Abstract Generally speaking, euphemism is a pleasant replacement for an objectionable word that has pejorative connotations. Euphemisms are employed to enable the speaker to create and maintain the harmonious atmosphere in communicating with others. Researchers mainly focused their attention on the definition, classification and functions of euphemism in the past years. However, in recent years, pragmatic perspective and Adaptation Theory that Verschueren put forward have became the main theoretical basis on which scholars at home and abroad do some research in euphemism. 69648

Pragmatic perspective is seen as a general cognitive, social and cultural integration in terms of language use. The core concept of “pragmatic perspective” is Adaptation Theory, providing an entirely new perspective for language research. The Adaptation Theory treats language use as a continuous making of negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities to adapt to contextual correlates. 

This paper is of both theoretical and practical value. Theoretically, it proves that Adaptation  Theory is a good theoretical framework for the study of euphemisms. Practically, it gives some valuable implications for cross-cultural communication and TEFL. 

Key words: euphemism; Adaptation Theory; cross-cultural communication;

摘要一般来说，委婉语是对带有歧视意义、让人反感的词的一个令人愉悦的替换。它使说话者在与他人交流时能够创造和维持和谐的氛围。过去的研究者主要探讨委婉语的定义、分类、功能等。近年来，Verschueren提出的语用综观说和顺应论已成为国内外学者们研究委婉语的主要理论依据。

就语言使用而言,语用综观说被看成是认知、文化和社会因素的广泛融合。该综观说的核心是顺应论，顺应论为语言研究提供了一个全新的视角，它认为人们在使用过程中不断从可供选择的不同语言项目中做出灵活的选择，以顺应语境关系。

本文具有一定的理论和实践意义。从理论意义上讲，本研究证明顺应论为委婉语的研究提供了一个很好的理论框架；从实践意义上讲，本研究对跨文化交际和外语教学有一定的启示。

毕业论文关键词：委婉语；顺应论；外语教学

Contents

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review2

3. Definition and Classification of Euphemism3

3.1 Definition....3

3.2 Classification..4

4. Adaptation Theory...5

4.1 Introduction of the adaptation Theory....5

4.2 Key Notions of Verschueren’s Pragmatic Perspective ........5

  4.2.1 Making Choices...6

  4.2.2 Three Features of Choice-making...7

  4.2.3 Four Perspectives of Investigating Adaptation Theory....8

5. English Euphemism in Modern Family as an illustration of Context.....8

5.1 An Introduction to Modern Family9

5.2 Choice-making of Euphemisms in Modern Family......10

5.3 Adaptation to the Physical Level.......11

5.4 Adaptation to the Social Level12

5.5 Adaptation to the Mental Level.12

6. Conclusion..13

Works Cited...15

1. Introduction 

Euphemism, a common and widespread language phenomenon in virtually all languages in this world, is known as one of the most useful communicative strategies leading to the building of a smooth and steady relationship between communicators.

The main reason for which euphemism exerts such a great impact on communication is that euphemism substitutes an unpleasant and direct expression for a pleasant and indirect one and is, hence, a tactic people often adopt to avoid saying offensive expressions to others, to save both sides’ faces. Euphemism can be applied in different walks of life, which implies that euphemism is omnipresent.文献综述