نبذة مختصرة : The aim of this paper is to present recent euphemistic strategies observed in Japanese language on the example of youth sociolect, called wakamono kotoba. Generally, the Japanese tend to use ambiguous expressions, speak in indirect way and soften their speech in many communicative situations. This is often motivated by the common feeling of enryo ‘constraint; reserve; modesty’ which is expressed by avoiding confrontation with opposite opinions, showing care to the feelings and state of the listener and not interfering directly in someone’s private “territory”. The significance of context in Japanese language determines the broad range of tacit or implicit communication which is reflected also in linguistic tabooization. One of its display which can be observed in recent youth sociolect is a common tendency to use euphemistic expressions or to soften the overtone of the message by forming neologisms, implementing certain suffixes or using particular lexemes in innovative way. These tendencies can be observed in many communicative situations. In this paper four of them will be introduced: (1) euphemistic strategies of refusing and negating, (2) euphemisms used when demonstrating one’s private opinion and attitude, (3) euphemistic ways of describing and judging things and people and (4) euphemisms used when talking or referring to awkward or embarrassing topics. The examples are intended to be analyzed through the materials taken from Japanese publications and dictionaries, Internet sources and the outcomes of the interviews conducted in 2015 among Japanese students.
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