英语委婉语的语用分析_英语论文

The Pragmatic Analysis of the Motivations for English Euphemism

摘要

委婉语是语言中的普遍现象,是社会中人们使用比例很高的一种交际工具。英语委婉语深深扎根于英语语言和社会环境中，有着悠久的历史和深厚的文化根基，人们的日常生活离不开委婉语的使用。在跨文化交际中，直接表达会让人产生不快，而使用英语委婉语可以避免尴尬和伤害，达到双方交流的最佳效果。因此，对英语委婉语的研究是非常有必要的。  

英语委婉语的研究成果相当丰富，到目前为止，各语言学家和学者主要从修辞学、语义学、词汇学、社会语言学、心理学和语用学等这几方面来研究英语委婉语。然而，对委婉语语用动机的产生，只是简单提及，没有系统的相关研究。

本文试图在前人的研究基础上，系统阐述英语委婉语的语用动机，从英语委婉语的基本知识和特点入手，进而进一步研究英语委婉语的社会功能和语用动机，旨在让广大英语学习者更好地把握英语委婉语，从而使人们之间的交流更顺畅，更愉快。

关键词：英语委婉语；社会功能；语用动机 

Abstract

Euphemism is a common language phenomenon, and it is one of communication tools in the society that people use with a high percentage. English euphemism, with long history and profound cultural foundation, is deeply rooted in English language and social environment. Therefore, it is inevitable for everyone to use euphemism. In cross-culture communication, direct expressions will make people unhappy, while the use of euphemism can avoid embarrassment and harm, achieving the desirable effect of the bilateral exchanges. Consequently, it is very necessary for English learners to study English euphemism.  

The research achievements of English euphemism are quite rich. So far, many linguists and scholars have mainly studied English euphemism in the aspects of rhetoric, semantics, lexicography, social linguistics, psychology and pragmatics. However, English euphemism is simply mentioned for pragmatic motivations. There is no systemic research.

On the basis of the predecessors’ research, this paper tries to systematically elaborate the pragmatic motivations in English euphemism. At the beginning of the thesis, basic knowledge and characteristics of English euphemism are discussed, and then the social functions and pragmatic motivations of English euphemism are further studied, in order to better understand the features of English euphemism and make communication between people more smooth and enjoyable.

Key Words: English euphemism; social function; pragmatic motivation