Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: This paper classifies death euphemisms in English and Chinese to analyze that the different dictions and usage of death euphemisms on different occasions. It then mainly discusses cultural differences between English and Chinese death euphemisms, which leads to the conclusion that death euphemisms in English and Chinese carry their distinctive characteristics and the formation of death euphemisms are typically influenced by religious beliefs, economic systems and burial customs and these cultural differences are in turn reflected in death euphemisms.

Key words: death euphemism; cultural difference; distinctive characteristic

摘要：本文通过对英汉死亡委婉语的分类分析了英汉死亡委婉语在各种场合的选词和使用情况，然后主要讨论了英汉死亡委婉语的文化差异，认为英汉死亡委婉语都有其独特的特征。死亡委婉语的形成深受宗教信仰、经济体系和丧葬习俗的影响，而这些文化差异又在死亡委婉语中得到了体现。

关键词：死亡委婉语；文化差异；独特特征

1. Introduction
Euphemism, which is derived from the ancient Greek word “euphemismos” means to speak with good words or in a pleasant way. As a kind of figure of speech, it refers to “the substitution of mild, indirect or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt” (Li Guonan, 1999). According to the definition of English Euphemism Explanation Dictionary, euphemisms are  more comfortable, more pleasant ways of expressing what people are reluctant to talk clearly. People call this way “tell it like isn’t”. There exist many language taboos in any culture and society, of which the most typical and natural one is death. And in real life, everyone has to face death whether he likes it or not. People also inevitably need to talk about and think of death---consciously or unconsciously. Death is an eternal theme and many literators and artists delve deep and reflect it in their works. What’s more, death is not only the end-result for people, but also is the life destination that no one can surmount. So the anxiety and fear for death is just our human’s universal state of mind. In general, death may bring people sick moods, and people are afraid of death, and even dislike to get involved in the word “death”---a word enveloping fear and mystery, in fear that it may result in disaster and misfortune. However, in reality, our communication has to refer to death more or less, which results in death euphemisms.