摘要

本文旨在利用Lakoff的隐喻理论，探讨汉语死亡委婉语表达的机制和文化内涵。研究发现，在汉语语境中，死亡委婉语的隐喻往往使用自然意象和人类活动。其中最常用的有五类：植物的隐喻；高大物体的隐喻；离别的隐喻；睡眠的隐喻；旅程的隐喻。并且，汉语死亡委婉语的隐喻机制一般是基于物理相似性和情感相似性的结合。此外，受民族的文化和历史影响，汉语中死亡委婉语的表达往往与性别、年龄和宗教观念有关。

关键词 : 死亡委婉语  隐喻理论

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background 1

1.2 Significance of the Study 2

1.3 Structure of the Thesis 2

2 Literature Review 3

2.1 Euphemism 3

2.1.1　   Definition of Euphemism 3

2.1.2　   Definiton of Death Euphemism 3

2.2 Metaphor and Conceptual Metaphor 4

2.2.1　   Definition of Metaphor 4

2.2.2　   Definition of Conceptual Metaphor 5

2.3　  Research on Metaphorical Euphemism home and abroad 6

3 Theoretical Frameword 7

3.1 Conceptual Metaphor Theory 7

3.2    Similarity Between Source Domain and Target Domain. 9

3.3    Mapping Theory 10

4 Resaerch Methedology 10

4.1 Research Questions 10

4.2 Types of Metaphorical Death Euphemism in Chinese 12

4.2.1　   Death Metaphors with Plants 12

4.2.2　   Death Metaphors with Giant Things 12

4.2.3　   Death Metaphors with Departure 13

4.2.4　   Death Metaphors with Sleep 13

4.2.5　   Death Metaphors with Journey 13

4.3 Mechanism of Metaphorical Death Euphemism in Chinese ……14

4.3.1　   Death Metaphors with Plants 14

4.3.2　   Death Metaphors with Giant Things 15

4.3.3　   Death Metaphors with Departure …17

4.3.4　   Death Metaphors with Sleep 18

4.3.5　   Death Metaphors with Journey 19

4.4 Cultural Connotations in Metaphorical Death Euphemism ……20

4.4.1　   Connotation of Age 21

4.4.1　   Connotation of Sex 21

4.4.2　   Connotation of Religion 21

Conclusion 22

Acknowledgements 23

References 25