Euphemism, euphemism: From "dirty dancing" to "body wave"
Let's not forget that behind the abuse of words is its opposite: the sneaky, subtle adjustment of terms to mean the same thing in a bid to soften the image of the original words/phrase. Examples abound in our heavily polluted exchanges (in all forms of media):
dirty dancing, macho dancing --> "body wave," "ocho-ocho"
prostitution --> "sex tourism," "hospitality"
whore --> "hospitality girl"
homosexuality --> "gender preference," "sex orientation"
abortion --> "fertility regulation," "pregnancy termination," "fetal reduction," "woman's right"
euthanasia --> "mercy killing" --> "assisted suicide" --> "advanced directive"
contraception --> "safe motherhood" --> "family planning" --> "sexual health" --> "reproductive cialis right" --> responsible parenthood
pregnancy --> "disease" (umm, is this a euphemism?)
sickness, illness --> pathology --> "disorder," "dysfunction"
contraceptives --> "essential medicine"
condom --> "protection"
conception (at fertilization or zygote formation) --> "embryo implantation"
licentiousness --> "freedom"
licentious --> "free-spirited"
fornication --> premarital sex --> "live-in"
divorce --> "legal separation"
adultery --> "extramarital affair"
There are some cases, though, when euphemisms are called for: not as a concession to political correctness, but in cases such as when existing terms are extremely biased and unfair or plain inaccurate there is a need to revise. Examples:
crazy, retard --> "mentally ill," "mentally disordered"
Third World --> "developing nation"
abnormal child --> "special child"
gayness, homosexuality --> "same-sex attraction"
divorce --> "annulment" (big difference)
An entire new term must be invented, however, in cases where a new term supplants an old term and the result is disaster, or even more horrendous than before. I nominate these coinages eewphemism or ughphemism for word replacements such as this:
pregnancy --> "disease"
sex --> "danger," "unsafe action"