On the euphemistic style in Qur’anic discourse : a new model for Qur’anic euphemism formation

Abstract EN

This paper investigates Qurʾānic euphemisms and sets out to answer the question: How euphemistic is the Qurʾān when mentioning sex-related and genitalia issues? It probes the techniques used for sex-related Qurʾānic euphemisms in an attempt to design a model for the Qurʾānic euphemism formation.

Data have been collected from chapters 19 to 76 and have been contextually and linguistically analysed based on classical sources of exegesis and Arabic dictionaries in order to eliminate the factor of semantic change of words through the years.

Having made an attempt to universalize the English euphemism innovation model presented by Warren (1992) by applying it on the Qurʾānic euphemisms, the analysis shows that the formal innovation is not applicable on the Qurʾān; and the semantic innovation is found to be used instead.

Two new sub-categories are found in the Qurʾānic discourse and are suggested to complement the semantic innovation in the Warren's model.