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1、A Survey of Chinese EFL Learners Perception of English Euphemism ABSTRACTEuphemism, which is frequently used in both English and Chinese, is a linguistic phenomenon as well as a cultural one. In a sense, without proper application of euphemism, communication would be impossible. Euphemism has become
2、 one of the major subjects of cross-cultural studies as people come to realize the significance of euphemism. Therefore, English teachers should pay attention to euphemism teaching so as to improve students cross-cultural awareness and communicative competence.In China, as far as euphemism teaching
3、is concerned, there are no monographs or treatises. To see how well the students have grasped English euphemism, a survey was conducted among 28 college students who enrolled in Jiangsu University. The data was collected by the researcher and analyzed by SPSS 10.0 for windows. The results reveal tha
4、t (1) The sexual difference in the perception of English euphemism is not significant.(2) The EFL learners can grasp the English euphemism well. (3)The English proficiency has some relationship with the perception of English euphemism The results indicate that the majority of the subjects have prope
5、r awareness and communication competence in various degrees. They do especially well in category 1 but not very well in category 2. I hope that the results of my research will be helpful to college English teachers in motivating their students.But it should be admitted that there are some constraint
6、s and limitations in this dissertation. But I will improve and continue my research in the future with the help of other theories.Keywords: Euphemism; Perception；Sexual Difference; English Proficiency; English Teaching摘 要中国英语学习者委婉语使用情况调查 委婉语是一种语言现象，也是一种文化现象。不能正确理解和使用委婉语将会给交际带来极大的障碍。随着委婉语的重要性越来越为人们所关
7、注和认识，委婉语已成为跨文化研究的重要对象之一。委婉语教学的目的就是通过提高学生理解和使用委婉语的能力以培养学生的跨文化意识和交际能力。 作者发现在中国对于委婉语教学的研究几乎还是一片空白，关于委婉语教学的专著极少，一些关于委婉语教学的论文也只是探讨了委婉语的重要性并没有提出以何种模式或方法来进行教学。因此，委婉语教学的方法和模式是一个有待研究和发掘的新课题。 为了了解学生对委婉语的掌握和使用情况，我设计了一份调查问卷， 调查对象为江苏大学非英语专业的28名在校学生。 通过SPSS（ 社会科学统计软件）的数据分析，我发现在学生的英语水平和委婉语掌握情况存在着一定的关系。但是男女生的差异并不是很
8、明显。研究表明， 大部分学生已具有相当良好的跨文化意识和交际能力。本文的目的是希望所做的研究结果能对大学英语教师在激发学生学习兴趣和提高跨文化交际能力方面有所帮助。 关键词:委婉语; 感知; 性别差异；英语水平；英语教学CONTENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIVABSTRACT中文摘要CONTENTSviiiLISTS OF TABLES and FIGURESixChapter One INTRODUCTION1Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW32.1Definition of Euphemism32.2 Theoretical Framework42.2
9、Previous Studies52.2.1 Universality52.2.2 Culture specificity52.2.3 Resymbolism52.2.4 obscurity62.2.5 Beautification6Chapter Three METHODOLOGY83.1Research Questions83.2Subjects83.3Instruments83.4Treatments93.5Procedure93.6Data collection & Data analysis10Chapter Four RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS114.1 The S
10、exual Difference in the Perception of English Euphemism124.2 The Extend that EFL Learners Grasp English Euphemism204.3 The Relationship between English Proficiency and the Perception of English Euphemism20Chapter Five IMPLICATIONS24Chapter Six CONCLUSIONS266.1 The Conclusion of the Study266.2 the li
11、mitation of the study26REFERENCE28APPENDIX29Chapter One INTRODUCTIONEuphemism is a common linguistic phenomenon, and it is widely applied in daily life and social life. The word euphemism comes from Greek, eu means good or well, the root pheme means saying or speech, and ism is a noun suffix. Euphem
12、ism is, therefore, as Enright (1985:27) says in his Fair of Speech-The Uses of Euphemism, fair speech. But such a simple definition of euphemism is not satisfactory. Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English (New Edition) gives a more detailed explanation: use of other, usu. less exact
13、but milder or less blunt, words or phrases in place of words required by truth or accuracy: pass away is a euphemism for die; queer is a modern euphemism for homosexual. In brief, as a rhetorical device, euphemism is the substitution of a mild or indirect word or phrase for a blunter or harsher one.
14、 Euphemism has softening and beautifying function, thus can reduce sensitivity and irritation of language expression. So, euphemism is also called sweet talk, gilded words, cosmetic words or comfortable words. Different views have been commented on the value of euphemism. Stefan Kanfer thinks it hyp
15、ocritic, demoralizing, while Hilaire Bclloc thinks its psychological necessary. Lois De Bakey synthesizes its advantage and disadvantage: Euphemism may make an idea more palatable, but they also inflate language, reduce precision, and often tamper with the truth. Fred Sherwood says, It is not so imp
16、ortant to question the advisability of euphemism itself as to explore the psyche of its employer., which transfers euphemism from rhetoric to cultural psychology. And such psychological factor plays an important role in the origin of euphemism.Based on the previous research findings of the East and
17、the West, the present study attempts to explore Chinese EFL learners perception of English euphemism.It consists of 6 chapters. Chapter one is a brief introduction of euphemism. It will explain the meaning and give the description of the euphemism. Chapter two is a literature review on euphemism. Fr
18、om this aspect the related researches will be mentioned. My study can develop in the direction of study from the past. Chapter three & four focus on the research methodology. I conducted an experiment by means of questionnaire. Here is the indispensable part of the paper. Part five is implication. I
19、t considers possible implication of the study for cross-culture communication and English teaching and learning. Part six , conclusions are drawn. Although this study took a rigorous approach to investigate construct validity of testing table, there are several limitations that should be mentioned h
20、ere.Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEWThis chapter focuses on the definition of euphemism, theoretical framework and previous studies.2.1 Definition of EuphemismEuphemism is a part of English expression. It means: the use of a pleasanter, less direct name for something thought to be unpleasant. The word
21、euphemism is derived from a Greek word meaning “ to speak favorably” or “ good speech” Euphemism is mild, pleasant, or inoffensive expressions, substituted for harsh, blunt, coarse, or unpleasant ones. They are often used out of politeness or consideration for other peoples feelings, For instance, w
22、e would probably say to our friends, “Im sorry to hear you often quarrel with your brother,” because we feel that the first statement is more agreeable than the second one. When referring to Maxs death, English wrote: “ He had been left alone for scarcely two minutes, and when we came back found him
23、 in his armchair, peacefully gone to sleep, but forever” We feel that here “gone to sleep, but forever” is certainly more expressive and appropriate then the blunt and harsh “ dead”. There are many examples: to pass away; to be no more ; to depart to be gone; to join the majority; to go west; to go
24、to glory; go to the other word; join ones ancestors; go to his long home, etc. And it being low water, he went out with the tide. These expressions all have the meaning of “dead”. Then again, when we refer to a friend who is suffering from a disease of the brain or disorder of the mind , we would ra
25、ther use the expression “mentally ill” than use “mad” or “crazy”, because “mentally ill” is a vague word, less direct than harsh, than “mad” or “ crazy” Euphemisms are also used in referring to occupations either to conceal unpleasantness, or to improve social statues. For instance, “foreman” are ca
26、lled “ plant super intenders”; “undertakers” are called “ funeral directors”; “hired girls”-“domestic” or “helps” ; “salesman” -“ customers representatives”.2.2 Theoretical Framework The word euphemism comes from the Greek eu, good, and pheme, speech or saying, and thus means literally to speak with
27、 good words or in a pleasant manner (Neaman and Silver, 1983: 1). Some definitions of euphemism are quoted below:1) the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh or blunt. (Websters Dictionary of American English, Random House, Inc. 1997)2) the use
28、of a pleasanter, less direct name for something thought to be unpleasant. (Longman English-Chinese Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman Group UK Limited, 1998)3) rhetorical trope: a pleasant replacement for an objectionable word that has pejorative connotations. (Routledge Dictionary of Langu
29、age and Linguistics FLTRP, 2000)4) a euphemism is used as an alternative to a dispreferred expression, in order to avoid possible loss of face: either ones own face ,or through giving offence, that of the audience, or of some third party. (Allan and Burridge, 1991:18)The famous American linguists D.
30、 Bolinger extends the definition of euphemism in the third edition of Aspects of Language. He points out, there are grammatical ways of toning something down without actually changing the content of message (1981:148).H. W. Fowler (1965:171) makes a definition on euphemism in his A Dictionary of Mod
31、ern English Usage: a moderate or fuzzy expression to change speech manner, for replacing the direct, definite expression of unpleasant truth. These words point up one of euphemisms semantic features-fuzzy.2.2 Previous StudiesCharacteristics of Euphemism Euphemism, as a language phenomenon, has some
32、special characteristics. To succeed in learning a language or associating in the language with the native speakers, learners of the language should pay much attention to the following feature of euphemism.2.2.1 UniversalityIn almost all cultures there are certain notions or things strongly forbidden
33、 by social customs. That is , there are taboos in almost cultures. Generally people try to avoid mentioning the taboos directly. When the taboos (the forbidden notions and things) have to be referred to , it is likely that people tend to substitute expression that sound better. So we have euphemism
34、and euphemism exists in almost every language.2.2.2 Culture specificityThe universal existence of euphemism in languages doesnt mean that euphemism is identical in different languages. Euphemism has close relevance to culture. Notions and norms upheld by people in different cultures are not necessar
35、ily the same. As a result ,the taboos in different cultures are not necessarily the same. What is necessary to be euphemized in one culture may not be necessary to be euphemized in another. For example , the questions about age, ones martial status or prices of ones belongings, although inoffensive
36、to Chinese, should be avoided when conversing with English- speaking people. Of course, different culture may have certain taboos in common, for example, the notions of death , physical shortcomings, old age, certain functions of the body, sexual acts ,etc. they are often expressed in euphemism term
37、s in many languages. In spite of this, in different cultures there is different strictness of attitude towards the same taboos. We can say safely that euphemism is culturally specific. So knowledge of the corresponding culture is essential to understand and use euphemism properly in the language.2.2
38、.3 ResymbolismAs we know from the above definitions, euphemism is substitution of one expression for another. That is to say, euphemism is a resymbolizing of things, ideas, or events already symbolized with precision in mind. The resymbolizing produces a distance from the new expressions(euphemism)
39、to the crude expressions (taboo words) and as a result ,it produces a distance from the new expression to the things, ideas, of events they prefer to. This is the very psychological need of people to use euphemism. In spite of the distance, euphemism should be relevant to the taboos themselves. Peop
40、le cant randomly utilize an expression to euphemism the taboos. That is , the resymbolizing should provide clues to catch the intended meaning of the taboos as the crude expressions do and at the same time, the resymbolizing should sound indirect of roundabout pleasanter.2.2.4 obscurityEuphemism, as
41、 a resymbolizing of things, ideas, or events already symbolized with precision in mind, somewhat overlooks precision and leads to semantic obscurity. For example, death is the precise word to mean that creatures or plants stop living, but people for whatever reasons avoid mentioning the term and tak
42、e pains to substitute it with terms, such as depart from the world forever, fall asleep, pass away, breathe ones last, go the way of all flesh, pay ones debt to nature, go to a better world , be with God and released, etc. Although these expressions are indirect and ambiguous; people also tend to us
43、e the obscure terms , such as senior citizens, advanced in age, elderly to refer to old. Obscurity is a basic feature of euphemism. Without obscurity, euphemism will lose their euphemism value, Obscurity is a hallmark of all euphemisms.2.2.5 Beautification Beautification is another characteristic of
44、 euphemism. Generally speaking, taboo words sound unpleasant, rude and offensive. So people substitute them with euphemism that sound pleasant, polite and harmless. An intention to beautify the taboo words is contained in the utilizing of euphemism. People resort to euphemism to dress the taboos up
45、with beautiful clothes and reduce the unpleasantness of a term or notion. For example, a garbage collector is described as a sanitary engineer in English; a cleaner is called “城市美容师” in Chinese; military invasion and defeat are respectively beautified as a rescue mission and a incomplete success. Pe
46、ople use euphemism in order to beautify terms and make them sound pleasanter and less direct.To summarize, this chapter gives a brief introduction of the definition of euphemism and describes the characteristic of euphemism.Chapter Three METHODOLOGYThis chapter describes the methodology of the study
47、.3.1 Research QuestionsThe main purpose of this study is to examine the perception of English euphemism by Chinese EFL learners. To achieve the objectives, the study aims to answer the following questions:1: Is there any difference between male and female students in the perception of English euphem
48、ism? 2: To what extend do EFL learners grasp English euphemism? 3: What is the relationship between the English proficiency and the perception of English euphemism?3.2 Subjects To see how well the students in Jiangsu University have grasped English euphemism, I resort to a test specially designed and administered to the students who enrolled in Jiangsu University.The subjects who participated in this research are 28 students (20 female; 8male) in Jiangsu University
