Abstract Firstly, this thesis states the definition of euphemism. Secondly, this paper puts the key point on the negative influences of English euphemism produced in the process of social communication from the perspective of social linguistics and makes a deep research with examples. Particularly, much discussion has been on three aspects of negative influences including female discrimination, the whitewash of truth on international affairs and people’s psychological inferiority feeling. Finally, this paper discusses how to avoid the negative influences of English euphemism and affords some effective methods. Learning and mastering the negative influences of English euphemism have certain practical meanings to college students in the process of cross-culture communication and help us to make a deep understanding on the way of thinking, social and moral values and customs in western countries.54126
Keywords: Euphemism; Female discrimination; Whitewash truth; Inferiority feeling; Methods
摘要本文首先阐述委婉语的定义,然后从社会语言学的角度,结合实例,从三个方面重点讨论委婉语在社会交际过程中产生的负面影响:女性歧视、掩饰国际事务中的真相和引发心理自卑感。最后本文讨论如何避免英语委婉语的负面影响,并提出有效措施。了解和掌握好英语委婉语负面影响对大学生进行跨文化交际有着一定实践意义,并有助于我们更深入的了解英语国家人们的思维方式、社会价值观、道德观和文化风俗。
毕业论文关键词: 委婉语;女性歧视;掩饰真相;自卑感;规避方法
Contents
1. Introduction .1
2. Literature Review 2
3. Definition of Euphemism..3
4. Negative Influences of English Euphemism.4
4.1 Leading to Gender Discrimination against Women..4
4.2 Whitewashing the Truth in International Affairs.5
4.3 Bringing Psychological Inferiority Feeling to People8
5. Methods of Avoiding the Negative Influences of Euphemism.10
5.1 Getting Guidance from the Teacher While Studying the Euphemism.11
5.2 Considering the Situation While Using the Euphemism..12
5.3 Showing Our Stand While Using the Euphemism..12
6. Conclusion..13
Works Cited. .15
1.Introduction
In the culture context, people shall choose consciously to avoid discussing some topics or using some words because people are unwilling or can not to talk about those topics. Some ambiguous and pleasant words or interpretations are produced to replace those embarrassing words or expressions. The same meaning may have different comprehensions, and may be expressed in different ways. It is easy to have some misunderstandings between two people, so selecting elegant and suitable words to convey feeling is so important. These words and interpretations are called euphemism.
The use of euphemism is in according with the ever-changing need of social life. With personalized language, the character of people shall be livelier and the figure of people will be more vivid in the process of interpersonal communication. Nevertheless, the more euphemisms are adopted, the more problems will be followed such as female discrimination, the lie on international affairs and people’s psychological inferiority feeling. These problems are often overlooked by people. Lack of the cognition of the negative influences of euphemism makes people easy to suffer loss in the process of using euphemisms.
College students are made up of a special group who often come into contact with euphemisms in our daily life. Someone may get into government agency or choose to be a businessman or to be a soldier after graduating from university, so it is easy for us to suffer the shock of the negative influences of English euphemism. We may be in derision when we are looking for a job just because the company does not need female employee. We may be cheated when we are buying some articles. We may produce some inferior sense when we get refused from others. The use of euphemism is not suitable for anyone or anywhere, we need to consider the negative sides of euphemisms and try our best to avoid the side effects. On the base of that, the research on negative influences of English euphemism will afford a practical significance to college students in the process of cross-culture communication.