Abstract:Euphemism plays an important role in daily life. It is a condiment to ease embarrassment when you feel embarrassed. At this time, we do not know how to alleviate the atmosphere and how to find a euphemistic way to regulate it, so euphemism comes into being. It is an effective lubricant used to coordinate interpersonal relationships and an important means to avoid embarrassment on both sides of the conversation. Euphemism has been widely studied by academic experts since ancient times. There are many similarities between English and Chinese euphemisms. At the same time, due to the different social systems and cultural traditions between China and the West, euphemisms have great differences in cultural connotations. There are many perspectives on euphemism, such as semantics, pragmatics and rhetoric, but few studies have been done from the perspective of Chinese and Western culture and cross-culture. Through comparative analysis, on the one hand, it helps us to understand the commonalities and differences of different societies and cultures, enhance the cultural understanding and communication of different countries, so that we can use language freely in cross-cultural communication and promote the ability of cross-national communication; on the other hand, it can provide guidance for us to learn languages and promote our better mastery by studying the cultural traditions and phenomena of different countries in depth. It has a positive effect on the further study of euphemism.

Key words:     Euphemism   Cultural Differences   Cross-cultural Communication

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Introduction-1

Chapter 1  Euphemism-2

1.1  Definition of Euphemism-2

1.2  The Origin of Euphemism-2

Chapter 2  Euphemism and Cross-cultural Communication-4

2.1  Language and Intercultural Communication-4

2.1.1  Definition of Language and Intercultural Communication-4

2.1.2  Cultural Connotations of Euphemisms in English and Chinese-5

2.2  Cultural Differences between Chinese and Western Euphemisms-6

2.2.1  Differences in Value Standards-6

2.2.2  Differences in Religious Beliefs-6

2.2.3  Differences in Ethical Culture-7

2.2.4  Differences in Social Systems-8

2.3  The Common Meaning of Chinese and Western Cultures in English and Chinese Euphemisms-9

2.3.1  The Common Meaning of Numbers-9

2.3.2  The Common Meaning of Individual Privacy-9

2.3.3  The Common Meaning of Social Phenomena-10

2.4  Pragmatic Functions of Euphemisms in English and Chinese-11

2.4.1  Taboo Function-11

2.4.2  Politeness Function-12

2.4.3  Emmotional Function-12

Conclusion-13

References-14

Acknowledgements-16