首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Euphemism I. Overall Introduction of Euphemism A. The word of euphemism(from Greek) —Prefix "eu-" : good, well —Root " -phem" :
Euphemism I. Overall Introduction of Euphemism A. The word of euphemism(from Greek) —Prefix "eu-" : good, well —Root " -phem" :
admin
2015-09-30
28
问题
Euphemism
I. Overall Introduction of Euphemism
A. The word of euphemism(from Greek)
—Prefix "eu-" : good, well
—Root " -phem" :【B1】______【B1】______
—Suffix -ism : noun
—Literal meaning:to speak with good words or in a pleasant manner
—Earliest time of use in record: the 11th century BC
B. The origin of euphemism:【B2】______【B2】______.
—The function of euphemism:
mild, roundabout words instead of coarse, offensive or painful ones
C. The definitions of euphemism(two most commonly used):
—Mild or vague or roundabout expression for harsh or blunt or direct one
—Polite,tactful or less【B3】______term to avoid the direct naming of an【B3】______
unpleasant painful or frightening reality
D. Classification of euphemism
1)Type one(by Hugh Rawson from the angle of semantics):
i. the positive: stylistic ones
—inflating and magnifying the word meaning, making the euphemized
seem grander and more important than they really are
ii. the negative:【B4】______ones【B4】______
—deflating and diminishing the word meaning, being defensive in
nature offsetting the power of tabooed terms and eradicating
everything that people prefer not to deal with directly
2)Type two: unconscious ones & conscious ones
i. Angle of classification:
—whether people remember their original【B5】______or not【B5】______
ii. Example: indisposition
—the original meaning: incapacity to deal with something
—its euphemistic meaning: slight illness or ill health
II. Different uses of euphemism in cross-cultural communication
A. Definition of "culture": the entire way of society(customs, traditions,
social habits,values,beliefs and language)
B. Uses of euphemism related to different aspects of culture
1)Euphemisms related to names
i. Chinese culture: emphasis on names
—example:【B6】______’s name is forbidden to be called【B6】______
ii. British and American culture: few emphasis on names
—example:
—parents’ name being called directly
—children having the same name with their parents
2)Euphemisms related to excretions
i. English culture: having variety of euphemisms —example:
—original words: go to the toilet, go to stool
—euphemistic words: to【B7】______,to freshen up,to pick a daisy,【B7】______
to relieve or to relieve nature,get some fresh air etc.
3)Euphemisms related to death
—Function: to respect the dead,to memorize them, to praise them,
to avoid using the dreadful word
4)Euphemisms related to old age
—Chinese: being【B8】______of being old, few euphemisms【B8】______
—American: being afraid of being old, a lot of euphemisms
5)Euphemisms related to fatness —English: derogatory
—euphemistic phrases:
weight-watcher, heavyset, and on【B9】______【B9】______
—Chinese: commendatory
III. Conclusion
—the grease of language, and the【B10】______of social culture【B10】______
【B2】
Euphemism
Good morning, boys and girls. In today’s lecture, we will focus on euphemism. The word euphemism comes from Greek, " eu-" means " good " or " well" ,(1)the root " -phem " means "speech" ,and "-ism" is a noun suffix. It means literally "speaking with good words or in a pleasant manner". The record use of euphemism is found until the eleventh century BC.
As one form of language, euphemism is a common phenomenon. It is widely used in human society. Euphemism can reduce sensitivity and irritation of expression. People use it to substitute indirect word or phrase. Euphemism also reflects some cultural differences. People in different language groups use different ways to express euphemism.
First, we will have a look at the origin of euphemism.
(2)Euphemism originates from verbal taboo, which originates from religion superstition, reflecting the importance of social psychology. Almost every culture has its own taboo. People dare not call something by name directly because of the psychology of fear. So people work out indirect terms to replace them. The euphemisms come into being. People feel they are far away from fear when they use euphemism. In a word, euphemism is mild, roundabout words used in place of coarse, offensive, or painful ones.
So, what is euphemism?
Euphemism has been defined differently in different books. Here I will cite two most commonly used as follows: 1)Euphemism is substitution of mild or vague or roundabout expression for harsh or blunt or direct one. 2)(3)Euphemism is a polite,tactful,or less explicit term used to avoid the direct naming of an unpleasant painful or frightening reality.
All these definitions above share the same point: Euphemism is a polite,roundabout,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.
Then, how can euphemism be classified?
Euphemism can be classified into many types from different angles.
Hugh Rawson divides euphemisms into two types:the positive and the negative from the angle of semantics. The positive euphemisms can be named stylistic ones,which "inflate and magnify the word meaning, making the euphemized seem altogether grander and more important than they really are. "(4)The negative euphemisms are extremely ancient,and closely connected with the taboos. They are also called " traditional euphemisms". They deflate and diminish. " They are defensive in nature offsetting the power of tabooed terms and otherwise eradicating from the language everything that people prefer not to deal with directly. "
According to different standards, there also exist many other classifications of euphemisms. For example ,(5)all euphemisms, whether positive or negative, can be divided into two classes: unconscious and conscious according to whether people remember their original motivations or not. Some euphemisms developed so long ago that hardly anyone remembers how they were originally motivated. Take " indisposition" for instance, the original meaning of the word is " incapacity to deal with something" and its euphemistic meaning is "slight illness or ill health" ,which has been frequently used for so long that people hardly think of the original meaning.
As in cross-cultural communications, we also cannot avoid mentioning some differences in the use of euphemism.
First, what is culture?
Culture refers to the entire way of a society such as customs, traditions, social habits, values, beliefs and language. Different cultures have their own different history, politics and way of thinking. The value and moral concepts implied in English and Chinese Euphemisms are different.
Next, we’d like to talk about some uses of euphemism related to different aspects of culture.
First, euphemisms related to names.
The Chinese culture places an emphasis on name.(6)In ancient times, people cannot call the emperor’s name. The common people even have no right to mention the characters having the same sound as the emperor’s name. However,British and American people think that God created the human, all men are created equal,and there are few euphemisms about name in English. They even call their parents’ name directly to show the friendly relation. Furthermore, it is inoffensive for the young to have the same names as the old people. This kind of cultural system is different from that of China.
Second, euphemisms related to excretions.
English has variety of euphemisms in this category. Excreta and acts of human excretion are to be avoided in polite conversation. People do not say "go to the toilet" or "go to stool".(7)They use "to fix one’s face""to freshen up""to pick a daisy""to relieve or to relieve nature""get some fresh air" , etc. as their euphemisms.
Third, euphemisms related to death.
Death is an inevitable stage at the end of one’s life’s journey. People use euphemisms to respect the dead, or to memorize them, sometimes to praise them, sometimes only to avoid using this dreadful word.
Fourthly, euphemisms related to old age.
Chinese and English have different feeling about "old age".(8-1)Chinese is proud of being old. In Chinese there are few euphemisms for old, which show more respect to old people and old people are thought to be more experienced.(8-2)However, Americans are afraid of becoming old. They want to act,feel and look young. In their opinion,the old people live a lonely life and are no longer energetic, so there are a lot of mild and roundabout expressions to show this concept of "old age" vocabulary.
Last, euphemisms related to fatness.
In western countries, " fat" is a symbol of stupid, so to mention the word " fat" directly is impolite. The people who have no self-made dint will deliver fat,so the word "fat" is a word which contains the derogatory sense.(9)The euphemism of "fat" is "weight-watcher" in English. And people say "heavyset" or "on the heavy side" to express euphemistic sense. But the fatness contains commendatory more in the Chinese language.
As a phenomenon of language, euphemism is observed everywhere in all human societies and it is widely used in all human interactions. People always try to avoid the language leading to unpleasantness.(10)It is not only the grease of language,but also the accumulation of social culture. Euphemism indicates that the language is restricted and affected by society and culture.
That’s all for today’s lecture, thanks for listening. In our next lecture, we will get a close look at the principles of euphemisms.
选项
答案
verbal taboo
解析
本题设题点在定语从句处。根据句(2)可知,委婉语(euphemism)起源于语言禁忌,故答案应填入verbal taboo。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/eBKO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
Accordingtotheinterviewer,whichofthefollowingbestindicatestherelationshipbetweenchoiceandmobility?
A、Ithelpedrescuethisbabybyattractingpeople’sattentionbybarking.B、Ithelpedrescuethisbabybypullingthebodytos
TipsforEffectiveStudy1.Takegoodnotes.Suggestions:—Takenotesforaparticularclassin【1】;—Dateeach
TipsforEffectiveStudy1.Takegoodnotes.Suggestions:—Takenotesforaparticularclassin【1】;—Dateeach
TipsforEffectiveStudy1.Takegoodnotes.Suggestions:—Takenotesforaparticularclassin【1】;—Dateeach
TipsforEffectiveStudy1.Takegoodnotes.Suggestions:—Takenotesforaparticularclassin【1】;—Dateeach
TipsforEffectiveStudy1.Takegoodnotes.Suggestions:—Takenotesforaparticularclassin【1】;—Dateeach
Accordingtotheinterview,controversyoverthebook"AMillionLittlePieces"liesinits
Whatcanweknowabouttheintervieweefromtheinterview?
Whatcanweknowabouttheintervieweefromtheinterview?
随机试题
纵隔向健侧移位的疾病是
推拿一词最早记载于:
使用洋地黄后,心电图出现鱼钩型ST-T段变化,最可能表示
经营收入是指向社会出售、出租房地产商品或自营时的货币收入,包括销售收入、出租收入和自营收入。下列有关的计算公式不正确的是()。
某建设项目投资估算中,建设管理费2000万元,可行性研究费100万元,勘察设计费5000万元,引进技术和引进设备其他费400万元。市政公用设施建设及绿化费2000万元,专利权使用费200万元。非专利技术使用费l00万元,生产准备及开办费500万元,则按形成
某企业每季度销售收入中,本季度收到现金60%,另外的40%要到下季度才能收回现金。若预算年度的第四季度销售收入为40000元,则预计资产负债表中年末“应收账款”项目金额为()元。
在下列预算编制方法中,基于一系列可预见的业务量水平编制的,能适应多种情况的预算是()。
我国古代哲人提出的“土与金、木、火、水杂,以成百物”、“和实生物”是()的观点。
请阅读下面录像题的情景叙述,找出情景叙述中秘书行为及工作环境中正确或错误的地方(应至少找出15处正误点)。情景一宏远公司总经理助理施林办公室,电脑和打印机摆放有序。施林着便装坐在办公桌前办公。办公桌上摆放着电话、名片盒、通讯录和零乱的文
A、Doctorsinhospital.B、Nursesinhospital.C、Patientsinhospital.D、Hospitaladministrators.B女士说在成为护士以前就已经学习了很多急救常识,所以对这次的培训
最新回复
(
0
)