Abstract

Euphemism is a language phenomenon that exists in the human society. It is a strategy to achieve ideal communication, which has very important communicative function. The cooperative principle proposed by H.P. Grice is considered the core theory of pragmatics, and it aims at making the speaker to deliver more than what is literally said and making the hearer comprehend.
 In this thesis, the author analyzes various euphemisms in the American famous TV series The Big Bang Theory from the perspective of violating the cooperative principle. The author applies the four maxims of the cooperative principle – Maxim of Quality, Maxim of Quantity, Maxim of Relation and Maxim of Manner into the analysis of use of euphemisms in The Big Bang Theory through specific examples. The thesis has many significant implications and applications. First, it will help English learners better know the various values, habits and ways of Americans. Second, people who love American TV series can have a good understanding of the euphemisms which violate the cooperative principle, which is a special communicative means, and grasp the situations and ways of using it as well. The Big Bang Theory is newly emerged and updated, so there is a large space for further study.

Key Words: euphemism  The Big Bang Theory  cooperative principle

摘  要

委婉语是人类社会中普遍存在的一种语言现象，是为了达到理想交际效果而采用的一种策略，具有重要的交际功能。格莱斯提出的合作原则是语用学的核心理论，它的目的是使说话者不仅仅知道字面上的含义，更使听话人理解说话者的意思。
在该论文中，作者从合作性原则的角度出发，分析了美国CBS电视台的热播情景喜剧《生活大爆炸》台词中违反合作性原则的委婉语。作者根据合作性原则中的四个准则——质量准则、数量准则、关系准则和方式准则,来分析《生活大爆炸》中委婉语的应用。作者认为该论文具有较大的现实意义和实用性。首先，它可以让英语学习者更好地了解美国人的价值观、传统习俗以及生活方式。其次，它可以让那些喜欢看美剧的人们更好地理解美国人在日常生活中所使用的一些委婉语具有特殊意义，违反了合作性原则，同时能了解运用这些委婉语的场合和方法。《生活大爆炸》是一部新出的美剧，还有许多待研究的地方。

关键词: 委婉语  《生活大爆炸》  合作原则

1 Introduction
Almost in every nation’s culture, there are some topics that make people unhappy. When people mention these topics, they try their best to avoid them, but these topics, as part of language, cannot be ignored. Therefore, euphemism emerges.