A Pragmatic Analysis of English Euphemism 委婉语的语用分析.doc

委婉语的语用分析 A Pragmatic Analysis of English Euphemism Abstract As an indispensable and natural part of English language, the English euphemism has been arousing peoples great interest. Many linguists and scholars have studied this linguistic phenomenon from semantic and rhetorical angles. Based on their achievements, we will have an exploration of English euphemisms from the pragmatic perspective. Euphemisms are rich and diversified, which can reflect the characteristics and laws of a language. The existence of the English euphemism should abide by certain principles of the language, whereas their use depends largely on a context and has a great effect on daily communication. The thesis focuses on analyzing pragmatic features of the English euphemism, showing the relationship between the euphemism and pragmatics. Though violating the co-operative principles, the euphemism is closely related to the indirect speech act theory and relevance theory. Human communication is conducted in a particular context. The euphemism, as a common language phenomenon, is closely connected with a context. A context can influence the choice and interpretation of euphemisms. If participants have a thorough understanding of the context and use euphemisms appropriately, communication is understandable and can be carried out smoothly. The nature of the euphemism lies in its indirectness, which is referred to as the indirect speech act by many researchers. The highest criterion of communication is exact and tactful. In communication, language strategies must be carried out in order to protect others and one self’s face. And the use of the euphemism is one of effective methods indeed. The English euphemism changes constantly and its meanings are dominantly influenced by social and pragmatic factors. Therefore, for English learners, how to use the English euphemism effectively is of great importance in communication. Using the euphemism according to the pragmatic context and abiding by certain pr