Which mechanism explains why 'passed away' is preferred over 'died' when discussing a recently deceased relative in many cultures?

💡 Explanation

The preference for 'passed away' arises because euphemisms reduce the directness and harshness associated with taboo subjects like death; semantic bleaching weakens the original meaning, making the term less offensive. Therefore, euphemisms are preferred rather than directly naming a taboo, because this reduces potential social discomfort.

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