
Nguyen, M. T. T. (2005). Criticizing and responding to criticism in a foreign language: A study of Vietnamese learners of English. The University of Auckland (New Zealand).
Nugroho, A., & Rekha, A. (2020). Speech acts of requests: A case of Indonesian EFL learners. Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 5(1), 1-16.
Samha, F., Haider, A. S., & Hussein, R. F. (2023). Address forms in Egyptian vernacular and their English equivalence: A translation-oriented study. Ampersand, 10(March), 100117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2023.100117
Steer, O. L., Betts, L. R., Baguley, T., & Binder, J. F. (2020). “I feel like everyone does it”- adolescents’ perceptions and awareness of the association between humour, banter, and cyberbullying. Computers in Human Behavior, 108(January), 106297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106297
Wätzig, H., Hoffstedt, M., Krebs, F., Minkner, R., Scheller, C., & Zagst, H. (2021). Protein analysis and stability: Overcoming trial-and-error by grouping according to physicochemical properties. Journal of Chromatography A, 1649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462234
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Abstract views: 12
,
PDF Downloads: 3
