Abstract:Language is an important part of culture. Euphemism, as an effective lubrication in human communication, is widely used in all aspects of social life. It is not only a linguistic concept, but also a cultural phenomenon. Different cultures embody different euphemisms. Many linguists and scholars on euphemism research history have studied Euphemism from different angles such as semantics, rhetoric, psychology and pragmatics, etc. However, the previous researches mainly focus on one single language, while contrastive studies on both English and Chinese euphemisms are comparatively limited. With the rapidly development of society, the cross-cultural communication increase fast, so the understanding of euphemisms in different cultures becomes unprecedentedly important. In order to discover the pragmatic and cultural features of both English and Chinese euphemisms, this essay makes a contrastive analysis on English and Chinese euphemisms from the perspectives of pragmatics and culture. The study will help us having a better understanding of western and eastern culture and a clearer awareness of the differences and similarities of English and Chinese euphemisms, which of considerable value and guidance to our English study and cross-cultural communications.

Key Words: euphemisms; pragmatics; cultural reliance; contrastive study

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

Chapter 2 Euphemism-3

2.1 The General Understanding of Euphemism-3

2.1.1The Origin of Euphemism-3

2.1.2 The Definition of Euphemisms-3

2.2 Studies on Euphemism-3

Chapter 3 Pragmatic Contrast of English and Chinese Euphemisms-5

3.1 The Same Social Motivation of English and Chinese Euphemisms-5

3.1.1 Avoid Taboo-5

3.1.2 Show Politeness-5

3.2 Euphemisms in Communication-5

3.2.1 Euphemisms and Cooperative Principle-5

3.2.2 Euphemism and the Politeness Principle-6

3.2.3 Euphemism and the Face Theory-9

Chapter 4 Cultural Reliance of English and Chinese Euphemisms-11

4.1 Culture, language and euphemisms-11

4.2 Cultural Reliance Study of English and Chinese Euphemism from Different Perspectives-11

4.2.1 The Religion and Class Reliance of Euphemism between English and Chinese Euphemisms-11

4.2.2 The Cultural Value Reliance of Euphemism between English and Chinese-12

Chapter 5 Conclusion-15

References-17

Acknowledgements-19