- 1月 10 週二 201220:13
Avoid the Traps That Can Destroy Family Businesses
- 1月 04 週三 201219:21
When Frugality Fails, By Peter Coy
- 1月 04 週三 201213:19
A time to turn out, by Roger Cohen
- 1月 03 週二 201216:44
Little Bamboo Basket the Menace, 淘氣的小竹籠; Toyotomi Hideyoshi, 豊臣秀吉
- 12月 30 週五 201119:54
Euphemisms, Making murder respectable
 | 20111230 The Economist |
The Economist, December 17TH-30TH 2011
Page 102,
Euphemisms, Making murder respectable
...Euphemism is so ingrained in British speech that foreigners, even those who speak fluent English, may miss the signals contained in such bland remarks as "incidentally"(which means, "I am now telling you the purpose of this discussion"); and "with the greatest respect"("You are mistaken and silly"). This sort of code allows the speaker to express anger, contempt or outright disagreement without making the emotional investment needed to do so directly. Some find that cowardly.
Boardroom, bathroom, bedroom
A thematic taxonomy of euphemism should have a category devoted to commerce. Business euphemisms are epitomised by the lexicon of property salesmen. A "bijou" residence is tiny(it may also be "charming", "cosy" or "compact"). A "vibrant" neighbourhood is deafeningly noisy; if it is "up and coming" it is terrifyingly crime-ridden, whereas a "stone's thrown from" means in reach of a powerful catapult. Conversely, "convenient for" means "unpleasantly close to". "Characterful" means the previous owner was mad or squalid. "Scope for renovation" means decrepit; "would suit an enthusiast" means a ruin fit only for a madman.
- 12月 28 週三 201119:04
European Crisis, Bloomberg Businessweek
- 12月 27 週二 201119:25
The rating game, The Economist
- 12月 23 週五 201115:52
Newt and state, by Maureen Dowd
- 12月 22 週四 201117:44
In reporting sex assault, time is of the essence
- 12月 21 週三 201119:20
Can Nice Guys Finish First?
