A Research On Pragmatic Effect Of Euphemism

Euphemism is widely used in communication.The use of euphemism allows the transparency of an expression to be adjusted to assist the speaker in expressing his intention in a particular context.There are many studies on euphemism,but most of them focus more on the conventional ones.Being lack of monographs,the related research is mostly about the concept,classification and function of euphemism.In recent years,researchers have begun to observe euphemisms from different angles.Based on previous research and personal interests,the study attempts to discuss the pragmatic effects of euphemism.In the first two chapters,the paper offers a brief introduction to the research background,corpus source and the basic theories involved.From the third chapter,the study starts the discussion of the pragmatic effects of euphemism.In fact,once euphemism is used,it brings pragmatic effect to the communication.By comparing pragmatic function and pragmatic effect,we found that the former is the effect that the speaker expects,and the latter is the realization of the former in communicative context.After clarifying the concept,the study classifies the pragmatic effects of euphemism in three ways.Firstly,starting from the "attention" phenomenon in psychology,the pragmatic effects of euphemism can be divided into the Effect of Strengthening Attention and the Effect of Weakening Attention.Secondly,based on the Speech Act Theory,the pragmatic effects of euphemism can be divided into the Locutionary Effect,Illocutionary Effect and Perlocutionary Effect.Thirdly,from the perspective of "human senses",the pragmatic effects of euphemism can be divided into Auditory Effects and Visual Effects.In the fourth chapter,the study describes and explains the pragmatic effects of euphemism.This chapter concentrates on how euphemism is used and how it works.Based on the Information Processing Model,a Euphemism Processing Model is constructed.The model divides the process of using euphemism into four stages:the Initiation Stage,the Preliminary Stage,the Recognition Stage,and the Response Stage.The first two stages are about the output of euphemistic utterances,and the latter two are about the input.The linear process presented by the model clarifies the process of using euphemism.The process is both dynamic and interactive.The two sides of the communication have participated in the whole process of communication from beginning to end.In the output stages of using euphemistic expression,since the interpreter actively exists in a passive way,the organizer should fully consider the interpreter’s psychological state and the interpreter’s ability of understanding the information as an important part of the context.In the input stages of information,it seems that the effect of euphemistic expression depends entirely on the decision of the interpreter.However,in this process,the organizer is able to intervene in the expression that has already been output.Therefore,the whole process of using euphemisms not a simple operation with simple division of labor,but an interaction process between the organizer and the interpreter under the constraints and influence of dynamic context.In the fifth chapter,the study analyzes the reasons for the pragmatic failure of using euphemism.In verbal communication,euphemism does not always work.When the result of using euphemism does not fit the organizer’s intention,it means the euphemistic expression has lost its effectiveness.The reasons for the euphemism pragmatic failure are manifold.First,euphemisms can reduce the impact and the transparency of negative terms.However,overuse of euphemisms appeared to have the opposite effect.Secondly,if the euphemistic expression used is not appropriate in context,it may cause pragmatic failure.To achieve the expected result,both the organizer and the interpreter need to have an accurate grasp of the context.Moreover,the incompatibility of the interpreter is also one of the reasons for the pragmatic failure of using euphemism.Based on the previous research,the strategy of using euphemism is put forward in the sixth chapter of the article.In fact,the purpose of this study is to help people to use euphemism more effectively in communication.In the last chapter,the study reviews the content and findings of the research,and points out the limitations of the research and suggestions for further research.