【关键字】合作原则; 委婉语; 交际功能
1. Introduction
In the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English – Chinese Dictionary the explanation of Euphemism is "(example of the) use of pleasant, mild or indirect words or phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones"[1]. And in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English the explanation of Euphemism is "(an example of) the use of a pleasanter, less direct name for something thought to be unpleasant"[2]. For example, the man who wants to us to call him a “sanitation engineer” instead of a “garbage man” is hoping we will treat him with more respect than we presently do.
"The word 'euphemism' comes from the Greek eu meaning 'good' and pheme meaning 'speech' or 'saying', and thus means literally 'to speak with good words or in a pleasant manner'"[3]. Euphemisms have various reasons for existence. They conceal the things people fear the most—death, the dead, the supernatural. They cover up the facts of life—of sex and reproduction and excretion—which inevitably remind even the most refined people that they are made of clay, or worse. They are beloved by individuals and institutions (governments, especially) that are anxious to present only the handsomest possible images of themselves to the world. And they are imbedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plainspoken, ever get through a day without using them. But some people still mistake the euphemisms in the conversation by the Cooperative principle. Violating the CP, people also can continue the conversation with euphemisms, which make the author interest in attitudes of participants and the purpose of conversation. That is our body today.
2.Formation of euphemisms
2.1 Formal innovation
To avoid the emergence of certain letter or sound may achieve the effect of euphemizing. The formal innovation can hide audio-visually those words we don’t want to say or we shouldn’t say so as to achieve better outcome in communication.
2.1.1Abbreviation
Abbreviation is the shortening of a word and may be seen in the use of the British expression LADIES for ladies’ room. There also is GENTS for gentlemen’s room.
2.1.2 Apocopation
Apocopation is another form of abbreviation apparent in the use of vamp for vampire here meaning a seductive woman. And lav is for lavatory; homo is for homosexual; coca is for cocaine; bra is for brassiere.
2.1.3 Initialing
Initialing is the use of acronyms instead of their component parts as in "JC for “Jesus Christ”, BM for bowel movement"[4], "W.C for water closet, B.O for body odor, V.D for venereal disease, AIDS for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, SARS for severe acute respiratory syndrome"[5].
2.1.4 Backforming
Backforming is the substitution for one part of speech (used in shortened form) for another, as in "burgle (rob) which is derived from 'burglar'"[6].
2.1.5 Reduplication
Reduplication is the repetition of a syllable or letter of a word. Particularly common in children’s bathroom vocabulary, it substitutes "pee-pee for'piss', poo-poo for 'bowel movement'"[7].