浅谈英语委婉语及其社会影响

　　〔Abstract〕Languagecommunicationisanimportantmethodtomaintainsocialrelationship，sopeopleoftenusetheindirectorpleasantexpressionsintheplaceofthoseconsideredunpleasant，rudeoroffensiveincommunication。Itisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenon，butalsoakindofsocialphenomenonandculturalphenomenon。Itreflectssomekindsofcorrespondingculturaltraditions。Thispapermainlyfocusesonthewaysofexpression，themajorfunctionandthesocialinfluenceofeuphemisminEnglish。AndthefirstpartelaboratesuponthedifferentexpressionsofeuphemisminEnglish，pidedintofourparts：figureofspeech，semanticmethod，thevarietyofpronunciationandspellingformandgrammar。Andthenitmakesstudytheapplianceofeuphemismonthreefunctions：avoidance，courtesy，disguiseinsociallife，anddiscussesthepositiveandnegativeinfluencesofeuphemism。Toknowthesecouldhelpustounderstandthemodeofthinking，socialvalues，moralconcepts，andculturaltraditionsinEnglishspeakingcountry，andcouldimproveourlanguagecommunicativeability。
　　〔Keywords〕：Euphemism，application，socialinfluence，positive，negative
　　【摘要】语言交际是人类以维系社会关系的重要手段，因而人们在交际中通常避免使用引起双方不快从而损害双方关系的语言，而是采取迂回曲折的方法来表达思想，交流信息，它不仅是种语言现象，而且是社会现象和文化现象。委婉语言体现了相应的社会文化传统。本文主要阐述了英语委婉语的构成方法以及它的社会影响，并着重从修辞手段，语义手段，构词手段及语法手段对委婉语言作了较全面的分析，并对委婉语在交际中的语用功能和表达方式做了一些探讨，从委婉语的避讳功能，礼貌功能和掩饰功能三个方面探讨了委婉语在社会生活中的运用，了解委婉语在运用中的积极作用和消极作用，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、道德观以及文化风俗，对于提高自身言语交际功能是十分必要的。
　　【关键词】委婉语；运用；社会影响；积极；消极
　　1。Introduction
　　EuphemismisoriginallyfromGreek，meaning，speakwithgookwords。eumeanswellorsoundingwell；phememeansspeech。ItsdefinitioninOxfordEnglishDictionaryis（exampleofthe）useofpleasant，mild，orindirectwordsorphrasesinplaceofmoreaccurateordirectones。〔1〕
　　Theappearanceofeuphemismisbasedontworeasons：oneaimstotaketheplaceoftaboo。Whengivingupatabooword，peoplewillfindanothernewonetotaketheplaceofit，whichcreatesaeuphemism。Theotheraimstoavoidoffensivenessduringthecommunication。Itisafigureofrhetoricbywhichanunpleasantoroffensivethingisdescribedorreferredtobyamilderterm。
　　InEnglishlanguage，euphemismiswidelyusedinthedailycommunications。Inordertoachievetheaimoftaboo，itisusedtoavoidtheunpleasantthing；inordertoachievetheaimofpoliteness，itisusedtoavoidtheinelegantthings〔2〕，whicharethetwosocialpsychologicalbasisoftheemergenceofeuphemism。Euphemismisoneoftheimportantpartsoffigureofspeech。Itisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenon，butalsoakindofsocialphenomenonandculturalphenomenon。Euphemisminusediffersfrompersontoperson，fromprofessiontoprofession，evenfromclasstoclass〔3〕，That’swhysometimesthemeaningofsomeeuphemismswillpuzzleyouifyoudonotknowthebackgroundofEnglishculture。TograsptheEnglisheuphemismcannotonlyhelpusopenoureyes，butstrengthenourabilityofreadingcomprehension。ThispaperaimstodiscusstheapplicationofeuphemisminEnglishandtomakeacknowledgeofitssocialinfluence，whichcouldhelpususeeuphemisminacorrectway。
　　2。Waystoexpresseuphemism
　　2。1。Figureofspeech
　　2。1。1。Metonymy。Sometimes，someeuphemismsarefrequentlyusedinsteadoftheoriginalwords；peoplegraduallyforgetthEireuphemisticidentities。TheyarenotusedintermsofeuphemismsbuthavethEIrownindependentmeanings。Forinstance，takeabovementionedpoppy，nowifyoulookupthiswordinthedictionary，youcanfindthemeaningofopium，ithaslostitseuphemisticfunction。And，ifyoudonotknowthebackground，youcannotknowthemeaningofNapoleonandBorstal。Therefore，wecanseetheimportanceofknowingthebackgroundofEnglishculture。Itcanhelpyoualottorecognizeandunderstandtherealmeaningofeuphemismandmakegooduseofit。Tousemetaphorcaneasilyavoidtheoffensivethings。Forexample，whereforeitisbettertobeaguestofthelaw，which，thoughconductedbyrules，doesnotmeddleundulywithagentleman’sprivateaffairs。（O。Henry，TheCopandtheAnthem）tobeaguestofthelawisaeuphemismfortobeinprison〔4〕，Manyeuphemismsfordeathwerecreatedbywayofmetaphor，suchasgoingtohislonghome，tobehomeandfree，togotosleep，tosleepthelong（oreternal，neverending）sleep，torestinpeace，tobeatrest，togotoHeaven（orParadise），tojoinone’sancestors，tobegatheredtoone’sfathers，tojointheimmortals。Moreexamplesare：agedsunsetyears，tobepoortobepinched，tohaveimpropersexualintercoursewithgirls（especiallymaiden）todeflower；todegeneratetogoastray；breastmilkbottles；catameniatheredflag；tobepregnanttobeonthenest；themoneyofbriberygrease；tobribetogreasesomebody’spalm；handcuffsbracelets。
　　2。1。3Personification2。1。4。Analogy
　　Intheeuphemismsforoccupationpeopleoftenuseanalogy，whichmakesthehumblenamemoreelegant〔5〕，Forexample，chefisaeuphemismforcook。ItisborrowedfromFrenchwordchefdecuisine。Beauticianreferstohairdresser；garbologistreferstogarbagecollector；morticianreferstoundertaker。Therealsoappearedsomebeautifulnamesforbarbershop：hairsalon，beautyparlour，andstylistparlour。
　　2。1。5。Ellipsis
　　Thatistoomittheoffensivewordswhilespeaking，suchastobeexpecting（ababy），tohave（sexual）relationswithsomebody，totakeprecautions（againstpregnancy），todepart（fromthisworld）。Ofcourse，suchphrasesshouldbeputintoacertaincontext，whichcanexpressthemeaningofeuphemisms。
　　2。1。6。Periphrasis
　　Itisanexpressionofbeatingaroundthebush。Thoughitisamuddledacting，itsaimistoavoidoffendingothers，andtobemorepolite〔6〕。Ifsomeoneaskedawomanwhethershewasknittingatinygarment，hemeantthathewonderedwhethershewaspregnant。Suchwayofspeakingishumorous，sweetandagreeable，suchastodietocloseone’seyes，toexpire，tobreatheone’slast；todefecateandtourinatetowashone’shands，toeaseorrelieveoneself，todoone’sbusiness；tocourttogowalking；tobepregnanttoeatfortwo；lavatorywashroom，cloakroom；fartwindfrombehind；women’sunderclothesunmentionables；trousersnethergarments；askyoutogoawaycallyourcarriageforyou；todismisstogivesomebodythesack；tobeinprisontoliveatthegovernmentsexpense。Teachersoftenusethisexpressiontoavoidthestudents’andtheirparents’awkwardness。Forexample，lazinessiscalledneedingamplesupervisioninordertoworkwell；cheatisdescribedasneedinghelpinlearningtoadheretorulesandstandardsoffairplay；liesiscalledshowingdifficultyindistinguishingbetweenimaginaryandfactualmaterial；stealiscalledneedinghelpinlearningtorespectthepropertyrightsofothers；beabullyreferstohavingqualitiesofleadershipbutneedshelpinlearningtousethemdemocratically；dirtyiscalledbelackofproperhealthhabits。〔7〕
　　2。2。Semanticmethod
　　2。2。1。Synonym
　　Forexample，tightisusedinsteadofstingy；thriftisusedinsteadofeconomical，defecatereplacesshiftandurinereplacespiss。Andmadisreplacedbycrazy，insane，andlunatic。Sucheuphemismaimstousetheappreciativetermtotaketheplaceofthederogatoryterm。
　　2。2。2。Negation
　　Sucheuphemismusesthecontrarytermtoexpressthesamemeaning，anditcouldbemoreusefulthansynonyminreplacingthetabooandmakepeoplemoreunderstandableandcomfortable。Wecouldcallstupidpeopleunwisepeople。Afatchancemeansaslimchanceandfindwordsstandsforbadwords
　　2。2。3。Vaguewordsandexpressions
　　Thatistomaketheharsheroroffensivewordsmoregeneral。Forexample，ifsomebodyhassomementalproblems，wecanexpressitlikethis：Hisroofleaksalittle；hehasascrewloosemissing；heisnotathome。Thereareotherexampleswhichusevagueexpressions，suchasdiseasetrouble，problem；tocomeacrossanunfortunatethingtohaveanaccident；V。D。（venerealdisease）secretdisease；tolivetogetherillegallytocohabit；intrauterinedevicering；torapesomebodytodoviolencetosomebody；prostituteawomanofthestreets，awomanofacertainclass，apaintedwoman，aladyofthenightgirl；toentertainwhorehousevisitorstoseecompany；whorehousehouse；asquintanobliquityofvision；amanofbadtasteamanofdoubtfultaste；strikeindustrialaction；thepoortheunderprivileged，thedisadvantaged；indebtindifficulties；buttocksbehind，bottom，backsides；homosexualqueer；sexualintercourseintimacy；tobekilledtobeputtosleep。
　　2。2。4。Loanwords
　　BecausefromtheperiodofRenaissance，Latin，Greek，andFrenchareconsideredasculturedwords〔8〕。Peopleconsiderthatthoselanguagesaremoreelegant，tactfulandambiguous。Intheearly19thcentury，nomatterinBritainorAmerica，peopleusedFrenchwordenceinteinsteadofEnglishwordpregnant。Itispopulartillnowbecausetheformerismoreelegant，tactfulandambiguous。EnglishborrowswordsnotonlyfromFrenchbutalsofromotherlanguagesinmanykindsofwaystocreateitsowneuphemism。Forexample，lavatorywasborrowedfromLatinwordlavatorium，butitlostitsmeaningofeuphemismbecauseoflongtimeusing。Therefore，peopleborrowedanothereuphemismfromFrenchtoilettewhichwasrespelledintotoilet，anditbecamethemostpopulareuphemismreferringtolavatory。Frenchwordschemiseandlingerieareeuphemismsforunderwearandblouserespectively。sushiwasborrowedfromJapanese。ItsoriginalmeaningisakindofJapanesefood。Peopleputitintoaphrasealittletonguesushi，whichmeanstonguekissing。Theabovewordsmostlybelongtothecommonvocabulary。Inaddition，euphemismsalsoborrowsomescienceandtechnologicalwordsandacademicwordsthatarecold，clinicandantiseptic。SuchwordsaremainlyfromLatinandGreek。Forexample，Latinwordcoitusisaeuphemismforfuck；Nativewordsshitandpissarealldirtywords，whileLatinworddefecationandGreekwordurinationareallacceptedeasily。
　　2。2。5。Understatement
　　Thatistostatesomeseriousthingsinatemperatewayinordertoavoidbeingawkwardandstrident〔9〕。Forexample，Shewasneitherquiteprettynorquietplain。Plainisusedinsteadofugly；MycousinJimmywasabitsoftinthehead。Softintheheadmeansmad；Theboyusedtotakethingswithoutpermissionandhasjustbeenoutoftherehabilitationhomeinthecountry。（steal，detentionhome）；theperiodofeconomicdepressionaperiodofeconomicadjustment；moneyforbriberykickback，commission；poorfamilieslowincomefamilies；fallingbehindlessadvanced；retardedchildrenlessablechildren；anuglygirlaplainorhomelygirl；disabledphysicallyhandicapped；tobeilltolookoffcolor，tofeelunwelloruncomfortable；treatmenthealthcare；oldageadvancedinage。
　　2。3。ThevarietyofpronunciationandspellingformThereisaninterestingexample：laboratory，theoriginalstresswasonthefirstsyllable。Butitsoundedsimilarlytolavatory。Inordertoavoidtheunpleasantconnection，thestresswasmovedtothesecondsyllable。SuchphenomenoniscalledAssonance。Thatistomakeuseofortocreatewords，whichhavethesameorsimilarpronunciationswitheuphemisticwordsinordertoachievethepurposeofeuphemism。Therefore，inEnglishthereisawayofpersonificationtoexpresscatamenia：Thecaptainisathome。Itisbecausecaptainisassonantwiththemedicalsciencetermcatamenia。InoralEnglish，peeisusedtorefertopiss，whichhasthesamereason。
　　2。4。Grammar
　　Thatistousepasttense，negativesentencetoexpresseuphemism。Forexample，Icanseebyyourfacethatyoudon’tthinkthatwaswise。Thenegativeformmeansthinkingthatwasfoolish；Howdowefeeltoday？Usingweinsteadofyoushowsthemoderationandgeniality。IwantedtoIwonderedoftentaketheplaceofIwanttoIwonderSuchexpressionisoftenusedinoralEnglish。〔11〕
　　3TheSocialInfluencesofEuphemism
　　EuphemismiswidelyusedinAmericaandBritain。Ithasalonghistory。Neweuphemismsemergeinanendlessstream。Accordingtoitsappliedfunctions，I’dliketopideitintothreeparts：Avoidance，CourtesyandDisguise。Throughstudyingthethreefunctions，wecanunderstandthewesternsociety’sviewonvalueandmorality。
　　3。1。Avoidance
　　3。1。1。TheeuphemismsforGodanddevil
　　TheTenCommandmentsofBiblehasprescribed，ThoushaltnottakethenameoftheLordthyGodinvain；fortheLordwillnotholdhimguiltlessthattakethhisnameinvain。That’swhytherearesomanyeuphemisms。InoralEnglish，usingGodcausallywouldbeconsideredblasphmous。IfsomeonesayGoddamniitheistreasonandheresy，andwouldbepunished〔14〕。Someofthemadoptthesemanticmethod，suchastheCreator，theMaker，theSupreme（BEing），HolyOne，theAlmighty，theEternal，OurFather，theSaviour，KingofKings，Lordoflords，theLightoftheWorld，SoverEIgnoftheUniverse。Someofthemadoptthephoneticmethod，suchasGad，Gosh，Golly，Godfreyetc。Therearemanyeuphemismsforthedevil，suchasoldenemy，oldNed，OldNick，OldOne，Ole’un（OldMan），OldScratch，OldSerpent，theOldBoyetc。Forexample，HewasfrightenedasifOldHarrywerebeforehim。InEnglishtheyoftenuseheckinsteadofhell。hellhasotherexpressions：theotherplace，averyuncomfortableplace，theotherwayetc。Forexample，WewereallgoingdirecttoHeaven；wewereallgoingdirecttheotherway。〔15〕Euphemismisoftencausedinspeakingofthingsthatarepainfulanddistressingtothinkabout。Deathisoneofexpressions。Theeuphemismsfordeathareawidelyuseditem，especiallywhenitconcernsone’sownfamiliesandfriends。Ithasalotofexpressions〔16〕。Forexample，ifanythingshouldhappentome（whenIdie）；topassawayon；todepart；togotosleep；tobenolongerwithus；tobeinterred。Deathalsohassomehumorousexpressions：topopoff；topushupdaisies；tocashinone’schips；tokickthebucket。Deathalsohasanintimaterelationshipwithreligion。TherearemanyeuphemismsfromBible，forexample，toreturntodustearth；topaythedebtofnature；tobecalledtoGodtoanswerthefinalsummons；togotoheaven；tobeatpeace，tobeasleepintheArmsofGod；toyielduptheghost；tolaunchintoeternity；tohaveone’snameinscribedintheBookoflifeetc。Somewords，whichconcerndeath，alsohaveeuphemisticexpressions。Forexample，coffiniscalledcasket；deadbodyiscalledearthlyremains；funeraliscalledmemorialservice；graveyardiscalledmemorygarden。
　　3。1。3。Theeuphemismsforillness，naturalandmanmadecalamities
　　Mostwesternersavoidtalkingaboutsomeseriousdiseases。Forinstance，terminallyillisaeuphemismforcancer；AmericanandBritishnewspapersoftennamesyphilisassocialdisease；leprosyiscalledHansen’sdisease；constipationiscalledirregularity。tumouriscalledagrowth；commitsuicideiscalledselfdeliveranceorselfviolence。Peopleoftenuseinitialingtoavoidtalkaboutsomediseasesdirectly，suchasAIDS（AcquiredImmuneDeficiencySyndrome）；BigC（Cancer）；VD（VenerealDisease）etc。todiebecauseofacrashiscalledoldNewtontookhim；harakiriiscalledhappydispatch；anunnaturaldeathiscalledtobeblownacrossthecreek
　　3。1。4。Theeuphemismsforsex
　　Nearlyalllanguagesconsidersexatabooword。Inthewest，whenchildrenaskedtheirparentswheretheycamefrom，theirparentsoftenansweredthebabywasavisitfromthestork。Peoplecansaypregnantinsteadofexpectingorinthefamilyway；fartisalsowrittenintothedictionary。Youcansayitdirectlyinsteadofsaying，windfrombehindItisjustbecauseofthemovementofsexlibertyandsexliberation。PeoplecanhaveafreertalkaboutsexthanVictorianage。Onthecontrary，someotherneweuphemismsforsexappearedoneafteranother。Sexualknowledgeiscalledfactsoflife；pornographicmoviesiscalledadultfilms；cohabitationhasbecomeverycommoninwesternsociety。Itisalsocalledakindofmarriage：trialmarriageorunmarriedwife。Nevertheless，withthesharpincreaseoftherateofporce，thereappearedmanyeuphemismsforporce：tobreakup，tosplitup，andmatchruptcy（ablendingofmatchandbankruptcy）。AndthehomosexualitywouldbecalledGreekarts，queer，gay。ThereisanotherinterestingphrasetogotoReno。Reno，asmallcityinthewestofNevada，isfamousforitseasyandfastproceduresofporce。SotogotoRenoalsobecomesaeuphemismforporce。
　　3。1。5。Theeuphemismsforbirth
　　ContrarytotheChinesetraditionalopinion，inwesterncountries，beingpregnantandhavingababyarenotconsideredablessedevent。AustralianEnglishevencallitablastedevent。InAmerica，toweartheapronhigh，towearhavethebellyhighareeuphemismsfortobepregnant，whileinBritain，towearthebustlewrongisaeuphemismfortobepregnant。In19thcentury，aslimwaististheidealfigureforBritishwomen。Therefore，tobepregnantisalsocalledtobeawkward，inabadwayshape；tomakeawomanpregnantiscalledtospoilruinawoman’sshape。Someoneevencalledtobepregnanttobecaughtortobefallen。Somevagueexpressionsalsoshowakindofrestlessmood，suchas：thatway，inacertainparticulardelicateconditionetc。Theuseofhumorisanotherfeatureofeuphemismforbeingpregnant。Americanpeoplearelikelytosaytohaveawatermelononthevine，ortoswallowawatermelonseed。BritishpeoplearelikelytosaytohaveabunintheovenortohaveanIrishtoothache（tomakefunofIrishpeoplewhoarepregnantascommonlyashavingatoothache）。
　　3。2。Courtesy
　　Anotherreasontouseeuphemismisthatitavoidstheharshanddirectwordinapoliteway，andmakesthesentencesoundmorepleasant。Tograspthepolitefunctionofeuphemismcanhelpyoubuildagoodrelationshipwithothers。Thepolitefunctionsareespeciallyreflectedintheoccupations，ortrades。ItrelatewithPolitenessPrincipleofLeech〔17〕。Itisobviousthatadvertisementisaimedathelpingbusinessmenpropagandatheirgoods，forthesakeofsolicitingcustoms。Asapleasantway，usingeuphemismsinadvertisementshasbecomemoreandmorewidespread。Now，secondhandstorehasbeenreplacedbyresalestore，super，giant，special，suchwords，havebecomemorepopular。Moreover，wecanoftenseethesamephenomenonabouttheexpressionsforclassesofcabins。Todefendpassengers’honor，FirstClassischangedtoDeluxeClass，SecondClassistoFirstClass，ThirdClasstoBusinessClass，andEconomicClasstoTouristClass。Thisfunctionundoubtlyplaysanactiveroleofimprovingtheprogressofsociety：
　　3。2。1。Theeuphemismfortheofficeandtrade
　　Forexample，mentalhospitalormentalhealthcenterisaeuphemismformadhouse；mortuaryorfuneralisaeuphemismofdeadhouse。Somesmallcompaniesorsmallenterprisesliketousethewordindustry，suchashotelindustry，touristindustry，garageindustry，women’sbeautyindustryetc。
　　3。2。2。Theeuphemismforoccupation
　　Inordertopromotethesocialstatusoftheoccupation，almosteveryhumbleoccupationhasasweetsoundingname。Therearemainlytwoforms：
　　1）。Compound。Thatistochoosesomesweetsoundingoccupationalnamestomakeupcompoundorcompoundphrases。Forexample，todaywecanfindmanyoccupationsinAmericaandBritainnamedwithengineer：sanitary（orsanitation）engineer；building（custodian，dwelling）engineer；automobileengineer；drycleaningengineer，pipeengineer；heatingengineer；packingengineer；salesengineer；housewifedomesticengineer；thepersonwhoisinchargeofkillingmiceandcockroachesexterminating（extermination）engineer。Therearesomeothercommontitles：automotiverepairmanautomotiveinternist；gardenworkerlandscapearchitect；prisonguardcorrectionalofficer；pestkillerpestcontroloperator；butchermeattechnologist。Somehumbleoccupationshavemanyeuphemisticnamesatthesametime。Forexample，peopleoftencallhairstylisttonsorialartist，whilepeoplecallfemalehairdresserwomansurgeon；undertakeralsohasmanyexpressions：bereavementcounselor，grieftherapist，funeraldirector，funeralservicepractitioner。Besidesengineerhousewifealsocanbecalledhouseholdexecutive，homemaker，evendomesticmanager；Prostitutealsohasmanyeuphemisms，suchaspavementprincess，workinggirl，streetwalker，callgirl，businessgirletc。
　　2）。Derivation。ThatistochoosesomeLatinandGreekprefixeswhosemeaningsrefertoaperson，suchas（o）logist。mixologistisaeuphemismforabar’swaiter；dustmanforgarbologist；femalehairdresserforcosmetologist；undertakerformortician；cobblerforshoetrician；locksmithforlocktician。Somespecialoccupationalnameshaveadoptedtwoprefixes。Forexamplecosmetologistandcosmeticianbothrefertofemalehairdresser。Moreover，Latinprefixarianisoriginallyusedinreligion，butnowitisalsousedintheoccupation，suchas：bartarian，sanitarian。AnotherLatinprefixianisalsousedpopularly，suchascustodian（entranceguardordustman）。SomepeopleevenwanttochangethenativeprefixertotheLatinprefixorbecausetheythinktheforeignprefixismoreelegantandsweetsounding，suchasweldor，wildanimaltrainor。
　　3。2。3。Theeuphemismsfortheagedandweight
　　Theage，especiallyawoman’sageisregardedasasensitiveprivacy。Andmostofthewesternpeopleareafraidofgettingold，sotheycalloldpeopleseniorcitizens。oldageandsenilitycaneasilycausethefearoftheoldpeople。Someeuphemisticexpressionstaketheplaceofthem，suchasgettingon（inyears），pastone’sprime，feelingone’sage，secondchildhood，adistinguishedgentleman，agrandedame，thirdage。TheoldpeoplebecomeanelderstatesmanoroldagepensionerorevenuseinitialingOAP。Theyarenotoldbutlonglived。Oldpeople’shome，ofcourse，isnotanidealplaceforoldmentolivein。Therearemanyeuphemisticexpressions：ahomeforadults，anursinghome，aresthome，aprivatehospital，aconvalescenthospital。Theoldpeoplewholivetherearecalledeuphemisticallyaresident。
　　Inwesterncountry，itisveryimpoliteifyoutalkaboutsomeone’sfigureandweightwithoutreservation。Ifsomeoneisfat，overweightisoftenusedtoreplaceit。weightwatchersisalsoaeuphemismforfatpeople。Tofemale，afatgirliscalledafullerfigureorplump；tomale，fatiscalledstout；tochild，itiscalledchubby。Onthecontrary，ifsomeoneistoothin，euphemismisalsoused。Tomale，itiscalledlean，andtofemale，itiscalledslim，slender，willowyorsvelte。
　　3。2。4。Theeuphemismsforpovertyandunemployment
　　Thetopicofpovertyandunemploymentmightcausesomeembarrassment，sopeopleoftenuseeuphemismwhentheirtalksconcernsuchthings。Forexample，dismissalisoftencalledlayoff，easeout，getthewalkingticketpinkslip；bankruptcyiscalledoutofthegame；pennilessiscalledoutofpocket，inreducedcircumstances，badlyoff，needyetc。；thepoorpeopleiscalledthehavenots，theunderprivileged，thedisadvantaged；eventheirhousesalsohaveasweetsoundingnamesubstandardhousing。Theeuphemismforunemploymenthasmanyexpressions。Mostofthemarehumorous，suchasbetweenjobs，betweenshows，tobedevelopinganewproject，toreceiveaMexicanraiseanIrishpromotion（toraiseapromotionwithoutraisingthesalary），tobeselfemployed。InAmericaunemployedmenarecalledclaimants，while，inBritain，theyarecalledtobeonpublicassistance。Ofcourse，someeuphemismsarepessimistic：TheBritishunemployedmencantake50percentofftheticketofafilmandadrama，sotheyalsocanbecalledthelessfortunate。
　　3。2。5。Theeuphemismsforexcretion
　　Allwordsconcerningexcretionexcepttearsareconsideredtaboowords。Theeuphemismsforlavatoryhavemanywaysofexpressions，suchaswatercloset，cloakroom，comfortstation，toilet（whichispopularinBritain），restroom（whichisgenerallyusedinAmerica）。InAmerica，conveniencestationiswrittenEnglish，whilebathroomisoralEnglish。Johnisslang，whilepoet’scornerisacrackjoke。InBritain，theyuseJakesinsteadofJohn。Theyusepubliccomfortstationinsteadofpublicconveniencestation。Men’slavatoryiscalledGent’s，theJohn，thewashroom；Women’slavatoryiscalledLadies’，thepowderroom，powderone’snose（Br。）；powderone’spuff（Am。）；Mrs。Jones。Therearealsomanywaystoexpressurinationanddefecation，suchas，togotothebathroomrestroompowderroom，todoone’sbusiness，toanswernature’scall。。
　　Thereareotherexpressions。Forinstance，Ihavetoretireforamoment。Iwouldliketobeexcused。Interrogativesentencescanalsobeused：Whereistherestroom？WherecanIwashmyhands？Ladiescansay，I’dliketoaddsomemakeup。inordertoavoidtheawkwardness。
　　3。3。Disguise
　　Oppositetothepositiveinfluencesofeuphemism，therearesomedifferentsayingsaboutit。SomepeoplecondemneuphemismsasdemoralizingbecauseofitshypocrisywhileotherslikeHilaireBellocconsiderthema‘psychologicalnecessity〔18〕。Oneofthemostimportantreasonsisthateuphemismisusedtoconcealsomescandalousbehaviorsandcrimes。Therefore，euphemismcanalsobringaboutthenegativeinfluences，whichareembodiedinthefollowingtwoaspectsaccordingtoitsconcealingfunction：
　　3。3。1。Theeuphemismsfortherequirementsofpoliticsandwar。3。3。2。Theeuphemismsforcrime
　　Crimeisalsoaverysensitivetopic。Thejudgecansay，Iherebysentenceyoutofiveyearsinprison。Whilethefamiliesandfriendsofthecriminalarelikelytousetheeuphemisticexpression，suchastosendtothebighouse，tosenduptheriver，tobelivingatthegovernment’sexpense。juveniledelinquentsisaeuphemismforyoungcriminals；prisoniscalledcorrectionalcenter；burglaryiscalledsurreptitiousentry；rapeiscalledcriminalassault；theofficer’sactofstealingorembezzlingiscalledTheymisusepublicfunds。Deathpenaltyiscalledcapitalpunishment。
　　3。4。Thecountries’namesaseuphemism
　　InEnglish，thereisanotherspecialeuphemisticexpression。Thatistouseothercountries’namesinsteadofsomeharsherormoreoffensivewords。Theappearanceoftheseeuphemismsismostlybecauseofthehistoricandculturalreasons。Forinstance，becauseFrenchhadruledBritain，BritishpeopleliketomakefunoftheFrench。TheycalledsyphilistheFrenchdisease。Frenchletterisaeuphemismforcondom；abortivepilliscalledFrenchlunarpill；pornographicnovelsprintsiscalledFrenchnovels（prints）。ItseemsthattheFrenchdoesallthebadthings。In17thcentury，thewarbetweenBritainandDutchalsoledtoalotofantiDutchwords，includingeuphemisms。ProstituteiscalledDutchwidow；commitsuicideiscalledDutchactcure；Dutchcourageisanartificialcourage；Dutchcheerisaeuphemismforliquor。ItwassaidthattheDutchoftendranksomeliquortobuilduptheircourage。BesidesFrenchandDutch，Britainalsomakesfunofothercountries。Condomhasothereuphemisticexpressionsintermsofcountry’sname，suchasSpanishletter，Americanletter，andItalianletter。AbortivepillisalsocalledPortuguesefemalepill；Russianrouletteisaeuphemismfortointendtocommitsuicide；Mexicanraise。Irishpromotionmeanstobedismissed；Egyptianphysicaltrainingmeanstosleepatdaytime；Chineseisalsoincludedinthisusage，anditreferstoakindofheroin。Chinesewhiteisaeuphemismforspiritedheroin；Chineseredalsoreferstoheroin。Inaword，theBritishandtheAmericanrelatealotofoffensivethingswithothercountries’names。Thatiswhyexotichasthemeaningoferotic。Exoticclubbecamethestripteasenightclub；exoticdancerbecamethegogodancer。BesidesEnglish，otherwesterncountriesalsohavesucheuphemisticphenomena。Infact，itisLinguisticChauvinism。
　　4。Conclusion
　　Euphemismappearswithfalseappearance，andexertsasubtleinfluenceonexposingthetruth。Thatistousetheneutralorpleasantwordstoexpresssomeawkwardoroffensivecontents。AstotheEnglishlearners，weshouldnotonlypayattentiontoitsapplicationonappropriateoccasions，buttoitsinfluences。Itsactivefunctionscancoordinatetheinterpersonalrelationships，releasethecontradictionsandavoidtheconflicts。Thenegativefunctionsaretoconfoundrightandwrong，beautifytheshamefulbehaviorsandconcealtheessence。Languageitselfhasnottheclasscharacter，butdifferentpeople，politicalpartiesandcountriescanconsideritatooltoserveforthem。Thatiswhysomeonenamedeuphemismsascomfortablewordsorcosmeticwords。Indailylife，weshouldpayattentiontotheinfluencesthattheactiveandnegativefunctionsofeuphemismsbringus，andkeepthenegativefunctionsfromcorruptingourthoughts。
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