Abstract: This dissertation is a case study of the application of English euphemisms in a modem American TV series. From the analysis of the case study, it can be seen that people like to use euphemism in different situations usually for taboo and unpleasant topics. People tend to describe them in a polite and better-sounding way.

　　　　 This thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter one is an introduction, which gives a general account of euphemisms including the definition and the origin. Chapter two deals with the classification of English euphemisms. Chapter three gives a detailed case study of the application of euphemism in The Desperate Housewives. Some daily conversations in American people's life are chosen and analyzed in the study. All examples quoted will be classified and analyzed in detail to find the features of English euphemism. Meanwhile, in the fourth chapter, the pragmatic functions of euphemism including humor, tactical, politeness and taboo will be analyzed. Chapter five concludes the whole thesis, pointing out the purpose of using euphemisms, giving some suggestions on the application of euphemism. 

Key words: Euphemism; Pragmatic Function; Taboo

摘要: 本论文为美国一部现代电视剧的案例研究，从中能够看出人们在不同的场合使用委婉语来避免禁忌语和不愉快的话题。人们倾向于用礼貌和委婉的方式去表达。本文由五章构成。第一章对对全文进行概述，包括委婉语的定义和起源。第二章分析了委婉语的分类。第三章从绝望主妇中委婉语的使用案例进行英语委婉语的应用分析。本文选择剧中的日常对话为研究对象，把人们日常使用的委婉语进行细致分类，通过具体例子的分析，来发现委婉语的运用特点。同时，第五章对委婉语的语用功能包括幽默、委婉、礼貌和避讳等功能进行阐述。

关键词：委婉语；语用功能；禁忌语