The Hindu Business Line : `Educative experience in its own distinctive way'

AT the National Executive meeting of his party, Addy spoke not about the `dirty dozen minus one' but about `12 defining years' that he could count. "Each of these major events has been an educative experience in its own distinctive way," he said.

"Some brought us joy and filled us with energy. Others brought us setback, uncertainty about the future and forced us to introspect," he reminisced.

How dramatic it would have been if, before bidding adieu, Addy had avoided euphemism and all its cousins, and spoken the truth thus, "We get beaten again and again. And we refuse to see the writing on the wall!" But that would have been too unpleasant for the audience to bear.

Which is why Addy spoke about "self-confidence, dedication, discipline, commitment, hard work, and determination and, the inborn desire to see that India emerges as a great nation," and that with these qualities, "we can move mountains" and "achieve revival and bounce back stronger than ever before."

The choice of fuzzy words such as discipline, and the projection of an impossible goal like moving, not climbing, mountains were perhaps meant to tell everybody just simply `blah blah' in so many words.

Euphemism has become more sophisticated as humans have become increasingly complicated, writes Dominique Enright in In Other Words, from Michael O'Mara Books (www.mombooks.com) .

Euphemism saves many a face and boosts egos "by replacing a term with shameful or embarrassing connotations with one that is more positive and encouraging," notes the book that compiles buzzwords, cocophemism, circumlocution, doublespeak, dysphemism, evasive abstractions, genteelism, metaphors, neologism, political correctness, propaganda, and weasel words.

For instance, bogey, cloot, hangie, horny, Nicker, old Scratch, and old thief all refer to devil, which is "an especially tricky customer as you only have to mention him and he will turn up."

Death is another topic where euphemistic terms abound. If `to die' sounds too abrupt, think of `go to one's last account,' which, you'd appreciate, is not about turning the last leaf of the ledger.

`To answer the call,' similarly, is not the usual response to a ringing phone, please note. `Ceased to be among us,' and `moved into upper management' have a businesslike tone, but they are about `the big D' after somebody has `kicked the oxygen habit'.

Do you know that `to go for tea' is an IRA phrase for `to be murdered'?

A whole chapter is devoted to `the naughty bits' where Enright explains words and phrases such as Actaeon, amorous favours, bonk, boom-boom, discuss Uganda, go all the way, horizontal dancing, jig-a-jig, letting your fingers do the walking, national indoor game, Onanism, something for the weekend, and you-know-what.

Euphemisms for `commerce, industry, and estate agents' appear after `toilet humour' in the `powder room'. Know the `agent' as `a woolly term applied to all manner of employment', and that `between jobs' means `without a job'.

To catch a cold is to make a loss, and `counselling' refers to `ticking off an employee'.

What is `deceptively spacious' is actually small, `haircut' means major financial loss, and `irregularities' can refer to a whole spectrum of corporate accounting fraud.

With Enright's insight, we'd see through Addy's emphatic line, "Together, we have really made history," and realise that he's only phlegmatically saying `bye, no see you.'

"The Lotus has bloomed with splendour and fragrance beyond anyone's imagination," adds Addy, characteristically `economical with the truth' and lavish in hyperbole.

`Interesting,' you may agree, using a genteelism to mean you neither understand nor like what Addy speaks. I'd comfort him, however, saying, "You're entitled to your opinion," only to mean "... but you're wrong."

SayCheek@TheHindu.co.in