Abstract:

Euphemism is a common usage of language that helps people to achieve particular communicating purpose, and in most cases, build up better interpersonal relationship. With rapid development of globalization, cross-cultural communication takes place frequently in many walks of life. The cross-cultural functions of English euphemism deserve continuous study in order to avoid culture shock or embarrassment. This paper discusses the cross-cultural communication functions of English euphemism based on the existing studies and novel examples from the perspective of business, film, and literature, etc. Besides, the cross-cultural communication functions of English euphemism concluded in four aspects as taboo substitute, politeness, dissimulation, and compliment. The study is aimed at offering some practical references with new examples to enrich the study of euphemism.

Keywords: cross-cultural communication; euphemism; functions

摘  要：

委婉语是一种广泛使用的语言用来帮助人们实现特殊的交流目的，在大多数情况下，建立了良好的人际关系。随着全球化的快速发展，我们的日常生活中跨文化交际逐渐增加。为了避免文化冲突和尴尬，英语委婉语的跨文化交际功能应受到更多的关注和研究。本论文是基于现有研究方面，从商业，传媒，文学等角度谈论英语委婉语的跨文化交际功能。除此之外，英语委婉语的跨文化交际功能包括四个方面；代替禁忌、礼貌、掩饰和褒扬。这项研究的目的是提供一些实用的参考和新的例子来丰富英语委婉语的研究。

关键词：跨文化交际；委婉语；功能

1 Introduction
What is the euphemism? In accordance with Oxford Advanced Learner’s English –Chinese Dictionary, “euphemism is the uses of pleasant, mild or indirect word or phrase in place of more accurate or direct ones.” With the social and economic development, there is a great improvement in communication strategies, which inevitably demands people to make good use of English euphemism. That is to say, English euphemism is undoubtedly remarkable in cross-cultural communication, and it plays a vital part in the establishment of harmonious relationship in different cultures.
As one of the rhetorical means widely employed in all cultures, euphemism is believed to be indispensable in whatever human communication. It is not only a cultural or language phenomenon, but also a social one. It is just like a kind of linguistic form that people use to express what cannot be directly express so that their views can be conveyed more smoothly. A language without euphemisms would be a defective instrument of communication. Therefore, Euphemism is of great importance to either formal official communications or personal talks.