An Analysis of Euphemisms in Political News in The Jakarta Post Online Newspaper

Abstract

This study aims to determine the types of euphemisms and the functions of euphemism proposed by Allan and Burridge found in the Jakarta Post online newspaper on political news. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method. The sources of the data were 15 news articles that contained euphemistic terms. In analyzing the data, the theory of euphemism was used to find out the types and functions of euphemisms found in the Jakarta Post online newspaper on political news. The result of this research shows that there are 34 data of euphemistic terms. There are five types of euphemisms represent: metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, understatement, and circumlocution. There are 11 data of metaphor, 8 data of metonymy, 6 data of hyperbole, 6 data of understatement, and 3 data of circumlocution. There are five functions of euphemism used in the 34 euphemism expressions. There are 16 euphemistic terms functioned as protective euphemism as shield and avoid forbidden, 7 euphemistic terms functioned as underhand euphemism to mystify and to misrepresent, 6 euphemistic terms functioned as uplifting euphemism to talk up and to inflate, 4 euphemistic terms functioned as the provocative euphemism to reveal and to inspire, and 1 euphemistic term functioned as cohesive euphemism to show solidarity and to help define the gang.