Adaptation-relevance Model And English Political Euphemism

Political euphemism, as an important sub-stream of euphemism, has attracted much attention and effort for a long time. Political euphemism is widely used in the field of political communication and it can provide abundant material for linguistic research, the study of political euphemism is therefore of both realistic significance and practical value. Most available researches on political euphemism are mainly limited to its application and communicative principles, and comprehensive explanation about the production and interpretation process of political euphemism is insufficient.This thesis tries to explain the production and interpretation of political euphemism on the basis of Adaptation-Relevance Model. It aims to reveal the political implications of political euphemism in the public political speeches made by the presidents, and also to validate the rationality of Adaptation-Relevance Model.By using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis, and based on the examples collected from twenty pieces of political speeches given by American President Obama and President Bush, the present study discusses the generating process of political euphemism on the foundation of the Adaptation-Relevance Model, which is proposed by Ran Yongping. In order to achieve certain political purposes, speakers tend to use political euphemism in their speeches so that their statements can be better and more easily accepted by hearers. By analyzing the selected twenty speeches, the choosing strategies and adaptation situations of political euphemism are listed, to reveal the using condition of political euphemism among these twenty selected speeches.This thesis maintains that political euphemism, as an vital means in verbal communication, is originally generated based on the speakers’ presumption of the relevance between the subject and the hearers. Through the thorough analysis of political from the perspective of the Adaptation-Relevance Model, the present study finds that the process of verbal communication is a dynamic inter-adaptation between linguistic choice and contextual correlates, and the majority of the political euphemisms utilized in political speeches tend to make adaptation to the mental world of the hearers. In addition, the study also finds that the process of generating political euphemism, which is known as the Adaptation-Relevance process, includes choosing strategies.Based on President Obama’s thirteen speeches and President Bush’s seven speeches, this thesis further discusses the process of the production and interpretation of political euphemism under Adaptation-Relevance Model. The study will be of some reference significances to cross-cultural communication, English teaching and learning and to the study of political delivery strategies.