A Cross-Cultural Interpretation Of Chinese-English Euphemism For Death In The Adaptation Model

Language, as a speech form, is a carrier of culture and a tool for human communication. Euphemism is not only a kind of language phenomenon coexisting in language of various nationalities, but also a kind of social phenomenon and cultural phenomenon. Euphemism for death abounds in Chinese and English. Its application has well embodied the differences between the Eastern and Western cultures. In order to enlarge the research scope of linguistics, the thesis makes a dynamic and comprehensive study focused on English and Chinese euphemisms for death in the perspective of pragmatics with Verschueren's linguistic Adaptation Theory (2000) as the theoretical framework. The main purposes are to find out the root for the emergence of euphemism for death and to provide theoretical basis and practical assistance for the use of it.Part One of this thesis is a brief introduction to euphemism, euphemism for death and the previous study of euphemism. Part Two elaborates on the theoretical framework for the study of euphemism for death which is based on Verschueren's theory of linguistic adaptation. Using language is a sequential process of making linguistic choices. The selection of words must be dynamically adapted to different psychological consciousness, social convention and physical world. Part Three categorizes English and Chinese euphemisms for death in detail. Part Four is the center of the thesis. The thesis compares the different use of English and Chinese euphemisms for death based on the three levels of linguistic adaptation theory and analyzes the use of euphemisms for death in communicative context. Part Five is the extension of the study. Euphemism is the product of politeness, symbol of harmonious society and civilization in modern times. Euphemism should follow the politeness principle of semantic study.Methodologically speaking, the present study belongs to a qualitative study based on the data collected from speeches naturally occurring at English and Chinese societies. By analyzing motivation of the phenomenon in the perspective of the adaptation theory, the present thesis tries to explore the common and distinct characters of euphemism for death in Chinese and English, and to probe into the deep connections between the two languages so as to promote the communication among these countries.