Taboo&Euphemism1ATaboo&Euphemism1A1.Taboo2.Euphemism3.Howtabooandeuphemismrelatedanddifferent4.ConclusionContents2A1.TabooContents2A1.Taboo1.1Definitionoftaboo1.2Etymology

oftaboo1.3Evolutionoftaboo

1.4Aspectstaboorelated3A1.Taboo1.1Definitionoftaboo1.1DefinitionoftabooAtabooagainstasubjectoractivityisasocialcustomtoavoiddoingthatactivityortalkingaboutthatsubject,becausepeoplefindthemembarrassingoroffensive.禁忌(CollinsCobuild)4A1.1DefinitionoftabooAtaboo1.1Definitionoftaboo(Amongsomepeoples)Sth.whichreligionorcustomregardsasforbidden,nottobetouched,orspokenof.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionary)5A1.1Definitionoftaboo(Am1.1Definitionoftaboo

SigmundFreudpointedoutinhisclassicalworkTotemandTaboothattaboocontainedtwooppositemeanings:ononehand,itwaslofty,sacred;ontheotherhand,itwasmysterious,dangerous,prohibitiveandunclean.6A1.1DefinitionoftabooS1.1DefinitionoftabooToconclude:Atabooisavehement(strong)prohibitionofanactionbasedonthebeliefthatsuchbehavioriseithertoosacredortooaccursedforordinaryindividualstoundertake,underthreatofsupernaturalpunishment.7A1.1DefinitionoftabooToconc1.2EtymologyoftabooThetermtabooisoriginatedfromPolynesian(insouthPacific)Tongalanguage.In1777,CaptainJamesCookarrivedinsouthPacificPolynesianTonga.InTonga,hefoundastrangebehaviorintheirdailylife.Thereweremanythingsforbiddentodo,manyfoodsforbiddentoeat,andsomewordsnotallowedtosay.ThelocallanguageofTongacalledthisphenomenonTabooorTabu.

8A1.2EtymologyoftabooThete1.2EtymologyoftabooThenCookborrowedthewordintoEnglish.ThewordinEnglishreferstoactsthatareforbiddenortobeavoided.Whenanactistaboo,referencetothisactmayalsobecometaboo.Thatis,firstyouareforbiddentodosomething,andthenyouareforbiddentotalkaboutit.9A1.2EtymologyoftabooThen1.3Evolution

oftabooAsitismentionedabove,tabooisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenon,butalsoakindofsocialphenomenon.Itisinfluencedbythedevelopmentofsociety.10A1.3EvolutionoftabooAsit1.3Evolution

oftabooIntheprimitivesociety,peopledidn’tgettoknowaboutnature.Theywereconfusedaboutthenaturalphenomenon,suchaslightning,thunder,storm,earthquakes,etc.Sotheybelievedinthenaturalpowersandbecamesuperstitious.Theythoughtonlyinthiswaycouldtheysurvivethehardenvironments,therefore,theymustrespectnatureandmightygodwhentheyuselanguage.11A1.3EvolutionoftabooInthep1.3Evolution

oftaboo

IntheMedievalperiod,manycountriesweredividedintomanygroupsofdifferentsocialstatusaccordingtoinnumerablereligiousrules.Peoplecouldn’tdoandgetwhattheywantto.Itisthedarkenedage.Peopleinthattimeshouldshowrespectforthedecadentrulesandreligions.Sotherearemanytaboosduringtheperiod.12A1.3EvolutionoftabooInth1.3Evolution

oftaboo

Forinstance,thereligionlistedthebuttock,jaw,andforeheadasthelinguistictaboos.Manytaboosarepreservedastheformofthefeudalcodeofethics,forexample,inordertoshowtheroyal’sauthorityandmajesty,thenameoftheemperorandhisancestorsshouldnotbementioned.Tabooshaveturnedintopurecommandmentwithoutashadeofsuperstition.13A1.3EvolutionoftabooFori3.Evolution

oftaboo

Inmodernsociety,withtherapiddevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,thescopeoftheconceptoftaboohasbeenwidened.Mostpeoplearebecomingmoreandmorerational,andtheyneverbelieveinorrelyonthesuperstitions.Thereforethesuperstitiouselementsinlinguistictaboosdecreaseandthosereflectingspiritualcivilizationincrease.14A3.Evolutionoftaboo Inmoder1.4Aspectstoboorelated1.4.1Taboosonreligion1.4.2Taboosonsex1.4.3Taboosondiseasesordeath1.4.4Taboosonageandweight1.4.5Taboosonnumbers 15A1.4Aspectstoboorelated.1Taboosonreligion

God"isreplacedby"Goodness,goodgracious","Satan"by"theevilman",16A1.4.1Taboosonreligion16A1.4.2Taboosonsex“Piss”,

“fuck”,“tit”,

“cock”monly,thesewordsarecalledfour-letterword.

17A1.4.2Taboosonsex“Piss”,

1.4.3Taboosondiseases

ordeathill—Iamnotfeelingwellcancer—longillnessdie—passaway18A1.4.3Taboosondiseases

ord1.4.4Taboosonage

andweightHowmuchdoyouearn?”

“Youmakealotofmoney,don’tyou?”

“Howmuchdidthatpairofshoescostyou?”

“Howmuchdoyouweigh?”

19A1.4.4Taboosonage

andweigh2.Euphemism2.1Definitionofeuphemism2.2Etymology2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphemism20A2.Euphemism2.1Definitionof2.1Definitionofeuphemism

Aeuphemismisapolitewordorexpressionthatisusedtorefertothingsthatpeoplemayfindupsettingorembarrassingtotalkabout,forexamplesex,thehumanbody,ordeath.(CollinsCobuild)21A2.1Definitionofeuphemism A2.1DefinitionofeuphemismEuphemismistheuseofothermild,vague,andindirectwordsorphrasesinplaceofwhatisrequiredbytruthoraccuracy.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionary)22A2.1Definitionofeuphemism2.1Definitionofeuphemism

Toconclude:Aeuphemismisagenerallyinnocuouswordorexpressionusedinplaceofonethatmaybefoundoffensiveorsuggestsomethingunpleasant.23A2.1Definitionofeuphemism To2.2Etymology

ofeuphemism

ThewordeuphemismcomesfromtheGreekwordευφημ?α(euphemia),meaning"theuseofwordsofgoodomen.InGreek,eu(good/well)+pheme(speech/speaking),meansglory,flatteringspeech,praise.Etymologically,thetermeuphemismitselfwasusedasaeuphemismbytheancientGreeks,meaning"tokeepaholysilence"(speakingwellbynotspeakingatall).24A2.2Etymologyofeuphemism The2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphemism2.3.1Thefunctionofavoidingtaboo2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpolite2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguising2.3.4Thefunctionofbeinghumorousandironic2.3.5Thefunctionofbeingmodest25A2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphe2.3.1ThefunctionofavoidingtabooSomeEnglisheuphemismsareassociatedwithtaboo.Tabooexistsineverylanguage.Euphemismscanbeusedassubstitutesinordertoavoidembarrassment,anxietyandpublicshamecausedbytaboowords.Forexample,"God"isreplacedby"Goodness,goodgracious","Satan"by"theevilman",and"die"by"passaway".26A2.3.1Thefunctionofavoiding2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpolite

Indailycommunication,politenessisregardedasanessentialelementthatspeakersmustpayattentionto.Tobespecific,nativeEnglishspeakerstendtouseeuphemismsinordertoshowtheirpoliteness.Forexample,"givemethebook"isreplacedby"Wouldyoupleasegivemethebook"and"handicapped"by"disabledpeople".27A2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpo2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguising

Euphemismcanbeusedtobeautifythingstoavoidnegativeimpactanditisnotalwaysusedoutofgoodmotives.Byusingeuphemism,ambiguitycanbeproducedandtruthcanbehidden.Asaconsequence,someprofiteersandpoliticiansarelikelytouseeuphemismtomakeitalanguageofdeceit.Forexample,in1983,AmericanarmsinvadedGrenada.TheAmericanPresidentReaganfittobetiedbecausenewsreportersusedthewords"invade"verymuchinreportingthenews.Ontheotherhand,Reagancalledit"rescuemission".28A2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguisi2.3.4ThefunctionofbeinghumorousandironicComparedwiththeformerthreefunctions,theforthoneseemslessimportant.Butitcan'tbedeniedthatsomeEnglisheuphemismscansurelymakelanguagemorevividandhumorous.Hereisatypicalinstance:whensomeoneisnakedweoftensayheisinbirthdaysuitinstead.

29A2.3.4Thefunctionofbeinghu2.3.5ThefunctionofbeingmodestIncommunication,speakercanusesomeexpressionstoupliftthehearer'sstatusorlowerthespeaker'sownstatus.Theseexpressionsarecalledanti-euphemisms.Anti-euphemismisnot"tocallaspadeaspade",but"tobeataroundbushes",therefore,itbelongstoeuphemism.Forexample,"yourhumbleservant"isusedtorefertothespeakerhimselforherself.30A2.3.5Thefunctionofbeingmo3.Howtabooandeuphemismrelatedanddifferent

Thepsychologicalbaseoftheemergenceofeuphemismis"taboo".Itmeanstheyarecloselyrelated,butitdoesn’tnecessarilymeantheyhavenodifference.31A3.Howtabooandeuphemismrel3.HowtabooandeuphemismrelatedanddifferentDefinitionisdifferent.Thepropertyisdifferent,andtheyarenotone-to-onecorrespondingrelations.Itisimpossibleforeverytaboowordtohavetheeuphemismexpression.32A3.Howtabooandeuphemismrel3.HowtabooandeuphemismrelatedanddifferentTheyhavedifferentsocialfunctions.Usingtaboowordscandrawothers’attention.Sometimessomepersonsusetaboowordsonpurposeastorelievefeelingsorindicatetheiridentity.Euphemismispositiveincommunication.Itcanhelpavoidingembarrassingsituation.33A3.Howtabooandeuphemismrel4.Conclusion一個唱白臉一個唱黑臉

servesasanorminlanguagecommunicationaboutthingsthatshouldnotbesaid.(bad-cop)isaroundaboutwayofsayingcertainthings.（good-cop）TabooEuphemism34A4.Conclusion一個唱白臉一個唱黑臉Thankyou!35AThankyou!35ATaboo&Euphemism36ATaboo&Euphemism1A1.Taboo2.Euphemism3.Howtabooandeuphemismrelatedanddifferent4.ConclusionContents37A1.TabooContents2A1.Taboo1.1Definitionoftaboo1.2Etymology

oftaboo1.3Evolutionoftaboo

1.4Aspectstaboorelated38A1.Taboo1.1Definitionoftaboo1.1DefinitionoftabooAtabooagainstasubjectoractivityisasocialcustomtoavoiddoingthatactivityortalkingaboutthatsubject,becausepeoplefindthemembarrassingoroffensive.禁忌(CollinsCobuild)39A1.1DefinitionoftabooAtaboo1.1Definitionoftaboo(Amongsomepeoples)Sth.whichreligionorcustomregardsasforbidden,nottobetouched,orspokenof.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionary)40A1.1Definitionoftaboo(Am1.1Definitionoftaboo

SigmundFreudpointedoutinhisclassicalworkTotemandTaboothattaboocontainedtwooppositemeanings:ononehand,itwaslofty,sacred;ontheotherhand,itwasmysterious,dangerous,prohibitiveandunclean.41A1.1DefinitionoftabooS1.1DefinitionoftabooToconclude:Atabooisavehement(strong)prohibitionofanactionbasedonthebeliefthatsuchbehavioriseithertoosacredortooaccursedforordinaryindividualstoundertake,underthreatofsupernaturalpunishment.42A1.1DefinitionoftabooToconc1.2EtymologyoftabooThetermtabooisoriginatedfromPolynesian(insouthPacific)Tongalanguage.In1777,CaptainJamesCookarrivedinsouthPacificPolynesianTonga.InTonga,hefoundastrangebehaviorintheirdailylife.Thereweremanythingsforbiddentodo,manyfoodsforbiddentoeat,andsomewordsnotallowedtosay.ThelocallanguageofTongacalledthisphenomenonTabooorTabu.

43A1.2EtymologyoftabooThete1.2EtymologyoftabooThenCookborrowedthewordintoEnglish.ThewordinEnglishreferstoactsthatareforbiddenortobeavoided.Whenanactistaboo,referencetothisactmayalsobecometaboo.Thatis,firstyouareforbiddentodosomething,andthenyouareforbiddentotalkaboutit.44A1.2EtymologyoftabooThen1.3Evolution

oftabooAsitismentionedabove,tabooisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenon,butalsoakindofsocialphenomenon.Itisinfluencedbythedevelopmentofsociety.45A1.3EvolutionoftabooAsit1.3Evolution

oftabooIntheprimitivesociety,peopledidn’tgettoknowaboutnature.Theywereconfusedaboutthenaturalphenomenon,suchaslightning,thunder,storm,earthquakes,etc.Sotheybelievedinthenaturalpowersandbecamesuperstitious.Theythoughtonlyinthiswaycouldtheysurvivethehardenvironments,therefore,theymustrespectnatureandmightygodwhentheyuselanguage.46A1.3EvolutionoftabooInthep1.3Evolution

oftaboo

IntheMedievalperiod,manycountriesweredividedintomanygroupsofdifferentsocialstatusaccordingtoinnumerablereligiousrules.Peoplecouldn’tdoandgetwhattheywantto.Itisthedarkenedage.Peopleinthattimeshouldshowrespectforthedecadentrulesandreligions.Sotherearemanytaboosduringtheperiod.47A1.3EvolutionoftabooInth1.3Evolution

oftaboo

Forinstance,thereligionlistedthebuttock,jaw,andforeheadasthelinguistictaboos.Manytaboosarepreservedastheformofthefeudalcodeofethics,forexample,inordertoshowtheroyal’sauthorityandmajesty,thenameoftheemperorandhisancestorsshouldnotbementioned.Tabooshaveturnedintopurecommandmentwithoutashadeofsuperstition.48A1.3EvolutionoftabooFori3.Evolution

oftaboo

Inmodernsociety,withtherapiddevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,thescopeoftheconceptoftaboohasbeenwidened.Mostpeoplearebecomingmoreandmorerational,andtheyneverbelieveinorrelyonthesuperstitions.Thereforethesuperstitiouselementsinlinguistictaboosdecreaseandthosereflectingspiritualcivilizationincrease.49A3.Evolutionoftaboo Inmoder1.4Aspectstoboorelated1.4.1Taboosonreligion1.4.2Taboosonsex1.4.3Taboosondiseasesordeath1.4.4Taboosonageandweight1.4.5Taboosonnumbers 50A1.4Aspectstoboorelated.1Taboosonreligion

God"isreplacedby"Goodness,goodgracious","Satan"by"theevilman",51A1.4.1Taboosonreligion16A1.4.2Taboosonsex“Piss”,

“fuck”,“tit”,

“cock”monly,thesewordsarecalledfour-letterword.

52A1.4.2Taboosonsex“Piss”,

1.4.3Taboosondiseases

ordeathill—Iamnotfeelingwellcancer—longillnessdie—passaway53A1.4.3Taboosondiseases

ord1.4.4Taboosonage

andweightHowmuchdoyouearn?”

“Youmakealotofmoney,don’tyou?”

“Howmuchdidthatpairofshoescostyou?”

“Howmuchdoyouweigh?”

54A1.4.4Taboosonage

andweigh2.Euphemism2.1Definitionofeuphemism2.2Etymology2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphemism55A2.Euphemism2.1Definitionof2.1Definitionofeuphemism

Aeuphemismisapolitewordorexpressionthatisusedtorefertothingsthatpeoplemayfindupsettingorembarrassingtotalkabout,forexamplesex,thehumanbody,ordeath.(CollinsCobuild)56A2.1Definitionofeuphemism A2.1DefinitionofeuphemismEuphemismistheuseofothermild,vague,andindirectwordsorphrasesinplaceofwhatisrequiredbytruthoraccuracy.(OxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionary)57A2.1Definitionofeuphemism2.1Definitionofeuphemism

Toconclude:Aeuphemismisagenerallyinnocuouswordorexpressionusedinplaceofonethatmaybefoundoffensiveorsuggestsomethingunpleasant.58A2.1Definitionofeuphemism To2.2Etymology

ofeuphemism

ThewordeuphemismcomesfromtheGreekwordευφημ?α(euphemia),meaning"theuseofwordsofgoodomen.InGreek,eu(good/well)+pheme(speech/speaking),meansglory,flatteringspeech,praise.Etymologically,thetermeuphemismitselfwasusedasaeuphemismbytheancientGreeks,meaning"tokeepaholysilence"(speakingwellbynotspeakingatall).59A2.2Etymologyofeuphemism The2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphemism2.3.1Thefunctionofavoidingtaboo2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpolite2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguising2.3.4Thefunctionofbeinghumorousandironic2.3.5Thefunctionofbeingmodest60A2.3FunctionsofEnglisheuphe2.3.1ThefunctionofavoidingtabooSomeEnglisheuphemismsareassociatedwithtaboo.Tabooexistsineverylanguage.Euphemismscanbeusedassubstitutesinordertoavoidembarrassment,anxietyandpublicshamecausedbytaboowords.Forexample,"God"isreplacedby"Goodness,goodgracious","Satan"by"theevilman",and"die"by"passaway".61A2.3.1Thefunctionofavoiding2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpolite

Indailycommunication,politenessisregardedasanessentialelementthatspeakersmustpayattentionto.Tobespecific,nativeEnglishspeakerstendtouseeuphemismsinordertoshowtheirpoliteness.Forexample,"givemethebook"isreplacedby"Wouldyoupleasegivemethebook"and"handicapped"by"disabledpeople".62A2.3.2Thefunctionofbeingpo2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguising

Euphemismcanbeusedtobeautifythingstoavoidnegativeimpactanditisnotalwaysusedoutofgoodmotives.Byusingeuphemism,ambiguitycanbeproducedandtruthcanbehidden.Asaconsequence,someprofiteersandpoliticiansarelikelytouseeuphemismtomakeitalanguageofdeceit.Forexample,in1983,AmericanarmsinvadedGrenada.TheAmericanPresidentReaganfittobetiedbecausenewsreportersusedthewords"invade"verymuchinreportingthenews.Ontheotherhand,Reagancalledit"rescuemission".63A2.3.3Thefunctionofdisguisi2.3.4Thefunctionofbeingh