An Analysis Of Euphemisms In Doctor-patient Conversation From The Perspective Of Verschueren’s Adaptation Theory

Currently, medical market is struggling against fierce competition. Only with high level of health service and good medical attitude can it win a larger market share. The new medical mode highlights patients’ integrity, which means medical staffs should give sufficient consideration to patients’ psychological, social, and environmental factors in the treatment. Language takes vital responsibilities in doctor-patient communication as a bridge. In hospital context, to use euphemisms properly can help patients build confidence and coverage when confronting diseases. The employment of euphemisms is not only the media means of treatment, but also one of the ways to establish harmonious relationship between doctors and patients.On the basis of the Adaptation Theory, the present thesis analyzes hospital euphemisms mainly from the perspective of context with focus, which according to Vesrchueren, can be divided into linguistic context and communicative context. In addition, the thesis further explores the dynamic process of how hospital euphemisms adapt to communicative context which consist of the social, mental and physical elements. The research has following findings: firstly, the employment of medical euphemism makes Adaptation to linguistic context. According to the linguistic features, the author finds medical staffs tend to use those comparatively vague or indirect words or sentences to take the place of embarrassment or taboos and the author attempts to classify the medical euphemisms expressions into consultative expressions, abient expressions, praised before critical expressions, implicit expressions. Secondly, the employment of medical euphemism makes adaptation to mental world. Taking full account of patients’ mental motivation, emotion, politeness principle and face theory, medical staff makes an effective communication with patients. Thirdly, the employment of medical euphemism makes adaptation to social world. Social identity varies in age, gender, social status, education background, and social conventions which exert influences upon the employment of medical euphemism indirectly. Proper euphemistic expressions are effective in reducing misunderstandings in doctor-patient communication, which helps patients establish confidence and coverage to confront illness and realizes satisfactory treatment at the same time. Finally, the employment of medical euphemism makes adaptation to physical world. Through observing eyes contact, gestures and body language, physical conditions, physical appearance, medical staff selects proper euphemistic expressions to get closer to patients during doctor-patient communication. In a whole, the present thesis broadens the theoretical foundation of medical euphemisms studies to some degree, but also realizes the practical value of improving medical treatment effects and the relationship between doctors and patients.