ABSTRACT

Euphemism is common in all languages. There are a large number of euphemisms in English and Chinese. Euphemisms in these two languages have some similarities in expressions, forms and cultural connotation. Meanwhile they have respectively different features. English and Chinese euphemisms embody different cultural characteristics.

    This thesis tends to compare euphemisms in English and Chinese. On the basis of an overview of study on euphemism in English and Chinese, the origin and definition of euphemism are presented in this thesis. English and Chinese euphemisms have unique and different cultural allusions. There are some similarities and differences in euphemistic meaning and forms. The development of euphemism and cultural changes are closely related, so sound knowledge of culture will enable people to understand and use euphemism better and reduce the obstacles in the cross-cultural communication.

Key words: euphemism; English; Chinese; culture; communication

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 General understanding of euphemism-3

2.1.1 The origin of euphemism-3

2.1.2 Definition of euphemism-4

2.2 Contrastive study on English and Chinese Euphemism-5

Chapter  Three CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON ENGLISH AND CHINESE EUPHEMISMS-7

3.1 Culture, language and euphemism-7

3.2 Difference Pertaining to Cultural Allusions-8

3.2.1 Perspectives on Cultural Allusions-8

3.2.2 Influence of Cultural allusions on euphemism-8

3.2.2.1Similar in euphemistic meaning, different in cultural allusions-8

3.2.2.2 Similar in form, different in euphemistic meaning-9

3.2.2.3 English and Chinese euphemism with unique cultural allusions-10

Chapter Four  PRAGMATIC SIMILARITY OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE EUPHEMISMS-12

4.1 Euphemisms and indirect speech-12

4.2 Social motivations and euphemisms-13

4.3 Communicational euphemisms-13

4.3.1 Euphemisms and Cooperative Principle-13

4.3.2 Euphemisms and the Politeness Principle-14

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-16

REFERENCES-18