摘  要

委婉语起源于民俗禁忌,人们在交际中用来描述不宜直言的人或事物,既是一种修辞手法,又是一种文化现象,委婉语又是人们在社会交际中为谋求理想的交际效果而创造的一种适当的语言形式。由于它在日常生活中发挥着十分重要的交际功能,在语用学领域对委婉语进行研究和探索将对委婉语的理解和应用发挥极其重要的作用。
本文将从语用学角度对英语委婉语进行深入的研究和探索。首先将对委婉语本身的定义、起源和分类进行阐述和分析,然后从语用学角度分析英语委婉语的语用特点和功能,并结合间接言语行为理论,合作原则,礼貌原则三个理论原则对英语委婉语进行深入阐述和解析。最后结合日常生活教育、政治、经济等领域分析了英语委婉语的实际应用。旨在通过本文对委婉语的语用分析和探究使大家更好的理解和应用英语委婉语。

关键词:英语委婉语;合作原则;礼貌原则
 
Abstract

Euphemism is derived from taboo, which is used to describe something inappropriate to talk about directly in communication. It is a cultural phenomenon as well as a rhetorical device. It is also a proper language pattern people created in social communication in order to make the communication effective. As euphemism plays an important role in our daily commutations, research on English euphemisms in the pragmatic domain will certainly be helpful to the comprehension and application of euphemistic expressions in interaction.
This paper intends to analyze English euphemisms from the Pragmatic Perspectives. It will first study the definition, the origin, the classification of euphemism and the features and pragmatic functions of linguistic euphemism, then it will analyze it in a much further way by referring to the pragmatic principles such as Indirect Speech Act Theory, Cooperative Principle, and Politeness Principle, which is also the key part of this thesis. The third part will analyze the usage of English Euphemism through the daily life, such as the fields of education, politics and economy. It is hoped that the paper will bring better understanding of the special linguistic phenomenon of euphemism to readers through its pragmatic analysis of euphemism in English.

Key words: English euphemism; Cooperative Principle; Politeness Principle
 
1. Introduction
    The generation and use of euphemism is a common linguistic phenomenon. The English euphemism was firstly from the religion. At the early time of human beings, because of the underdevelopment of science, human had limited level of understanding nature and could not explain the natural world or the things around, so they prayed for the divine protection. Therefore, they show much veneration for the God as well as fear for the evil. People thought that addressing the name of God directly would offend him, or even may get into trouble, so they used some indirect ways to refer to the supernatural, for example, using their signs, symbols, title, or their territories. It could be said that religion is one of the most important sources of English euphemism. At the same time, English euphemism is also closely related to taboos. In any society or culture, language taboos exist. Because of different customs, traditions, and social customs, some words which will cause a strong reaction, dissatisfaction or annoying effects should be avoided. In the early 1580s, a British writer, George Blunt, created the term "euphemism" and defined it as "a good or favorable interpretation of a bad word" .