英语语言与文化lecture 10.pptVIP

Euphemism Lecturer--zhouwei He is a bicycle doctor. ” 此句不能译作:他是个骑单车的医生,因句中的doctor是委婉语(euphemism), 是某种职业的美称,故不作医生解,而是表示repair man的涵义, 因此应翻译为他是个自行车修理工. 常用委婉语举例 原 称?????????????????????????????????????? 委 婉 语 无线电修理工??radio electrician?????? radio doctor 理发师 barber?????????????????????????cosmotologist 家庭妇女 housewife????????????household executive 收垃圾工人 garbage collector???sanitary engineer 老人 old people??????????????????????senior citizens Outline I. Introduction 1.1 Definition of Euphemism 1.2 The Features of Euphemism 1.3 The Functions of Euphemism 1.4the ways how euphemism come into being II. The Application of Euphemism III. A Comparison of Euphemism between English and Chinese IV. Translation Strategies of Euphemism I. Introduction 1.1 Definition: Euphemism is originated from the ancient Greek “euphemismos,” in which the prefix “eu” means “good” or “elegant” and the root “pheme” means “speaking” or “words”. The Random House College Dictionary defines it as “ a substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt.” 《语言与语言学词典》把委婉语定义为“用一种不明说的、能使人感到愉快的或含糊的说法,代替具有令人不悦的含义或不够尊敬的表达方法”. Euphemism 一词源于希腊语，由吉利话（Words of good omen）的意思，现在普遍使用的委婉语定义是“温和，含糊和迂回的说法对粗俗、生硬和直率的替代”。 委婉语起源于远古,维多利来女王时代中期为其鼎盛时期,在现代英语中, 其出现频率依然颇高,因为人们通过委婉语,可以用温顺悦耳的词语去谈论或叙述一些原来令人不快或逆耳之事物.为此,他们用domestic help, day help或live-in help代替mail或servant(佣人); 以custodian或superintendent替代doorkeeper, caretaker或janitor(看门人或管理人);用She has a tile loose或She has a cylinder missing去代替She is crazy或She is not right in the head(神经失常). 1.2 Features 1.2.1 Time. The same object may have different expressions in different times. For example, “trousers” had several substitutions as “indescribables , unspeakables, sit-upon’s” and so on several hundred years ago. The followings take “pregnant” as an example to illustrate the changes of euphemism in different times. 1) She has canceled all her social engagements. (1856) 2) She is in an interesting condition. (1