A Rapport-Theoretic Approach To Euphemism In English And Chinese

Euphemism is a common linguistic as well as cultural phenomenon. It is an effective strategy of language use, a crucial tool to maintain the faces of both hearers and speakers and achieve rapport relationships in interpersonal communication. Many linguists and scholars both at home and abroad have studied euphemism from different angles, including sociolinguistics, rhetoric, cognitive linguistics, semantics and pragmatics. Based on previous achievements, this thesis attempts to make a tentative study on euphemism from the perspective of pragmatics. This thesis adopts a recent theory: Rapport Theory (Spencer-Oatey, 2000) to interpret euphemism from a new horizon. Meanwhile, a comparative study of English and Chinese euphemism in Rapport Management is done to analyze the similarities and differences in cross- cultural communication.The thesis first introduces the history, definitions, features, and classifications of euphemism as well as the previous related studies, including the interpretation of euphemism in Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle, and Face Theory: The employment of English and Chinese euphemism violates Cooperative Principle; and observes Politeness Principle and Face Theory in communication. Then the author elaborates the theoretical framework of this thesis: Rapport Theory (Spencer-Oatey, 2000). The core of the thesis is the pragmatic analysis of euphemism in Rapport Theory. The author first gives detailed analyses of the formations and functions of euphemism in Rapport Theory; and then interprets euphemism within the framework of Rapport Theory: face management and sociality rights; rapport orientation; and contextual variables.At the same time, euphemism, as a cultural phenomenon, is greatly influenced and reflected by the different cultural sources between English and Chinese. Therefore a comparative study of euphemism in English and Chinese is done in Rapport Management. The comparison is carried out from aspects of religion, social values, cultural allusions, aesthetical psychology and social conventions. By illustrating a lot of examples, the author analyzes the similarities and differences in English and Chinese euphemism in cross-cultural communication. We can see euphemism is the outcome of different society, different social values and conventions, different religions and different aesthetical psychology.Euphemism is an effective strategy to achieve successful communication and rapport relationship. English and Chinese euphemism has many linguistic similarities, but as a cultural phenomenon, it has lots of differences, too. In cross-cultural communication and in foreign language learning and teaching, we should attach more importance to cultural knowledge so as to improve cross-cultural awareness and avoid pragmatic failures. For language learners, using euphemism according to social context and pragmatic principles, getting acquainted with the culture of target language and improving awareness of cultural differences can be the basis for successful cross-cultural communication and rapport interpersonal relationship.The present thesis has both theoretical and practical values. Theoretically speaking, Spencer-Oatey's Rapport Theory, which functions as the backbone of the theoretical framework of the present study, provides a new horizon for studying any linguistic phenomenon from a pragmatic perspective. Practically, the research findings may be significant in directing speakers to communicate in a more efficient, flexible and euphemistic way, which can achieve successful cross-cultural communication and rapport interpersonal relationship.In summary, the pragmatic analysis and comparison of English and Chinese euphemism in Rapport Theory can help to understand two different languages and cultures. The present study is beneficial to successful cross-cultural communication, and improves foreign language learning and teaching, as well as translation promotion.