论英汉委婉语的社会功能

On the Social Function of English and Chinese Euphemism

委婉语是人们谈论那些令人不快或尴尬的事情所使用的较为礼貌的用语。它不仅是一种语言现象,更是一种文化现象。在社会的进步和人类文明发展中,委婉语始终伴随着整个社会的言语交际过程,且表现出极强的社会交际功能。从避讳、礼貌和掩饰三个方面分析比较了英汉委婉语在交际过程中的社会功能。

Euphemism is a common phenomenon in the use of human language. It is the use of pleasant, polite, or harmless terms instead of those considered unpleasant, rude, or offensive. It＇s not only a linguistic phenomenon but also a cultural phenomenon. In the development of the society and human civilization, euphemism always goes with the human verbal communication and has strong social communicative function. Analyzed are the social functions of English and Chinese euphemism in communication from three respects： avoiding a taboo, being polite, and concealing.