'Raising gooseflesh' 'dirty' words and language change

This paper examines an area of folk culture that has been paid too little attention by lexicographers, literaticians and linguists alike. This is the world of euphemism (or evasive language) and its counterpart dysphemism (or offensive, abusive language). No matter which human group we look at, past or present, euphemism and dysphemism are powerful forces there and they are enormously important for the study of language change