新世纪研究生英语euphemism.doc

Euphemism 1.????? Function for taboo. We have known that euphemism roots in the respectableness to gods in religion. Later on, euphemism spread to many aspects. When we say something about death and senescent变老的,显老的, birth and sex, pregnant and delivery, prostitute and seduction勾引、诱拐, sexual actions and sexual organs, we cannot say them out directly but only to use certain tactful words to instead. This kind of words has been used widely up to now. Today, people also created more taboo euphemism. We can mainly divided them into three sorts: 1)????? Death and old age Such as “to pass away, to depart, to go to sleep, to go to heaven, to go to one’s last, to go to a better place, to be at rest, to be at peace, to be with God, to be in Heaven, to be with the angels, to take the easy way out, to lay down one’s life, the final summons: getting on (in years), past one’s age prime, feeling one’s age second childhood, senior, citizens, golden years, longer living, well preserved, seasoned experienced” and so on. 2)????? Birth and sexual love Such as “to come into the world, delicate condition, taken ill., the lady-in-waiting, love-begotten, a love brat, business, action, love-making, balling the Jack, larks in the night, belly high, in one’s birthday suit, a chicken, a companion, to make eyes at, a street girl, the oldest profession” and so on. 3)????? Diseases and disasters Such as “social disease, a growth. Self-deliverance, Self-violence, old Newton took him, happy dispatch, to be blown across the creek and so on. There is no easy to ignore that taboo function of euphemism has a firm status in people’s mind. Even today, the Americans are dare to say “Friday” and the number thirteen! 2. Function for cover Another reason for using euphemism is that euphemism itself sometimes can be rather spurious and deceptive. Then this kind of character becomes a tool of some politicians and profiteers to cheat the society. They use euphemism to cover some evil incidents in our societ