A Cross-Cultural Comparison Between Chinese And English Occupational Euphemisms

Occupational euphemisms in Chinese and English are full of unique cultural deposit and mental characteristics of the two languages. The fact that Chinese and English occupational euphemisms exist everywhere indicates human common psychology: always pursuing the good. Modern English occupational euphemisms exist in almost all walks of life, reflecting at different levels the values and ethics recognized by Western society. After China's implementation of the policy of reform and opening up, the use of Chinese occupational euphemisms becomes more and more frequent, with closer connection of China and the outside world as well as more cross-cultural communication between countries.Under the theoretical framework of Cooperative Principle, Politeness Principle and Face Theory, this thesis starts from analysing the motives for Chinese and English occupational euphemisms. The analysis of the motives for English occupational euphemisms is mainly from the perspectives of occupational value, occupational status, and occupational psychology. As for the reasons why there were few Chinese occupational euphemisms in the past while recently they have begun growing like a prairie fire in China, three aspects are discussed: the values of traditional occupations, the virtues of honesty and modesty, and the implementation of the policy of reform and opening up.Much ink is put on the comparison of occupational euphemisms between the two languages, which sets the basis for further analysis about homoplasy of the two kinds of occupational euphemisms. The comparison between Chinese and English occupational euphemisms is made from three major points: principles of formation, means of formation, and methods of expression. The emphasis is placed on the homoplasy of occupational euphemisms in the two languages.Overall, this thesis intends to raise people's awareness of being polite in cross-cultural communication and make people pay more attention to the address to others during conversations in order to be successful in their communication with people from different cultures.