中文摘要：英语委婉语广泛地存在于社会中，在语言学和文化中十分常见。它蕴含了很多文化元素，在英语中也有着至关重要的地位。人们在交流时常常避免使用严厉和令人不安的语言，以此来进行更好的交流。因此英语委婉语是一种在人类社会中普遍存在的语言现象，有其自身的社会功能。礼貌原则是语用学的重要理论之一，也是语言学的重要组成部分，它与委婉语紧密相连。本文基于礼貌原则，从四个方面阐述了英语委婉语的社会功能，包括其在人类日常交流中的常用功能、在对话表达中的积极功能、在掩饰事实时的欺骗功能和在抨击社会时的讽刺功能。在日常交际中，我们要熟知委婉语的社会功能，以此来缩短人与人之间的距离，营造和谐的社会关系。

关键词：英语委婉语；礼貌原则；社会功能

TABLE OF CONTENTS

中文摘要

ABSTRACT

Chapter One Introduction-1

Chapter Two Literature Review and Theoretical Framework-3

2.1 Literature review-3

2.2 Theoretical framework-3

2.2.1 Definition of euphemism-3

2.2.2 Definition of the Politeness Principle-4

2.2.3 The relationship between English euphemism and the Politeness Principle-4

Chapter Three English Euphemism and the Politeness Principle-5

3.1 A brief introduction to English euphemism-5

3.1.1 The Origins of English Euphemism-5

3.1.2The Classification of English Euphemism-5

3.1.3 The Significance of English euphemism-6

3.2 Leech’s Politeness Principle-6

3.2.1 Development of Politeness Principle-6

3.2.2 Maxims of Politeness Principle-7

Chapter Four Social Functions of English Euphemism Based on Politeness Principle-8

4.1 Formal function-8

4.1.1 Euphemism about physical behaviors-8

4.1.2 Euphemism about the vulgar things-9

4.2 Positive function-9

4.2.1 Euphemism for death-9

4.2.2 Euphemism about appearance-10

4.2.3 Euphemism about evaluating students-10

4.2.4 Euphemism about the commercial activities-10

4.3 Spurious function-11

4.3.1 The spurious euphemism in society-11

4.3.2 The spurious euphemism in the politics-11

4.3.3 The spurious euphemism in the wars-12

4.4 Ironic function-12

4.4.1 The special euphemism-13

4.4.2 Euphemism for reflecting social illnesses-13

Chapter Five Conclusion-14

REFERENCES-16

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-17