[Abstract] As an indispensable and natural part of English language, English euphemisms have existed for a long time. The appearance of everything, including euphemism, has its reasons. The emergence of English euphemisms has a close relation with language taboos and religion. Since English euphemisms play an important role in social communication, they worth careful and thorough study. This paper will mainly deal with the formation, classification and social function of English euphemisms.
Various methods have been used to form English euphemisms, including phonetic devices, spelling devices, vocabulary devices, grammatical devices and rhetorical devices.
The paper also tries to classify English euphemisms according to the content. English euphemisms are almost employed in all fields of life such as in the field of daily life, in the field of education, in the field of law, in the field of politics, and in the field of commerce and industry.
From the day they came into being, English euphemisms play the role of social lubricator. Without them, the world will be full of conflicts and the social order will be in chaos. The function of English euphemisms is diversified. Besides evasion, English euphemisms now are also used for politeness, elegance and disguise.
[Key Words] English euphemism; formation; classification; social function 【摘 要】 委婉语是人类语言中的一种普遍现象，其存在的历史相当悠久。任何事物的出现总有其原因，法语论文范文，委婉语当然也不例外。委婉语的出现是与语言禁忌息息相关的。法语委婉语在交际中起着十分重要的影响，因此值得深入的学习和探讨。本文主要从法语委婉语的构成方式、分类和社会功能来进行阐述。法语委婉语的构成方式多种多样包括语音手段、语法手段、修辞手段等。论文还试图根据法语委婉语的内容对其运用范围进行归类。法语委婉语涉及生活的方方面面，既有日常生活中的委婉语又有教育和法学委婉语以及政治委婉语与商业和工业领域委婉语。从其诞生之日起，法语委婉语就肩负着社会润滑剂这项重任。可以预见如果没有委婉语人际交往中将会增加许多摩擦和矛盾。法语委婉语具有多样化的功能。除了避讳，它还具有礼貌、求雅、掩饰等功能。
【关键字】 法语委婉语;构成方式;分类;社会功能
1. Introduction
Euphemisms have existed for a long time. The word “euphemism” comes from the Greek word “Euphemia”. The prefix “eu-” means “good”, the stem “pheme” means “speech” or “saying”. Many people have defined euphemism. Here are some of the definitions.
(1) “(example of the) use of pleasant, mild or indirect words or phases in place of more accurate or direct ones.”[1]
(2) “a polite word or expression that you use instead of a more direct one to avoid shocking or upsetting someone.”
(3) “a less direct word used instead of one that is harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.”
(4) “Substitution of mild or vague or roundabout expression for harsh or direct one; Expression thus substituted.”
(5) “a polite word or expression that people use to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing, such as death and sex.”
(6) “A euphemism is used as an alternative to a dispreferred expression, in order to avoid possible loss of face: Either one’s own face or, through giving offence, that of the audience, or of some third party.”
Just as the above definitions state, some harsh, blunt, unpleasant or offensive things in life should not be stated directly and truthfully in certain occasions. Under these circumstances, some better-sounding names should be used. Euphemism is a part of human language as well as a psychological and cultural phenomenon of different nations. The usage of English euphemism reflects ethics and behavioral code of people in English-speaking countries. From the day it came into being, euphemism functions as the lubricator of communication. Thus it enables people to live in harmony and makes conversations smooth and successful.
The following parts hold a discussion on the origin, formation, classification and social function of English euphemisms.
2. The origin of English euphemisms
“Euphemism is the linguistic reflection of social psychology and a product of social and cultural environment.” “In western nations, the usage of euphemisms in early times originated from religion or admires and dread of gods.”Its earlier emergence had a close relation to language taboos and religion.
In ancient society, as the level of productivity and science was very low, people failed to explain the essence of some natural phenomena such as lightening and thunder. They came to believe that there were some supernatural powers, or the existence of devils and gods that controlled their lives and even the whole world. They dared not to mention the names of the devils and gods directly, just as the idiom goes “Speak of the devil and he appears.” Thus, language taboos came into being. To find a solution to this problem, people used other names that is, euphemisms to substitute the names of those things they feared in circumstances that they had to speak of them. Because of the usage of euphemisms, people felt that they were somewhat distant from what they were afraid of and their safety, happiness, health and good luck were guaranteed. Though it is a rather old religious custom, it still exerts a strong influence on modern western nations.
As we all know, the majority of the population of English-speaking countries believes in God consciously or unconsciously, and they think that God exists everywhere and has unlimited power. Words related to God and religion can only be used in religious ceremonies. Since the name of God is regarded as the avatar of God itself, people usually use “the Lord” to replace it. Besides, Jesus is euphemized as “Gee”, “jeepers”, “jiminy”, “Cricket” or “Criminet”; and “the deuce”, “the dickens” or “Old Nick” substitutes “the Devil”. |
