The Mobility of the Label Verhullend as a Tool of Lexicographical Reflection of Actual and Potential Euphemisms

The research covers the problem of euphemisms' differentiation in speech and language in terms of lexicographical tools used for their reflection in general German monolingual dictionaries (Deutsches Universalworterbuch (DU), Worterbuch der deutschen Gegenwartssprache (WdG)). This problem seems to be insufficiently studied in modern linguistics. Most scholars dealing with euphemisms (V.P. Moskvin, A. Veisbergs, N.M. Berdova, R. Rada) consider euphemisms to be difficult to introduce into modern general dictionaries. It can be explained by the fact that euphemisms are contextually determined units. As a result, the analysis of dictionaries in question reveals certain inconsistencies in the way euphemisms are labeled, i.e. different tools are used for euphemisms to be marked. The aim of the article is to investigate the structure of dictionary entries as far as the ways of expressing the euphemistic function are concerned. The material consists of more than 600 examples of euphemisms fixed in general German monolingual dictionaries and obtained by the continuous sampling method. As for dictionaries under consideration, the label "verhullend" is mostly used for indicating euphemisms. But it can be differently placed within a dictionary entry. The author defines this property as the label mobility. There are two main cases of how the label "verhullend" is placed. It can be found before the meaning of the word or the word combination is explained, e.g.: Alkoholproblem, das (meist Pl.) (verhull.): Alkoholismus (a): sie hat -e (ist alko-holsuchtig) (DU) Konzertlager, das (naz. umg. verhull.) Konzentrationslager (WdG) According to these dictionary entries, the word has only one meaning which does not depend on the context. Another way of labeling euphemisms is to place the label after giving the examples of the word usage, e.g.: mitnehmen 1. c) die Einbrecher haben nur Schmuck mitgenommen (verhull.; gestohlen) (DU) treiben II 2. /bezeichnet ein bestimmtes Tun, Handeln/ (hat) a) ... (verhull.) es geht ihm sehr schlecht, er wird es sicher nicht mehr lange t. (wird bald sterben) (WdG) In these dictionary entries, the euphemistic functions can be revealed only in the examples given. The author suggests that different ways of placing the label refer to different kinds of euphemisms in terms of their ability to perform their euphemistic function in the context and beyond it. The first way of placing the label indicates actual euphemisms that can preserve their euphemistic meaning in any contexts. Actual euphemisms can be easily decoded without any context by most of native speakers. The second way of placing the label indicates potential euphemisms that perform their euphemistic function only in certain contexts. Potential euphemisms can also be understood in a proper way but they perform their function only under certain pragmatic circumstances. Thus, tools of lexicographical reflection can be used for distinguishing between different kinds of euphemisms as far as the problem of language and speech is concerned.

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