A Study Of Modern Chinese Euphemistic Expression

Euphemistic expression is very common in language and there is a wealth of academic thesis on it. To overcome these drawbacks listed above, we should study all the aspects of euphemistic expressin in detail.Based on the relative aspects of euphemistic expression, it can be defined as the following:"Euphemistic expression is the non-direct expressions or utterances for the things which bring the information organizer and interpreter pains such as reverence,fear,shame,discomfort etc,and which is formed by using phonetic, semantic and grammatical methods."As a category, euphemistic expression has its own features. Generally speaking, the basic feature is the prototype feature; specifically speaking, in meaning euphemistic expressin has edging-out feature; in using, it is acceptable, context-dependent.Euphemistic expression can be formed with phonetic, semantic and grammatical means. Phonetic method mainly concerns phonetic distortion. Semantic means include using vague words, conceptual metaphor, conceptual metonymy, circumlocution, semantic upgrading (hyperbole), understatement, loan word,semantic distortion of deixis,etc.Grammatical methods consists of syntactic method and lexical method. Euphemistic expression involves many aspects such as euphemized subjects, functions, constituting methods, conventionalization degrees,etc. These aspects can be used as different criteria according to which euphemistic expressions can be classified into different groups.Euphemistic expressions formed with different methods have different mechanisms. Generally speaking, the functions of euphemistic expressions are fulfilled by making the interpreter feel vague in understanding the conceptual meaning of euphemistic expressins. The vagueness has three types:beautifying vagueness,distance vagueness and attenuating vagueness.What brings euphemistic expression to occur? The answer lies in behavioral psychological factors. The general and abstract motivity of behavior is desire; while the direct and specific motivity of all behaviors is pursuing happiness and good fortune and avoiding pains and disaster. Euphemistic expression is closely related to the experience of happiness and acquirement of interests :it can bring about happiness and interests and avoid pain and hurt. Pursing love and avoiding hate is the true and specific motivity.