One of the required parts of this class was to complete the journals based on the readings or assigned materials in class. I didn’t mind doing these because it gave us another opportunity to express our opinion. The following is an example of a journal we had in class.
Death Euphemisms Journal
“Bit the big one”
“Turned their toes up”
“Bought the farm”
“Croaked”
“Fallen off their perch”
I think we use the euphemisms to make death a little bit easier. By not saying they died it’s kind of just making it seem like it isn’t that big of a deal. Not saying that it isn’t. It’s also used a lot on television as some sort of relief in situations where the characters aren’t in a good position to handle the actual word death. They can be confusing to certain people, little kids especially, but it can also soften the blow a little if they understand death and what these terms mean. It also helps people say oh they just croaked last year, but we’re doing okay. If comedy is brought into a situation it’s a little bit easier to comprehend and get through.
They can be problematic if used in situations where it isn’t necessary, or used in a demeaning manner Like speaking of the deceased in a very disrespectful way. It’s also wrong to use the terms in a very formal environment, or even possibly at the services.
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