中西方委婉语的差别
Different Expression on Euphemism
Origin of euphemism
•
•
•
• Euphemism comes from Greek . eu —good :words of good omen(预兆) or pheme- 意思是speech 言语 Euphemism good speech 意思是优雅动听的说法
What is an euphemism?
The use of a word which is thought to be less offensive or unpleasant than another
word.
An indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth. embarrassing or
unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is.
Interesting Expression
请同学们先来欣赏下面四个短语：
一位先生从桌子旁站起，彬彬有理地向人们说他得去―see a man about a dog‖一位
青年人在大白天在大街上闲逛，原因是他们‖at liberty ‖; 有个孩子被妈妈关在家
里，因为他正―in his birthday suit ‖某位官员把下属请去作一‖polygragh
interview ‖---这里使用的都是委婉语
1.See a man about a dog -------go to WC
2. at liberty----------out of work
3. in his birthday suit-------- wear nothing ,have nothing on
4.polygragh interview-------测谎试验
Functions of Euphemism
• A. To Avoid Taboo
• B. To Show Politeness
• C. To Conceal Truth
Classification of Euphemisms
Positive euphemisms（肯定委婉语）and negative euphemisms（否定委婉语）
• A. 肯定 positive
肯定这类委婉语用来夸张，扩大，使其显得比她们所代表真实事物
更体面 , 更重要。
e.g.1. beautician-----hairdresser(为顾客做头发的人)
• 2.automobile engineer---mechanic
• 3. custodian-engineer----floor-sweeper
• 4.footwear maintenance engineer------bootblack
• 5.recreation engineer----sanitary man
• 6. street walker , pavement princess ，working
girl ,business girl, call girl----whore(妓女)
• B. 否定委婉语（negative)
否定委婉语是起减弱，收缩的做用，尽可能把人们所忌违的词语改头换面, 乃至不直接接处它们。
• 说到语言中的忌违，最大的莫过于病(disease)，死(die)，丧葬，因此，这
方面的委婉语也就极多。
Die
pass away去世，与世长辞 fall asleep长眠 go to sleep forever 长眠
run one’ s race走完一生 be no more不在了 be no longer with us与我们永别了breathe one’s last 咽气be at rest 安息 fade 凋零了go west归西，西去go to heaven 上天堂了be called to God被上帝召唤去了safe in the arms of Jesus在耶稣怀里得到平安 be gone to a better 1and到一个更好的地方去了join the silent majority 加入沉默的大多数 go to his long home回到永久的家 go the way of all flesh 走众生之路 join one’s ancestors 加入祖先的行列 return to dust 归之尘土
Diseases
Our fear of specific diseases has led us to coin a lexicon of euphemisms for insanity and retardation, epilepsy(癫痫) , venereal disease, cancer, heart disease and stroke. e.g. He has long ( terminal ) illness . / He has got the big C ---癌症
hard of hearing. 耳朵背
social disease :--AIDS
lung trouble -- tuberculosis 肺结核
old man’s friend ---pneumonia 肺炎
a little confused – mad
cripple ––––physically handicapped
defecate/urinate
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
要说不能登大雅之堂的词语，―厕所‖算一个。 需要上厕所时，人们会说： 1. go to the bank 2.cash a check 3. spend a penny 4. see Johnny 5.go to the bathroom 6.do business 7.answer nature’s call 8.release oneself 女士们更常说： 9.consult Mrs. Jones 10.I have to power my nose. 因此厕所可称作： power room, 还可为 bath room ,comfort station halfway house, old soldier’s home, Miss White
Appearance and Age
ugly –––plain; homely , not particularly good looking , ordinary
fat ––––chubby; stout; plump, out-size, over-weight
thin ---- delicate , slender, slim
old –getting on years; senior citizen; elderly, distinguished gentleman, golden age, venerable people, get on years, pass one’s prime, feel one’s age
mad/ feeble – minded--- not all there ,soft in head/ soft - headed ,of unsound mind/ unsound - minded
Society and Education
• radio electrician——radio doctor
• housewife ——household executive
• garbage collector——sanitary engineer
pregnancy
• in the family way
• eating for two
• in a delicate condition
• a mother to be
• Cancel all her social engagement
• in an interesting condition
• knitting bootees
• Be expecting
a slow student →a student working at his own level /who can do better work with help.
a lazy student → under-achiever
The student who cheats in the exams → depends on others to do his / her work 译:这个学生爱打架.
This student is too free with fists.
Or: This student resorts to physical means of winning his point or attract attention. Military Affairs
invasion :involvement /military action
air operation
ground operation
Economy
•
•
•
•
•
•
depression/recession industrial action collateral damage Defense Department nuclear device liberation
•
•
•
•
•
• economic crisis go on strike civilian casualties War Department nuclear bomb occupation
Poor
backward, underdeveloped
developing ,emerging,
needy, underprivileged
Bankrupt
out of the game
sexism in Chinese Characters
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• 妖 evil spirits , alluring 媚 flattering 奸 wicked, treacherous 婪 greedy 忌妒 jealous , envious 姘 to have illicit sexual relations with 嫖 to visit prostitutes, whoremaster 婊 prostitute, call girl , girlie, street call, street walker
Discrimination
slaves → Negroes →the black people →non white → the colored people → African American
sit-in （静坐示威或静坐罢工）
ride-in （指黑人在实行种族隔离的公共汽车上乘坐白人座位，以示抗议。） swim-in （指黑人为抗议种族歧视进入白人游泳池游泳的示威行动。）
study-in （指黑人学生及白人同情者进入种族歧视的学校听课以示抗议。） pray-in （指黑人进入白人教堂作礼拜，作祈祷以示抗议。）
talk-in ：轮流演讲的抗议集会。
sign-in ：为向政府或权威人士进行请愿、抗议等而广泛征求群众签名支持的活动。 kiss-in ：学生为抗议学校不许谈情说爱所举行的狂吻聚会
prince-in ：狂欢舞会
drop-in ：不速之客
Sexism in China
• ―妇人之见‖，―头发长，见识短‖，―男子汉不和妇人一般见识‖，to degrades
women ’s point of view .
• ―水性扬花‖degrades women’s sexual morality.
• ― 好男不跟女斗‖ implies women are inferior to men.
• ―红颜祸水‖
• ―妹喜‖，―妲己‖，―杨贵妃‖ Other examples
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1.revenue enhancement 2.collateral damage 附带伤亡 ( civilian casualties ) 3.underdeveloped nations, the Third World countries, the Southern countries 4.illegitimate child 5.free love 6.capital punishment 7.house of correction 8.lay off , human resources development 9.welfare mother