语言相对论视域下的政治委婉语研究

A Study of Political Euphemism form the Theoretical Perspective of Linguistic Relativity

语言影响自身对现实世界的认知,这句话看起来很有道理,实际上却很难证明。以萨丕尔、沃尔夫为代表的众多相关学者经过漫长时间的深入研究,尚不能解释清楚语言与思维的确切关系。政治委婉语普遍存在于各国政府文件、政治演讲和报刊评论之中,帮助语言使用者顺应社会规范和政治变化,成为其掩盖真相或粉饰现实的工具。作为一种特殊的语言形式,政治委婉语能对人的认知产生很大影响。语言对认知和思维产生的影响,可能会从政治委婉语的角度窥见一斑。正确有效地解读政治委婉语,是对语言相对论的直接利用,也是避免误解和误判的前提。

The particular language we speak influences the way we think about reality. This linguistic relativity hypothesis, however reasonable it seems, very difficult to prove. After a long - term research, the acknowledged proposers Sapir and Whorl＂ and other related scholars still can not make out the exact relationship between language and thought. Political euphemism widely exists in all countries＇ government documents, political speeches and journalism, helping language users conform to social norms and political change. It becomes a tool of covering the truth as well as whitewashing reality. As a special form of language, political euphemism produces a great impact on people＇s cognition. Language＇ s impact on thought may be seen from the perspective of it. Interpreting political euphemism correctly and effectively is the direct use of linguistic relativity and that can avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.