环境话语中委婉修辞法的生态批评

An Ecological Criticism on Euphemism in Environmental Discourse

迄今有关委婉修辞法的研究主要集中于其正面功能。生态角度的批评性分析表明,委婉语在环境话语中的使用可以起到掩盖环境问题的严重性、规避环境问题的责任、宣扬对环境进行商业利用等负面功能。这种环境意识上的误导,显然不利于对环境的保护与环境问题的解决。

So far, studies on euphemism have centered on its positive functions. However, there is no oneone relationship between a linguistic form and its micro-function. An ecological criticism on euphemism shows that the device may have its negative functions when employed in environmental discourse, such as playing down the seriousness of environmental problems, avoiding responsibility for these problems, and favoring commercial use of the environment. Such misleading in environment awareness is obviously unfavorable for the protection of our environment or the solution of environmental problems.