Abstract

Euphemism is a mild, polite, indirect or vague expression used to avoid the direct naming of unpleasant, painful, or frightening reality. This thesis makes an analysis of the pragmatic functions of English euphemisms based on the Cooperative Principle, the Politeness Principle and the Indirect Speech Act Theory. The pragmatic functions of English euphemisms fall into four categories: to avoid offence; to show politeness; to beautify and to disguise and deceive. Euphemisms are actually employed to replace the verbal taboos so as not to offend others, to evade the inelegant things, and to replace terms with negative connotations. As euphemisms are vague expressions, many people, especially the politicians, often use them to avoid the stark social problems or conceal the truths of some matters. This kind of function is what we should guard against. As the study has demonstrated, well-intended euphemisms can help communicators to form a positive communication atmosphere, to establish harmonious social relationships and eventually to achieve the communicative goals.

Key words: English euphemism, pragmatic function, to avoid offence, to show politeness, to beautify, to disguise and deceive

摘 要

委婉语是一种用温和、文雅、间接和婉转的语言来代替令人不快、甚至恐惧的语言的一种表达方式。本文运用合作原则、礼貌原则以及间接言语行为理论对英语委婉语的语用功能做了具体分析。英语委婉语的语用功能可分为四类：避讳功能、礼貌功能、美化功能以及掩饰功能。避讳性功能主要用来代替禁忌语以便不冒犯别人；礼貌性功能是对不雅之事进行回避。委婉语还可用来替代一些贬义的术语，起到美化作用。此外，由于委婉语是含糊的表达，很多人，尤其是政客，经常使用它来回避某些严酷的社会问题或掩饰事实真相。这种功能值得我们警戒。本文的研究结果表明，用意良苦的委婉语能帮助交流者创造良好的交际坏境，建立和谐的人际关系，并最终达到交际目的。

关键词：英语委婉语；语用功能；避讳功能；礼貌功能；美化功能；掩饰功能