Why We Say 'Gosh' Instead of 'God': The Hidden Power of Euphemism

Euphemisation of Taboo Areas [pdf]

This academic paper explores how taboo and euphemism drive semantic change, from religious prohibitions on naming gods to political and military uses of terms like 'ethnic cleansing' and 'surgical operation.' It examines how social and psychological pressures lead to lexical replacement, such as 'donkey' replacing 'ass' in American English, and how once a euphemism is accepted, the original term becomes even less acceptable. The author also discusses the Great Chain of Being, showing how taboo affects words from the divine to the animal world.