Pragmatic Functions of Euphemisms in German and Uzbek

Abstract

Pragmatics, originally derived from the Greek word pragma meaning action or activity, is a linguistic field that examines the relationship between linguistic signs and their users. Within modern linguistics, euphemisms have attracted growing scholarly attention, particularly from a pragmatic perspective. This article investigates the pragmatic functions of euphemisms in German and Uzbek, focusing on how speakers employ them to achieve communicative goals such as politeness, mitigation, manipulation and social adaptation. The study is based on comparative analysis of examples drawn from literary texts, media discourse and everyday communication in both languages. The findings demonstrate that euphemisms function not merely as lexical substitutes but as pragmatic tools shaped by social norms, cultural taboos and contextual factors. While the pragmatic purposes of euphemisms in German and Uzbek show significant similarities, the domains of taboo and acceptable indirectness differ according to cultural traditions. In Uzbek, euphemisms are more frequently associated with family, religion and moral values, whereas in German they are commonly linked to death, illness, disability and political correctness. The study highlights the importance of euphemisms as a dynamic linguistic phenomenon reflecting the interaction between language, culture and pragmatic intention.