Euphemism_and_taboos资料.pptVIP

euphemism What is an euphemism? the use of a word which is thought to be less offensive or unpleasant than another word. euphemism comes from Greek . eu—good pheme- 意思是speech 言语 euphemism :words of good omen or good speech 意思是优雅动听的说法 “misinform” for “lie” The gentleman is misinformed. “remains” for a “corpse” “visiting the necessary” for “going to the toilet”, etc. In different cultures, some words or expressions are to be avoided. There are verbal taboos. Peoples of different cultures do not all agree on what are taboos. English and Chinese have certain areas of agreement on taboos. Human excretion Sex and certain parts of the body is taboo in both cultures. “I used to think I was poor ,” she wrote . “ Then they told me I wasn’t poor; I was needy. Then said it was self-defending to think of myself as needy, that I was culturally deprived. Then they told me deprived was as bad images, that I was underprivileged. They told me that underprivileged was overused, that I was disadvantaged. I still don’t have a dime $ ,but I have a great vocabulary. Use of euphemisms : A. appearance, age, disease, death. ugly–––plain; homely , not particularly good looking , ordinary fat ––––chubby; stout; plump thin ---- delicate , slender cripple––––physically handicapped old –––––getting on years; senior; elderly, distinguished gentleman madhouse–––––mental house pregnant ––––– in the family way die ––––– pass away, go to the better world, go out of third world, go aloft B. Physiological aspect sex organs --private parts have sex with-- make love defecate/urinate–––go to stool; pass water; go to W.C. C. Political aspects poor–––––needy bankrupt–––––out of the game poor area–––––underprivileged area  hair dresser–––––beautician dust man–––––sanitary engineer economic crises–––––recession; depression strike––––––industrial action/dispute 1.revenue