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Ⅱ. The Production of English Euphemism
English euphemism stems from social taboo. It has the state of being religious, class as well as times. And to varying degrees, it reflects the pattern of thinking, values and moral concept of one country, religion and era approved. Language reflects life and always closely related to the society.
2.1 Definition of Euphemism
Euphemism has been defined differently in different books. There are some definitions cited as follows:
1) Euphemism is a polite word or expression that people use when they are talking about something which they find unpleasant or embarrassing, such as death or sex.(Collins Darlin,1989:769)
2) Euphemism is used as an alternative to an expression, in order to avoid possible loss of face: either one’s own face or, through giving offense, that of the audience, or of some third party. (Allan & Burridge,1991:18)
3) Euphemism is substitution of mild or vague or roundabout expressions for harsh or blunt or direct one. (Concise Oxford Dictionary,1982,7th edition)
4) Euphemism is a polite, tactful, or less explicit term used to avoid the direct naming of an unpleasant painful or frightening reality. (Webster’s Third New International Dictionary,1916:657)
English euphemism is the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt. The function of English euphemism is to use a kind of pleasant, tactful courteous words and expressions to substitute unpleasant, uncouthly impolite words and expressions. American scholars Hugh Rawson once said: “The euphemism is deeply submerges in our language that none of us can get down one day without using euphemism, even the same for those who brags themselves the straightforward person”(Ren,2001).
All the above definitions show that euphemism is a polite，tactful，and indirect mode of expression ,which is used to talk about something unpleasant. It can make the unpleasant things sound better and make people feel good；it can make both speaker and hearer avoid losing face.