A Study Of Euphemism In Oprah Winfrey Show From The Contextual Adaptation Perspective

As a common phenomenon in all human languages, euphemism is widely used in daily communication. Many scholars from home and abroad have conducted the study of euphemism systematically in great depth from the perspectives of rhetoric, semantics, pragmatics, social psychology, fuzzy linguistics, etc. However, researches on euphemism under the framework of adaptation theory are comparatively insufficient. As one of the longest-running daytime television and highest-rated talk shows in American television history, Oprah Winfrey Show is highly influential and well-known in the United States of America, becoming one of the most fully-deserved nationally tramp card program. However, studies on Oprah Winfrey Show are found mainly to be focused on conversation analysis and turns of talk, leaving great room for the perspective of euphemism.In1999, Belgium linguist Jef Verschueren published his new book Understanding Pragmatics, and this indicates the birth of adaptation theory. Although it has been published for only thirteen years, this theory attracts many scholars’interests at home and abroad. This thesis aims to make a tentative study of the use of euphemism in Oprah Winfrey Show from contextual adaptation perspective, and examine how euphemism adapts respectively to the mental, social and physical worlds. The use of euphemism in Oprah Winfrey Show is proved, through a careful analysis by the author, a process of making linguistic choices, and simultaneously a dynamic adaptation process to contextual environment. In the first place, the use of euphemisms by interlocutors adapts to the mental world, which is reflected in motivation, emotion, and personality aspects. The motivation aspect concerns politeness principle, face-saving principle, defensive principle, and withhold information principle. These four aspects interact with each other, and influence the linguistic choices of both host and guests simultaneously. In the second place, the use of euphemisms by interlocutors adapts to the social world, which consists of two aspects:social settings and institutions as well as cultural norms. To be specific, the social status, gender difference, cultural norms, value systems, and religious beliefs where interlocutors live in have a great impact on the choice of euphemisms. In the third place, people live in a physical world, including temporal and spatial reference. What’s more, the use of euphemisms also adapts to the gestures and bodily postures of interlocutors.The significance of this thesis lies in:1) this thesis makes a comprehensive analysis of euphemism from the perspective of mental, social and physical dimensions, other than from a single angle. It is good for us to have a better understanding of the real intentions of interlocutors in Oprah Winfrey Show, and to appreciate their art of speaking.2) Through massively analysis of conversations in Oprah Winfrey Show, the author finds out that the use of euphemisms is a process of making linguistic choices. Using euphemisms helps to protect both parts, avoids unnecessary embarrassing negative effect, and guarantee the program going smoothly.3) It enriches the research field of euphemism, and contributes to extending the study of euphemism into semi-institutional talk show program, hence, sheds light on the application of other linguistic phenomena under the framework of adaptation theory.