1、Taboo and Euphemism,Eliza & NancyApr. 28,Funny Euphemisms in Daily Life,Literally: the appearance of a man does not fit in with the Chinese policy : “Scientific Outlook on Development” (harmony). Implication: The man they mentioned is ugly.,Funny Euphemisms in Daily Life,Edison Chan is the protagoni
2、st of a sexy photo scandal. Here his name is a fashionable Euphemism for pornographic photos.,The Definition of Euphemism,Euphemisms are mild, agreeable, or roundabout words used in place of coarse, painful, or offensive ones.Euphemisms are powerful linguistic devices which “are embedded so deeply i
3、n our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plainspoken, never get through a day without using them”. ( Huge Rawson ),Euphemism and Taboo,A euphemism and its corresponding taboo are the two sides of a coin. Different social taboos result in different euphemisms. There are
4、 five kinds of taboos that deeply influence the use of euphemisms. Religion View of Life and Death Gender and Sex Race Politics,Taboo of Religion and Euphemism,Persephone ( the Queen of the Underworld ): “the Maiden” or “wife of Pluto” Hecate ( goddess of sorcery and the Queen of Ghosts ): “tender-h
5、earted” Jesus Christ: Adonai, the Almighty, the Creator the Devil: the Big D, the evil one, the black one.,Taboo of Death and Euphemism,Western culture: British epic Beowulf : die journey elsewhereShakespeares Hamlet: death shuffle off themortal coil Chinese culture:Taoism: riding a crane tothe West
6、Buddhism: nirvana,Taboo and Euphemism in inter-cultural communication,violation of taboos,Dont do it ! 一次，恰逢旅游旺季，XX旅行社接待一个泰国团，导游服务热情周到，在带团初期一切状况良好，但后来却发生了一件不愉快的事而招致客人投诉。原因是团内有一对年轻夫妇的小孩长得十分可爱，导游忍不住在男孩的头上摸了一下，这种在中国看来最平常不过的举动，却触犯了泰国人“重头轻脚”的禁忌，男孩的父母当即脸就沉下来，只是没有当场发作，但导游却不懂得察言观色，后来又忍不住摸了一下小孩的头，这下男孩的父母再也控制
7、不住当场与导游吵了起来，导致最后的投诉。,object taboos (taboos on things, institutions, and persons) action taboos, communication taboos (taboo themes)word taboos (vocabulary taboos) picture taboos, which are in turn supported by thought taboos and emotion taboos.,Similarities and Differences,Similar taboos: taboos on
8、the names of gods; death and illness; taboos on body parts as buttocks ，breast and sex organs as well as excretion actions, menstruation, pregnancy and the related terms.,Dont speak about it that way! - god,Chinese,English “Jeeze”, “Jeepers Creepers” , or “Gee” “Jesus”, “Jesus Christ” or “Christ”,“g
9、oodness” “God” “My Gum” “My God,Death,Chinese “百年后” “长眠”, “安息”, “上天国/升天堂”, “去见老祖宗”, “作古” “去世”， “长眠”，“安息”，“没了”，“作古”，“谢世”, “与世长辞”，“去见马克思” “死”（die）,English pass away, pass out, pass over, pass on, go to sleep, depart, depart from the world forever, decease, rest in peace, be at rest, breathe ones last,
10、 go the way of all flesh, pay ones debt to nature, go to a better world, be in heaven, be with God, etc.,Illness,Chinese 铁拐李/腿脚不方便，耳朵背/耳朵有点不好使，眼睛不太好,English “the mobilityimpaired, the hearingimpaired/hard of hearing, visually impaired, partiallysighted/people with low vision” etc,Excretion actions,C
11、hinese “出恭” “更衣” “起夜” “ 解手” “去去就来”, “方便方便” ,“有事”, “去洗手” “去打个电话”,English go to the mens /ladies room, go to the rest room, to wash ones hands, to relieve oneself, or to see a man about a horse, or because nature calls; if a woman feels the call of nature, she can just say, “where can I powder my nose
12、?” or “Where to freshen up?”,Sex,Chinese “房事”, “过夫妻生活”, “同房”, “圆房”, “行房”, “做爱”, “云雨”, “发生关系”,English “have an affair with”, “go to bed with”, “ be in bed”, “do it”, “make love”, “lie with”, “ make it,Differences,PrivacyOld ageDifferent taboos resulting in different euphemisms,A mans home is his cast
13、le,In China: natural to ask exchange daily greetings by asking personal matters; In western countries: questions related to ones age, weight, income, religion, marriage are taboos “what have you eaten in the dinner” How are you! Hello! Hi! “you are getting fat” “round”, “plump”, “stout”, “wellfed”,
14、“full”, “full bodied”, “kingsized”,Old age is valued in China but tabooed in the western nations.,China: “老师傅”, “老板”, “老总”, “金秋年华”, “古稀之年” “老成持重”, “老当益壮”, “老骥伏枥”, “老马识途”, “老谋深算”, “姜还是老的辣” “seasoned”(老练的), “well preserved” (保养非常好的), etc The aged become “senior citizens”(已属退休年龄的公民), who are enjoying t
15、heir “golden years” (黄金年华). “sunset years”(晚年) and “twilight years”（迟暮之年）,1 Touching Someone Where Its Offensive: Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East. 2 Blowing Your Nose Where Its Offensive: Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, France. 3 Talking Over Dinner Where Its Offensive: Africa, Japan, Th
16、ailand, China, Finland. 4 Removing Your Shoesor Not Where Its Offensive: Hawaii, the South Pacific, Korea, China, Thailand. 5 Knowing Your Right from Your Left Where Its Offensive: India, Morocco, Africa, the Middle East.,To conclude,一个唱白脸一个唱黑脸 Taboo - serves as a norm in language communication about things that should not be said (bad-cop) Euphemism- about way of saying certain things（good-cop ）,Functions,stability of societies and groups Intercultural communication Translation and interpreting,
