Ups and Downs of Living with Neighbours. “Black Euphemisms” in My z Jedwabnego [Us from Jedwabne] by Anna Bikont Cover Image

Różnie to bowiem bywa z sąsiadami. „Czarne eufemizmy” w My z Jedwabnego Anny Bikont
Ups and Downs of Living with Neighbours. “Black Euphemisms” in My z Jedwabnego [Us from Jedwabne] by Anna Bikont

Author(s): Alicja Podbielska
Subject(s): Jewish studies
Published by: Instytut Stosowanych Nauk Społecznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

Summary/Abstract: “Dark euphemism” is a term combining the fields of language, ethics and history. It is a specific type of toning-down of words, phrases and expressions from Nazi ideology referring to the issue of the extermination of the Jews. Their main aim is to diminish and trivialize the facts linked to it, as well as to cover up the identity of the perpetrators. The article is an attempt at broadening that term and applying it to analyze the Polish anti-Semitic discourse, using the example of statements collected by Anna Bikont in her book We from Jedwabne.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 08 (2)
  • Page Range: 245-258
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish