A Study On English Euphemisms In Modern Family Based On Linguistic Adaptation Theory

Generally speaking, euphemism is a relatively implicit, indirect and impolite linguistic strategy which is utilized for the sake of improving various interpersonal relationships and keeping the harmonious social atmosphere. Euphemism is a popular linguistic expression employed extensively by language users no matter in which era or cultural background.Owing to the popularity and practicality of euphemism, numerous researchers give great attention to the study on it from various perspectives such as semantics, sociolinguistics, rhetoric, etc. Although there are many great accomplishments on euphemism, quite a few limitations are inevitable. First, it seems most of them are restricted to some illustration and distinction of euphemism such as its definition, classification, function, etc. Second, researches on language users’social psychology and culture are not sufficient in the process of using euphemism. Third, such a feature as constantly variation with the development of the society for euphemism is ignored. However, Verschueren’s Linguistic Adaptation Theory provides a more scientific and comprehensive theoretical framework for the study on euphemism from the social, cultural, cognitive perspective. Verschueren harbors the idea that using language to convey information and to express feelings is a dynamic process, in which the continuous choice-making has to adapt to various contextual correlates.This paper presents an investigation on English euphemism from the perspective of adaptation to communicative context based on Linguistic Adaptation Theory. The utterer and interpreter play a leading role in the communicative context, because the activation of all the elements in social, mental and physical world depends on the utterer and the interpreter. Therefore, it is essential to adapt to language users in the process of using euphemism. There are mainly two types of psychological factors in communicative context-recognition and emotion. Making linguistic choices is a dynamic process that has to adapt to both the utterer’s and the interpreter’s mental world such as their personalities, emotions, beliefs, motivations, etc. In addition, the speech act of the language users is restricted by the social and cultural norms in certain specific context. That is, the choice-making on euphemism has to adapt to the social world such as the social settings or institutions, social cultures, social communicative principles, etc. Lastly, the physical world also exerts great influence on the employment and interpretation of English euphemism. Apart from temporal reference and spatial reference, the body behaviors such as postures, gestures, facial expressions, physical appearance, etc are involved as well.This paper tends to deal with two key issues. One is whether the employment and interpretation of English euphemism is a dynamic process or not, in which the linguistic choices are made constantly along with adapting to communicative context. The other is how the employing and interpreting of English euphemism adapts to various elements of communicative context.This paper selects large quantities of representative examples from a popular American TV sitcom Modern Family to make a detailed analysis on English euphemism based on Verschueren’s Linguistic Adaptation Theory. Then, it can be concluded that the employment and interpretation of English euphemism is a dynamic process in which linguistic choices are made continuously as adaptation to various factors in communicative context. This study on English euphemism not only offers insight into the cross-cultural communication, but also gives us clues into the English language teaching.