Abstract: Euphemism is a common phenomenon in language and culture. It plays an important role in people’s daily communication and is used to make conversation more smooth and successful without losing speaker’s face. Based on Grice’s Cooperative Principle, Leech put forward his famous Politeness Principle which is an important principle in pragmatics. It contains six maxims: Tact Maxim, Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim and Sympathy Maxim. These maxims prove effectively that people sometimes violate Grice’s Cooperative Principle deliberately for the purpose of politeness. This paper tries to make a clear research about the relationship between the application of euphemism and Politeness Principle, and prove that the application of euphemism adheres to Politeness Principle.

Key words: Euphemism, Politeness Principle, English Teaching

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Objects-1

1.3 Organization of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two A General Introduction to English Euphemism-2

2.1 Origin of Euphemism-2

2.2 Definition of Euphemism-3

2.3 The Communicative Motives of English Euphemism-3

2.3.1 Avoiding Taboo-3

2.3.2 Being Polite-4

2.3.3 Disguising-4

Chapter Three Politeness Principle and English Euphemism-4

3.1 The Introduction to Leech’s Politeness Principle-4

3.2 The Maxims of Leech’s Politeness Principle-5

3.3 An Analysis of English Euphemism under Politeness Principle-6

3.3.1 Euphemism and Tact Maxim-6

3.3.2 Euphemism and Generosity Maxim-7

3.3.3 Euphemism and Approbation Maxim-7

3.3.4 Euphemism and Modest Maxim-8

3.3.5 Euphemism and Agreement Maxim-8

3.3.6 Euphemism and Sympathy Maxim-9

Chapter Four Application of English Euphemism under Politeness Principle-9

4.1 Application of Euphemism in Politics-10

4.2 Application of Euphemism in Military-10

4.3 Application of Euphemism in Commerce-11

4.4 Application of Euphemism in English Teaching-11

Conclusion-12

Notes-13

Bibliography-14

Acknowledgments-15