中文摘要:英语委婉语广泛地存在于社会中,在语言学和文化中十分常见。它蕴含了很多文化元素,在英语中也有着至关重要的地位。人们在交流时常常避免使用严厉和令人不安的语言,以此来进行更好的交流。因此英语委婉语是一种在人类社会中普遍存在的语言现象,有其自身的社会功能。礼貌原则是语用学的重要理论之一,也是语言学的重要组成部分,它与委婉语紧密相连。本文基于礼貌原则,从四个方面阐述了英语委婉语的社会功能,包括其在人类日常交流中的常用功能、在对话表达中的积极功能、在掩饰事实时的欺骗功能和在抨击社会时的讽刺功能。在日常交际中,我们要熟知委婉语的社会功能,以此来缩短人与人之间的距离,营造和谐的社会关系。
关键词:英语委婉语;礼貌原则;社会功能
TABLE OF CONTENTS
中文摘要
ABSTRACT
Chapter One Introduction-1
Chapter Two Literature Review and Theoretical Framework-3
2.1 Literature review-3
2.2 Theoretical framework-3
2.2.1 Definition of euphemism-3
2.2.2 Definition of the Politeness Principle-4
2.2.3 The relationship between English euphemism and the Politeness Principle-4
Chapter Three English Euphemism and the Politeness Principle-5
3.1 A brief introduction to English euphemism-5
3.1.1 The Origins of English Euphemism-5
3.1.2The Classification of English Euphemism-5
3.1.3 The Significance of English euphemism-6
3.2 Leech’s Politeness Principle-6
3.2.1 Development of Politeness Principle-6
3.2.2 Maxims of Politeness Principle-7
Chapter Four Social Functions of English Euphemism Based on Politeness Principle-8
4.1 Formal function-8
4.1.1 Euphemism about physical behaviors-8
4.1.2 Euphemism about the vulgar things-9
4.2 Positive function-9
4.2.1 Euphemism for death-9
4.2.2 Euphemism about appearance-10
4.2.3 Euphemism about evaluating students-10
4.2.4 Euphemism about the commercial activities-10
4.3 Spurious function-11
4.3.1 The spurious euphemism in society-11
4.3.2 The spurious euphemism in the politics-11
4.3.3 The spurious euphemism in the wars-12
4.4 Ironic function-12
4.4.1 The special euphemism-13
4.4.2 Euphemism for reflecting social illnesses-13
Chapter Five Conclusion-14
REFERENCES-16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-17