English News Translation Ⅹ.pptVIP

English News Translation Ⅹ The translation of English euphemisms Do you know how to say “我想上厕所” in English? I want to go to/ use the bathroom. (neutral) I want to go to the John (AmE)/ loo (BrE). (informal) I want to wash my hands. (euphemistic) What is a euphemism? a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive. ----Merriam Webster’s Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is ----Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary the use of a pleasanter, less direct name for something thought to be unpleasant ----Longman Dictionary of English Language Culture A euphemism is a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things which people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about, for example sex, the human body, or death. ---- Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary a word or expression that people use when they want to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing without mentioning the thing itself ---- Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners of American English Can you give some examples of euphemism? Eliminate kill pass away die users fee taxes early retirement redundancy(解雇) Can you guess what the following expressions really mean? He depends on others to do his work. = He cheats in class He has a tendency to stretch the truth. =He sometimes lies. He takes other people’s things without permission. =He steals other people’s things. More examples of English euphemisms Strategies to translate English Euphemisms Literal Translation Euphemism is a universal linguistic phenomenon. Therefore, when both English and Chinese have the same euphemistic expression, literal translation would be the first resort. e.g.