English Euphemism Essay

Euphemism, as a common linguistic phenomenon in introduction culture, is widely riding habit in e very brotherly cryst in allise and field. side of meat euphemism, as one and only(a) of many euphemisms existing in the cosmos, has its own deep origin, which involve some(prenominal) the ghostlike origin and the historical, literary origin. This thesis will try to discuss the origin of side of meat euphemism from every aspect of organized religion, race, politics, literary, and history. wording reflects heart, and is always most related to the society. During the communication, due to any(prenominal) accredited restriction of behavior and morality, raft tend to use euphemism- utilise as a kind of lubrication, making the caustic, indelicate lecture sound tactful and pleasant. face euphemism plays a very serious role in pecks friendly communication. This paper will also fill out the sociable communicative function of English euphemism from the three aspects evasive function, polite function, and ornamental function.Having a good representing of the origin and friendly function of English euphemism and the English phrase Culture can avoid many conflicts in the process of social communication . Key Words origin communicative function evasion nonfunctional function adroitness Abstract euphemisms prevalent in the language of the worlds cultural phenomenon, it is widely used in all social strata and fields. Euphemism as a euphemism in one of the many, has its deep roots produced, in which packets of religion and politics, but also literature and history. This paper attempts to religion, race, politics, literature, history, in a bid to explore the yield of English Euphemisms source.Language reflects life, and always closely linked with social, conversation in the language, due to a trusted code of conduct and Ethics constraints, population much use the euphemism - the lubricant, making harsh, non polite euphemism becomes so pleasurable. It is in peoples social communication played an important role. This function of its taboo, courtesy functions and capabilities in three areas to dream up up the English language Euphemism illustrates the social communicative functions. Euphemism by fully grounds the origins of English and its social communicative function, and further understand the English language and culture, in order to avoid social communication in the various conflicts. Keywrangle origincommunicative function taboo politeness cover1.IntroductionEuphemism is a cultural phenomenon as well as a linguistic concept. Every language has its own euphemism, so does English. It is deeply rooted in social life and has a great influence on social communication. As an indispensable and natural pArt of English language, English euphemism has attracted peoples attending for a long time. Since Euphemism was coined, it has played a very important role in peoples communication. The communication without euphemism is unimagi nable. Euphemism is used like lubrication, which makes the communication go on smoothly. This thesis will postulate an overview of the origin of English euphemism, and state its social communicative function.English euphemism as a linguistic concept, it has close relationships with the westerly culture, and it truly reflects the life and values of English people and their history. Euphemism is a particularly good medium for access to the force of language that has provided an effective approach to arrangement the human mind. The study of English euphemism can help us understand the western Culture and promote the international Development because euphemism is widely used in international negotiations. So there is a great need for us to study English euphemism, including its origin, its social function, etcetera2. The definitions of English euphemismEuphemism is a universal linguistic phenomenon. Nearly in every language, there are some disgusting words, which make people feel em barrassed. In the process of communication, the unsuitable or withal direct words will make people feel uncomfortable, even angry. Then there is a great need for us to use a tactful way to let loose emotion, exchange ideas. That is to say, to use a pleasant, mild or indirect words or phrases take the place of tabooed words. It is known that euphemism is a form of language intentionally created in social relation to achieve ideal communication. Without them any language would seem to be vulgar and rude, void of politeness and vividness to some extent. As a common communication in the process of people victimisation language, euphemism is an important way for people to coordinate the social relationships.Like a kind of lubrication, euphemism enables people to express what can non be uttered directly and ensures communication to becarried smoothly. It is a language Strategy in cultured society for avoiding taboo. It is unimaginable if the communication is without euphemism. The wor d euphemism was derived from the Greek word euphemismos, which gist fair speech. The prefix eu means good, sound well and pheme means saying or speech. And thus the literal meaning of euphemism is to speak with good words or in a pleasant manner. That is to say, euphemism is used as an alternative to unpleasant expression, in order to avoid possible lose of scene, either ones own face or through going offense, that of the audience, or some of third of party.This unpleasant expression may be tabooed, fearsome, or for some other reasons that speakers cant or assign non to use some certain expression directly on some occasion. In Websters Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language is the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought substituted . Rawson Blunt, a British writer, defined euphemism as a good favorable comment of a bad word.1 Encyclopedia Britannica (1994) also defines euphemism as a figure of speech in which something of an u npleasant, distressing or indelicate temperament is described in less offensive monetary value2 From the above mentioned, we could clearly see that euphemism is characterized by avoidance language and evasive expression. The speakers use words or expressions as a protective shield against the anger or disapproval of natural or supernatural things. It is one form of language and a linguistic phenomenon3.The origins of English euphemism3.1 The religious origin of English euphemismThe earliest English euphemisms come from taboo. The word taboo comes from Togan, a kind of Polynesian. It indicates evasive language or action. 3 The emergence of English euphemism is to fitting the need of avoiding taboos. In primitive society, people cant explain such things as ailment and some supernatural phenomena. batch have got confusion mingled with the name of the things and things themselves. The name is viewed as an extension of things. Just as the idiom says Speak of devil and he appears . Naturally the words or phrases related to such things become taboos. 4 In the ancient times, people had blind faith in ghosts and Gods they respected. They whispered and even feared them so they did not dare to overlay theirnames directly. They think it profane to name God.Therefore the names of gods become the earliest taboos. To speak name of gods was to evoke the divinity whose power then had to be confronted. Such dangerous practices were reserved for priests skilled in negotiating with the supernatural. So the usual way to avoid is to employ euphemisms. Therefore, for the religious need, a lot of euphemisms about religion emerged. For example, in order not to desecrate God, people in English-speaking country always use some other name for God quite of calling directly, such as Adonai, the Almighty, Caesars Cruth, the Creater, Dod, Gad, Land, Lawks, Lawd. 5The opposite side of god is devil, which is much terrible for people. When people refer to them, they tend to use such e uphemisms to alternate D, the Big D, the Evil one, the Black one, the Goodman, Jesse, Old boy, Our father, Lord of lords, King of kings, the Light of the world, etc. 6 From the above mentioned, we can find that religion brings many euphemistic terms in the religious matter, especially the naming and addressing of God to the language. 3.2 The racial and national origins of English euphemismIt is known to all, the phenomenon of racial discrimination is deeply rooted in the States in which equal opportunity is flattered by American white people as an equal right enjoyed by everyone. Due to the pressure of social earth opinion, although some whites discriminate the black from their heart, they will not expose this kind of prejudice in public. Meanwhile, few people dare to humiliate and persecute blacks in public for no reason at all. In other words, the way of discrimination becomes tactful. There are many euphemisms emerging for this reason. In the 1930s, nigger is still a neutral noun in England, and has no meaning of humiliating blacks. But since this word has the obvious meaning of discriminating the blacks, most of people in England and Americans use some other euphemistic words, such as colored black instead.When talking about some other races, it does not often use the direct words that are related to color. People often use some euphemistic expression, such as the geographic name. 3.3 Historical, literary and Political origins of English euphemism From the time the Normans conquered England in 1066, English has emerged many euphemisms. At that time, the main reason to use euphemism is that the language used by the conquered is often disparaged, and is thought as gross language. The upperclass surely doesn t want to lower their status to use such words. In order to avoid using such gross words, they tend to use the dandified words, which originated from Latin. And these words were mixed into English gradually. There are also many euphemisms in literary works.For example, in Hamlet, Shakespeare use the expression The undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns (there has never been a mystery travelers to come back off the country) to express his great sympathy for Hamlet . 7 The far-famed American writer Mark Twain use release to express die in his work The Adventure of Tom Sawyer. Besides, politics is a fat area for the appearance and growth of English euphemism, which is nonfunctional in expression but deceptive in nature. Euphemisms of this kind are always consciously and deliberately. The cosmetic euphemism can be easily found in American English. Governments discussion of the Vietnam War was saturated with euphemisms.Villages burned and inhabitants imprisoned were Pacifications the war itself was not a war but a conflict, the bombing becomes logistical strike or close air support, and killing becomes wasting the competitor. These euphemisms are used to rat and to hide the dirty business of war . 8 The use of such Political euphemisms helps government to beautify the action and prevent people from taking any anti-government action. So in order to satisfy the Political needs, many euphemisms come to exist.4.The social communicative function of English euphemismFrom the perspective of language communication, euphemism functions to avoid taboos, to show politeness and conceal feelings. Thanks to euphemism, it is easy for people to accept the things that are likely to make others feel embarrassed or unhappy. It is peoples general character to express their ideas as mildly and tactfully as possible. Euphemism helps people to reach this goal. From the moment euphemism came into existence, it has played a very important role in our daily communication, and help establish a good relationship between human beings and even strengthen the social stability. Euphemism are move by the desire not to be offensive.People use them to show their politeness, to avoid being offensive and to meet the psyc hological and beneficial needs of both speakers and hearers in communication. But sometimes they are used to conceal or cover something. Accordingly, euphemism serves three basic communicative functions evasivefunction, polite function and cosmetic function.4.1 The evasive function of English euphemismThe evasive function of euphemism is to evade using taboos, enabling the speaker to talk about tabooed things freely. These tabooed things are believed to be dangerous to certain individuals, or to the society as a whole, or to be disgusting and unpleasant, and cause fear. Such tabooed things include disease, disabilities, death, sex, body excretion and body elimination process, etc. People can use euphemisms to talk about what cannot be talked directly.Reposted elsewhere in the paper for free download4.1.1 In terms of disease and disabilitiesPeople yearn for health, and fear for specific disease and every sort of disability. So people always use tactful way to express them. For exampl e, sexual or venereal disease such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, ADIS, etc. Are called social disease, communicative disease, etc. in English. Besides, disabilities are very elegant area in every culture. In English, the disabled, the handicapped, the inconvenienced, the invalid, auditory impaired, hard of hearing, talk with ones fingers, etc. are put into service. 9 So euphemism plays a very important function in our social communication. Without it, we sometimes cannot continue our talk.4.1.2 In terms of deathDeath is an inevitable stage at the end of lifes journey. It is common Experience of human beings. Yet it has been the source of fear-fear of the loss of loved ones fear of the end of ones life fear of the material process of dying. Therefore, all these fears, worries, and unpleasant feelings combined lead to verbal taboo of death. Euphemisms concerning death are extremely rich. In English, there are more than seventy euphemisms for death, including to be gone, to be gone to a better world, to be with God, to breath ones last, to close ones day, to depArt from the world forever, to depArt to God, to fall asleep, join the great majority, pass away, etc. 10 No matter why this word is used in a certain language, people always tend to use less harsh words4.1.3 In terms of sex, bodyexcretion and body elimination process Words relating to sex, replication and excretion are highly restricted to mention because they may evoke disgusting responses of people. Verbal taboo on them is probably motivated by the nonrational disaster, shame. People all have certain feelings of which they are so ashamed that they don t like to admit even to themselves. In peoples daily life or in some formal occasion, if the talk or discussion refers to something about drainage, people will try to avoid using vulgar language. They tend to use some implied or neutral words to make conversation comfortable. For ordinary people, the safest way to avoid mentioning these things that they h ave to mention in many circumstances is to use another expression-euphemism to replace the true name of such a thing.For example, in English there are many elegant expressions for going to WC, such as to wash ones hand, to spend a penny, to go and see ones aunt, to answer the call of nature, because nature calls, etc. 11 The topic concerning being great(predicate) is touchy because it tends to arouse the association with sexual behaviors. To beat round bushes is very necessary, such as with child , anticipating , excepting for pregnant , etc. 12 Talking about sexual intercourse is taboo. Expressions relating to sex have heavily been veiled for the purpose of avoiding awkwardness and offense. So people use euphemistic words to talk about it. For example, people evade saying hip directly which is replaced with buttock, bottom, ones thing, and secret split donates sex organs of both males and females.4.1.4 In terms of previous(a) ageEnglish and Chinese have different feelings about old age. A Chinese is proud of being old, whereas a westerner will feel irritated and even insulted at mentioning his oldness. In English culture, people do not describe others as or to be described as old because the old, who no longer work, are ignored by society. Therefore, people create the number childhood golden years, senior citizen, gray hair, mature golden age when they refer to old age in which it attempts to conceal the fact of becoming old and avoid arousing old peoples sad feeling of aging. 14 4.2 The polite function of English euphemism. civility is another important function that euphemisms serve in the sociallife. Politeness is the symbol of humans civilization and one of the important principles guiding peoples activities. As a kind of operative social activity, language activity must observe this principle, too. When we have to talk something unpleasant, we should choose euphemistic way to express in order not to woe others. Being polite is a reasonable action t hat anyone who is keen on face-saving will take. The polite function of euphemism is tried to avoid being harsh or impolite in the communication. In other words, euphemisms are to minimize impolite expressions and maximize polite expressions. For instance, when a teacher comments on a learners moral conducts and school work in front of the student or his or her parent, he or she should report the fact on one hand, and on the other hand should take into consideration the students psychological endurance and the parents face.So the euphemistic way to express might be The student is a bit slow for his or her age instead of The student is stupid . 15 The polite function of English euphemism is substantiate in every occupational language. Occupational discrimination gives people pressure and emotional irritation. Although euphemisms cannot uproot this kind of phenomenon, at least, they can give them some psychological comfort by upgrading of career name. Therefore, engineer, manager, etc. have become more and more fashionable.Dustman is changed to sanitary engineer mechanic to automobile engineer , nurseryman to landscape architect , shoemaker to shoe rebuilder 16 In English, there are many adjectives about peoples appearance, such as good looking, handsome, pretty, charming, personable, etc. They are all commendatory words. When talking about someone who is not pretty, we cannot use ugly or awfully. We had better use some euphemisms such as plain, ordinary, not particularly looking, etc. instead of them. So euphemisms polite function can save peoples face in their process of communication. It is so important that we cannot neglect it.4.3 The cosmetic function of English euphemismBesides the evasive and polite function, euphemism has the cosmetic function. This kind of euphemism is usually used in the government, military, politics and commerce. It refers to using good words to beautify things, which are not beautiful in reality and make the thing be more per suaded and acceptable. Because euphemism has the nature of vagueness, to some extent,it is deceptive. Traditionally speaking, euphemism plays a positive role in social life. Using it, people can avoid some embarrassed and discourteous occasion. But just as every coin has two sides, euphemism has no exception. Using it suitably can coordinate social relationships, but abusing it will misaddress the public, will cover up the essence of things. For example, in modern Western society, the poor is called as the needy , later it was changed to the culturally deprived , then to the deprived , at last to the disadvantaged . So it will confuse people that this country is so rich that there is no poor people at all. Firstly, the government and the military often use them to disguise the reality from truth.They describe Economic crisis as recession or depression attack as nimble defense. 17 At the beginning of 20th century , the relationship between labor and capital become strained, and the agitation of striking became a serious social problem. In order to hide the fact, politicians call the strained labor-capital relationship as industrial climate, striking as industrial action. If the negotiation between labor and capital is successful, it will be claimed as productive, on the contrary, it is counter-productive. 18 Secondly, this kind of euphemism is widely used in commerce. It is often used to play tricks and to deceive the customers. The commercial exaggerates the products function and quality. In the homogeneous way, the English euphemism is also used to make customers feel pleased . For example, in order to meet the passengers sense of dignity, some Airlines call First Class Deluxe Class or Premium Class Second Class First Class and third base Class become Business Class, Economic Class, or Tourist Class.Doing like these, it seems that all passengers position are promoted. Their purpose is to attract more passengers and gain more profits by using euphemisms in the communication, meanwhile, the customers feel more decent, and it helps customers save face. In short, euphemism of this kind may make an idea more palatable, but they dilate language, reduce precision and often tamper with truth. Some people condemn euphemism as demoralizing because of its hypocrisy, which other consider them useful in the aspect of arrange social relationships . However, the fact remains that euphemisms are very much a part of the language, and whats more important for us is not to debate their merits or demerits, but rather to be able to realize that English euphemism can serve for the special social activitiesunder certain circumstance.5. ConclusionEnglish euphemism as an essential part of English language, is observed everywhere and widely used in peoples daily communication. On the issue of the origin and social communicative function of English euphemism, this thesis has a tentative exploration. But this kind of exploration is in a state of Development because euphemism is developed all the time. Euphemism roots in every aspect of social life, and is developed with the advancement of society. English euphemism is a mirror of Western Culture in the form of English language. From the moment it was born, it has distinct culture color. Euphemism undoubtedly reflects the inner relationship among the cultural tradition, social values and the form of language. In speech interaction, sometimes, out of politeness or tact, one uses a pleasant, less direct word instead of something unpleasant. Using euphemism is speakers active pragmatic Strategy in a certain time and a certain situation.English euphemism promotes the Development of English language, and enriches the vocabularies of English language, giving people a feeling of warm and fresh. In the 21st century, with the emergence of science and technology, many social problems rise, too. People crave for the gentle, warm and easy understood words. Euphemism emerges ceaselessly just right for meeting this psychological need. As a common communication medium and a rhetoric method, English euphemism will be used wider and wider.Some scholars hold the opinion that it is unreasonable to use euphemism because they have the nature of deceit, especially in politics and government. But we cannot deny the fact that euphemism is very helpful in the process of human communication. Twenty-first century is a period when people of different culture have even more touches with each other. So it is vital for us to have a good understanding of English euphemism. It is unimaginable if the diplomatic negotiation is without euphemism. Using euphemism is a kind of language skill that each of us should master.Bibliography1 Li Qing. A Tentative training of English Euphemism-From Pragmatic Perspective. Shandong Normal University, a masters degree thesis in English Language and Literature. 2003 2.24 P2 2 Wu Chang-Qi An Analysis of Diplomatic Euphemism from the Perspectives of Cooperative Pr inciples andPoliteness Principle. Chongqing University of Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Masters degree thesis. 2004.5 P7 3 Hanyin Yan, Liu Lei. Euphemisms from the psychological view of social communicative function J. Science, Shenyang Normal University (Social Science Edition). 2005.3 P146 4 the same 1 P45 Xiang-Yun Wu. Euphemism social function J. Zhaotong Teachers College. 2004.2 P30 6 the same 5 P307 Mao new cultivation. On the basis of English Euphemisms generation J. Yunmeng Journal. 2004.3 P3 8 Sheng-Juan. On the cover of Euphemism function J. Hunan unpolished University (Social Science Edition). 2004.12 P94 9 HU Chun-mei. On the composition and function of Euphemism J. Zhejiang Education College. 2005.1P32 10 Kong a peak, Wang Yanjun. Euphemism of the communicative functions of English and its applications J. Shanxi Journal of Radio and Television University. 2004.P59 11 the same 10 P5912 Bi Xiuying A postulate on English Euphemism. Zhengzhou University Fore ign Language and Literature masters degree thesis 2003.11 P34 13 Fan groups A Study of Culture Connotation of English Euphemism, Hunan Normal University, a masters degree in English Language and Literature Papers 2005.5 P43 14 Ya-Ping Wang, Wan Xueqin. Interpretation of the communicative functions of English Euphemisms J. Jiangxi education. 2004.6 P37 15 Muge force. On the very structure of English euphemism J. Gansu Science and Technology vertical and horizontal. 2005.2 P133 16 Tao Qin 3. Discussion on the origin of English Euphemisms and social function J. A Journal of Nanjing health. 2003.1 P157 17 Wang Ping. The communicative Functions of English Euphemism and its tectonic approach Exploration J. Fuqing Branch of Fujian Normal University Journal of .2004.4 P62 18 the same 10 P59