A Comparative StudyOf English Euphemism and Chinese Euphemism

Zhang+Jinhua

【Abstract】Language communication is an important way to maintain the social relationship among human beings. Through the contrastive study of English and Chinese euphemisms， people can learn about lots of both similarities and peculiarities of the two languages， which is of considerable value and guidance to our foreign language learning and cross-cultural communication.

【Key words】contrast； Chinese euphemism； English euphemism； similarities； peculiarities

【摘要】语言交际是维系人类社会关系的重要手段，通过英汉委婉语的比较研究，就可以了解到两种语言的许多共性和个性，这对于外语学习者，和跨文化交际均有很大的指导意义。

【关键词】对比 中国委婉语 西方委婉语 相同 不同

1. Introduction

Euphemism is used both in China and English speaking counties. It is a very important device， and usually people use mild words or indirect ways to talk with others. Without euphemisms any language would seem to be vulgar and rude， lacking of politeness and vividness to some extent. This paper will explore the difference and similarity in English euphemism and Chinese euphemism to help learners to know euphemism better， use it exactly and then have a better communication with each other.

2. The Origin of Euphemism

English Euphemism originates from Greek， meaning， “speak with gook words”. “eu” means “well or sounding well”； “pheme” means “speech”. Its definition in Oxford English Dictionary is use of pleasant， mild， or indirect words or phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones.

China is an ancient nation with the long process of development， “中庸zhongyong” is the unique culture of China， “中庸”包括“中”和“庸”兩方面的含义。朱熹解释说：“中者，不偏不倚，无过之不及之名。”（《中庸章句》）用现代哲学来解释，“中”是事物矛盾双方处于相对的平衡与和谐状态。郑玄注《礼记·中庸》“君子中庸”句说：“庸，常也，用中为常道也。”

3. The Similar Characteristics of English Euphemism and Chinese Euphemism

English euphemism and Chinese euphemism have many similar characteristics in the following respects， including： the psychological foundation， the motivation， the range of application， the mechanism to express euphemism， the function and the pragmatic effect， but not excluding other.

3.1 The Same Psychological Foundation

Taboo and euphemism are two closely related cultural and linguistic phenomena of human society. We cant talk about one without referring to the other. Taboo changes over time. New taboos are racism， ageism， and taboos concerning other social and commercial life. Modern taboos are motivated more by notion of decency， politeness， decorum and communicative appropriateness than by pure fear or sense of danger in earlier taboo practice.

3.2 The Range of Application

English countries and China have different cultures. They both have their own national characteristics and ethnic forms in express euphemism， but they use the same word to express the same meaning in some domain， which is the similar range of English euphemism and Chinese euphemism. Among them， about living， old， disease， death， excretion and physiological deficiency， both English countries and China use euphemism to express unpleasant things.

3.3 The Mechanisms to Express Euphemism

Euphemism can be expressed in many ways； we could use different ways to achieve successful communication. Usually we use different semantic figures of speech to express euphemism.

Metonymy is to use the general words to take the place of the concrete words. For example： “abdomen” is used to refer to “belly”， “limb” refers to “leg”.

To use metaphor can easily avoid the offensive things. For example， it is better to be a guest of the law， which， though conducted by rules， does not meddle unduly with a gentlemans private affairs. to be a guest of the law is a euphemism for “to be in prison” .

3.4 The Same Function of English Euphemism and Chinese Euphemism

Both English euphemism and Chinese euphemism have four main functions： the functions of taboo， the function of politeness， avoidance of vulgarism， and function for cover.

4. Conclusion

Euphemism is not only a social phenomenon， but also a linguistic phenomenon. From the day of its birth， there are countless ties between euphemism and the social culture. English speaking counties and China have differences in culture， but both in English and in China people use euphemism to make a successful communication， and then the contrast between English euphemism and Chinese euphemism becomes necessary. In a word， we should make full use of euphemism so that we can make our life more colorful and wonderful.

References：

[1]Bussmann，Hadumod.Rutledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics.New York：Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press，2008.

[2]Wardhaugh，Ronald.An Introduction to Sociolinguistics.London：Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press，2005.