A Contrastive Study Of Euphemism In English And Chinese

Language and culture are closely related to each other. People are now aware that different cultural backgrounds influence communication in a subtle way. Euphemism is a common linguistic phenomenon in different cultures. Many scholars at home and abroad have studied euphemism from different perspectives. A Contrastive study of euphemism in English and Chinese has been made in this thesis. By making a contrastive analysis of euphemism in English and Chinese, we can have a better understanding of the linguistic features of euphemism in both languages and the English and Chinese cultures as well in order to interpret and use euphemism appropriately in intercultural communication.In this paper, the contrastive analysis of euphemism in English and Chinese is made from three angles: language and euphemism, euphemism and culture, euphemism and communication. The definition, classification, ways of formation, and diachronic and synchronic change of euphemism in English and Chinese are explored in the first part. The relationship between culture, language and euphemism is inquired into and several major types of euphemism in English and Chinese are analyzed to manifest similarities and differences of English culture and Chinese culture in the second part. The basic communicative functions of euphemism in English and Chinese, the communicative principles that regulate the use of euphemism, the social context that euphemism depends on in communication are discussed in the third part.In a word, to be familiar with the linguistic features of euphemism in the target culture, to be aware of the differences between the target culture and the native culture and to interpret and use euphemism according to social context are keys to effective employment of euphemism in intercultural communication.