论文写作课程论文
题目On the Formation and Classification of English
Euphemisms
院 （系） 外国语学院 专 业 英 语 年 级 2007级 学生姓名 王 铂 学 号 2007212472 指导教师 刘东虹
二O一一年一月
Contents
Abstract in Chinese …………………………………………………………… 1 Abstract in English ……………………………………………………………. 1 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………. 2 2. Literature Review………….……….…………………………….....….…… 2 3. Formation of Euphemisms ……………. ….……….……….……….…. 3.1 Omission………….……….…………………………….....…. ….….…. 3.2 Adoption of acronyms or abbreviated words……….……….………. .…. 3.3 Adoption of fuzzy words….……………….……….…………….…. .…. 3.4 Substitution of synonyms………….……….………………………….…. 3.5 Application of analogy………….……….……………………………. … 3.6 Adoption of foreign words………….……….……………………….…. 3.7 Understatement………….……….…………………………….....…. .…. 3.8 Circuitous statements. ………….……….……………………….….….
3.9 Metaphor ………….……….…………………………….....….….….…. 3.10 Special sentence patterns to tone it mildly………….……….………… 4.Classification of Euphemisms………….……….………………………… 4.1 From the perspective of semantics………….……….…………………
4.2 From the perspective of appearance frequency………….……….…….… 4.3 From the perspective of the scopes of practical use………….……….… 4.3.1 Euphemisms on death………….……….…………………………. 4.3.2 Euphemisms on sex and pregnancy………….……….……………
4.3.3 Euphemisms on going to the toilet………….……….……………… 4.3.4 Euphemisms on physical appearance. ………….……….………… 4.3.5 Euphemisms on professions………….……….………………….… 4.3.6 Euphemisms on poverty and joblessness……….……….…………
4.3.7 Euphemisms on crimes………….……….………………….……… 4.3.8 Euphemisms on politics………….……….………………….……… 4.3.9 Euphemisms on war………….……….……………………….…… 4.3.10 Euphemisms on commerce………….……….……………….….
4.3.11 Euphemisms on addressing God and demon………….……….…
5. Conclusion………………………………………………………..…………..
Bibliography………………………………………………………...………….
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Abstract
The use of euphemism is a prevailing language phenomenon in human communication. And the correct use of euphemism can avoid embarrassment and unpleasantness during interpersonal communication, which leads to the successful social intercourse. In our current society, euphemism is used in every field, so it is of importance in English learning and application that learning euphemism well. The essay introduced the function and the application of euphemism, basing on these, summarized the formation and classification of euphemisms from a new stand, aiming to facilitate the correct and flexible use of euphemism.
Key words: euphemism; formation and classification; correct use
内容摘要
委婉语的使用是人类交往过程中非常普遍的一种语言现象。正确的使用委婉语可以避免人际交往的尴尬或不快，从而达到成功交往的目的。当今社会，委婉语已在各个领域被广泛地使用，因此学好英语中的委婉语对于我们的英语学习和英语应用有着重要的现实意义。文章介绍了委婉语的功能和运用，在此基础上总结了委婉语的构成与分类。主旨在帮助英语学习者避免委婉语的错误运用，促进中外双方交流的顺利准确。
关键词：委婉语；构成与分类;正确运用
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1. Introduction
Euphemism is originated from the Greek which means “good speech”. Today some western scholars even label it as “gilded speech” or the “cosmetic words”. Euphemisms can help eliminate rudeness and vulgarity and refine linguistic forms in interpersonal conversations, hence they are used extensively to facilitate the communications. English is abundant in euphemisms. English euphemisms are mild and indirect in tones, vivid and lively in effects. They have played an unsubstitutible role in daily interactions. This essay makes a brief probe into the formation and classification of euphemisms. Many experts (like Zola Stone) have elaborated on this topic from different perspectives, but their findings are either partial or incomplete. This thesis tries to give a complete classification of euphemisms from a new stand.
2. Literature Review
Generally speaking, many linguistics have made studies of the formation and classification of euphemism, but most of them made their studies from different stands, and their studies are all partly incomplete. For example, some study the classification from the forming principles (孙保国), while some from the aspect of everyday use(陈文乾). All these studies make the study of the classification so rich and splendid.
3. Formation of Euphemisms
Euphemisms can be achieved by a lot of means. This section will discuss in brief each type of methods.
3.1 Omission
By omitting some harsh words, we can make our words milder and gentler. For example, in public, we do not say “pregnant women”, instead, we are expected to say” She is expecting” or “She is in a delicate condition”..
3.2 Adoption of acronyms or abbreviated words.
For example we abbreviate water closet for “W.C”, body odor for “B.O” , cancer for “Big C”.
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3.3 Adoption of fuzzy words.
When we talk about something unpleasant, many fuzzy words are used to express our thoughts in a vague way to avoid to be offensive. If an unwed girl becomes pregnant, her neighbors may talk in this way: “She has an accident.” Vagina or penis is more frequently referred to the \
3.4 Substitution of synonyms
In order to praise someone and show our well meaning, we sue some synonymous words to substitute the original words. The synonyms usually are more positive than the replaced one. For instance, “economical” can be replaced by some other words, such as“ thrift”
3.5 Application of analogy.
This method is frequently seen people`jobs. are mentioned.
Street cleaner, is affectionately called “sanitation engineer” or “city beautician”; and the rat-catcher, affectionately referred as ” exterminating engineer”.
3.6 Adoption of foreign words.
The use of a foreign word to express the meaning is extensively found in actual practice, for example,” lingerie “(a French word.) is favored by most English-spoken people, rather than “women`s inside clothes”.
3.7 Understatement.
For example, \without permission\favored by many people, especially the burglars. This method can help decrees the negative impressions.
3.8 Circuitous statements.
A teacher`s assessment on one student can be \whose undertone is this student is too lazy. And to describe a cheating boy can be \depends on others too much to do his work\
3.9 Metaphor
To \
3.10 Special sentence patterns to tone it mildly.
English euphemisms can be achieved by the use of syntactic means, especially in conjunctive moods. Other sentence patterns include:
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