Following up on my earlier comment the following papers on euphemisms looked at least somewhat useful. I’ve sorted them in decreasing order of relevance ( not overall quality).
Swearing, euphemisms, and linguistic relativity
Doctors’ use of euphemisms and their impact on patients’ beliefs about health: An experimental study of heart failure.
Avoiding the term ‘obesity’: An experimental study of the impact of doctors’ language on patients’ beliefs.
‘People first—always’: Euphemism and rhetoric as troublesome influences on organizational sense-making—a downsizing case study.
Contamination and Camouflage in Euphemisms.
The connotations of English colour terms: Colour-based X-phemisms.
Following up on my earlier comment the following papers on euphemisms looked at least somewhat useful. I’ve sorted them in decreasing order of relevance ( not overall quality).
Swearing, euphemisms, and linguistic relativity
Doctors’ use of euphemisms and their impact on patients’ beliefs about health: An experimental study of heart failure.
Avoiding the term ‘obesity’: An experimental study of the impact of doctors’ language on patients’ beliefs.
‘People first—always’: Euphemism and rhetoric as troublesome influences on organizational sense-making—a downsizing case study.
Contamination and Camouflage in Euphemisms.
The connotations of English colour terms: Colour-based X-phemisms.