英语委婉语的产生与构成

AN OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH EUPHEMISMS

委婉语的特点是把原来会显得粗鲁或令人不快的话换成婉转含蓄的说法。它起源于远古时代，其产生和发展有诸多原因。委婉语是不断变化，不断更新的，之所以如此，有使用者的心理因素，也有语义变化的因素。委婉语构成方式多种多样，有借用外来词、语义转换、形音畸变等。

Euphemism is generally defined as 'Substitution of mild or vague or roundabout expression for harsh or direct one' [1] It originated in ancient bines and has undergone many historical periods. There have been different traits peculiar to euphemisms created in different periods or in different English-speaking countries. As society is constantly developing,the using range of euphemism has been extending from religion to death, disease,sexuality, etc. The motives for generating euphemisms are diverse and universal. Euphemisms have been undergoing changes and renewal, for which there are psycological and linguistic factors, and structural and phonetic distortion are the most commonly adopted processes of for-cuing euphemisms.