中英委婉语的文化解读

On the Cultural Interpretation of Chinese-English Euphemism

委婉语是中英传统的修辞格。以往的研究多基于语言形式、语义特征或功能归类。从文化视角出发,对中英委婉语的异同进行对比分析,从中英不同的宗教信仰和相似的礼貌原则入手,探讨中英委婉语的相异性和相同性,并对它们所折射出的不同文化价值取向进行总结。

Euphemism is a traditional figure of speech both in Chinese and English. As previous studies of euphemism are mainly concerned with its linguistic and semantic features or its functional classifications, this paper aims to make a cross - cultural analysis of the similarities and differences between Chinese and English euphemisms. On the basis of the different religious beliefs between Chinese and English people and their similar politeness principles, this paper analyses the different and similar features of some euphemisms used in Chinese and English and the relevant cultural orientations reflected in such uses.