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1、On Characteristics and Application of English EuphemismContentsAbstract摘要Introduction11 The Origin and Definition of Euphemism22 The Characteristics of English Euphemism32.1 Universality3 2.2 Having Division of the Sentimental Color 3 2.3 Having Life 42.4 Sociality42.5 Re-symbolism4 2.6 Arbitrarines
2、s5 2.7 Accuracy5 2.8 Conventionality53 The Application of English Euphemism in Daily Life6 3.1 In Occupation Application63.1.1 To Raise the Professional Status 63.1.2 To Beautify Coarse, Grating Occupation73.1.3 To Use the Analogy7 3.2 In Education Application8 3.3 In Politics and War Application8 3
3、.4 In Disease Application9 3.5 In Age and Weight Application10 3.6 In Sex Application11 3.7 In Birth Application11Conclusion13 Bibliography14 Abstract：In every society there are certain things that are supposed to be unspeakable. A fair number of words make someone embarrassed、unhappy、dislike or fea
4、r when used in communication. If we express the meaning in the direct way, we will make such impression which is vulgar, frivolous, and impolite. In order to avoid the embarrassment or ease the sting of harsh words, man has created euphemisms. In western cultures, many of the fields that people tend
5、 to euphemize widely are not different from anywhere in the world. This paper introduces the origin and definition of euphemism, the characteristics of English euphemism and the application of English euphemism and the causes of using euphemism, with much weight attached to the latter three.Key Word
6、s：English euphemism taboo context characteristics application 摘要：在任何一个社会中，总有些不能直截了当说出来的话。在人们交际的过程中，有些词语使人尴尬，惹人不快，招人讨厌或令人害怕，如果直接表达出来会给人一种粗俗、轻浮、无礼的印象。因此在一些场合为了避免难堪，或减轻对人的感情伤害，人们创造了委婉语。在西方社会文化生活中，在很多领域，人们广泛地使用着委婉语，这和世界上多数地区是一样的。本文追溯了委婉语的历史渊源，界定了委婉语的概念，随后着重介绍了英语委婉语的特点及在各个领域的应用，并探讨了人们使用这些委婉语的原因。关键词: 英语委婉
7、语 禁忌语 语境 特点 应用iIntroductionEuphemism refers to mild, agreeable, or roundabout words used in place of coarse, painful, or offensive ones. Invention here being the mother of necessity, the need for euphemism arose. In every society, there are certain things that are not supposed to be speakable or men
8、tioned directly. A fair number of words are labeled frivolous, vulgar, or at least inconsiderate. But in communication, for better maintaining social relationship and exchanging ideas, people have to resort to a kind of language, which can make distasteful ideas seem acceptable or even desirable. Th
9、is type of language is defined as “euphemism” in linguistics and it comes in a variety of forms and is used for a variety of reasons. Unlike other figurative language devices, for example, the metaphor of poetry or prose, euphemism aims to surprise and entertain (Lee, 1966:125), strives to avoid off
10、ense by means of circumlocution. As a communicative skill-“feeling it like it is not (Time, 1978:164) euphemism abounds in our life.” Euphemisms are powerful linguistic devices which “are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those on being plainspoken, ever get through a day witho
11、ut using them (Rawson, 1981:245).” Much research has been done on euphemism because of its prominence in language. A lot of great works came into being during the study of euphemism, which lay a foundation for further research. In 1936, in his book The American Linguistic Meneken fully discussed why
12、 hundreds of euphemisms had been born and become popular on the basis of American history and social altered background. His book is a valuable legacy for euphemism study. In 1981, British linguist Hugh Rawson complied A Dictionary of Euphemism and other Double Talks which embodied the achievements
13、of research on euphemism over the decades by many British and American linguists.The euphemism is one phenomenon of language in human society, which is an important method of harmonizing the relationship between people. It is a figure of speech. English euphemism also becomes an inalienable part in
14、topic of the Trans-Culture human relations.1 The Origin and Definition of EuphemismEnglish euphemism has a long history, and many euphemism words come from The Bible .And in The Canterbury Tales written by Chaucer and plays and poems of Shakespeare, varities of euphemism words were applied. In Brita
15、in, the usage of euphemism could be traced back to 11th century. In that time, Genteel Vocabulary and Obscene Vocabulary were distinguished obviously. The former is just the precursor of euphemism. In the early 1580s, English writer George Blunt first used word “euphemism”. It originates in Greek pr
16、efix “eu” which means “good, sounding well” and stem “pheme” which means “speech or saying”. People applied it in order to avoid mentioning things considered to be taboo and specific unpleasantnesses which relate to such things as accidents, illness, death, sex, excretion, the phenomenon of physiology
