Calling the television a “silly box” or “dumb” is a dysphemism
Dysphemism is the way of saying that involves referring to something in a pejorative way . In this way, an attempt is made to lower the category of a reality .
Opposite of euphemism
A dysphemism, therefore, is a derogatory expression or term that is used on purpose instead of another neutral or non-offensive phrase or word. It is common for dysphemism to be understood as the opposite of euphemism .
A euphemism is called a soft statement that allows us to mitigate what, expressed directly, would be shocking or very harsh . Dysphemism, on the other hand, seeks to accentuate or underline what is rude or negative , sometimes with a humorous sense .
Also mentioned as antieuphemism or countereuphemism , dysphemism denotes a situation that is more unpleasant or difficult than it already is . It is important to note that although dysphemism applies a layer that may be apparently opposite to that of euphemism and that is why it is correct to say that they are opposite concepts, we must not forget that by canceling either of the two we obtain an objective discourse, a reflection of reality without dyes .
In other words, depending on the point of view, we could affirm that the absence of positive or negative nuances is also the opposite of either of these two ways of expressing oneself. On the other hand, perhaps we should say that both enter the set of subjectivity, and that is why they are at the other extreme of objectivity .
Examples of dysphemism
Take the case of a death : a euphemism indicates that the person “went to heaven,” while a disphemism indicates that “he put on his wooden pajamas.”
Another example of dysphemism is calling the television a “silly box.” This dysphemism emphasizes the superficial and unenriching content that is transmitted through television . Of course, not all content has these characteristics, but dysphemism focuses on the bad.
Fast food , meanwhile, can be mentioned with the dysphemism “junk food.” These foods are not made with waste or discarded metals, although due to their poor nutritional properties and their harmful effects on health they can be symbolically associated with scrap metal, which has no use or value.
Effects on communication
Just as the use of euphemisms can be annoying for those who want to know things as they are, the negative connotations of dysphemisms can hurt the sensitivity of certain people or spark unnecessary discussions . Returning for a moment to the example of the television, given that not all the content it offers is mediocre or harmful, calling it a "dumb box" in front of someone who is enjoying a program is unnecessary and provocative.
Death is one of the most present themes in dysphemisms
In certain cases, dysphemism may point to an unquestionable truth , as occurs when the term "cancer" is used to refer to tobacco consumption. However, even in a situation of this type it is always better to use friendly language if what we are looking for is to persuade someone to give up a habit that is harmful to them and those around them. Through verbal violence we are not likely to obtain positive results.
It is worth mentioning that the words themselves are not what provide the character of euphemism or dysphemism to an expression, but rather the secret lies in the context and the speaker's intention . Not all dysphemisms have negative adjectives (as happens with the word "boba"), although it is true that euphemisms tend to rely only on "soft" terms. The expression "wooden pajamas", for example, does not refer to rigor mortis itself, but rather acquires this meaning when used to talk about someone who recently died.