3。3 Data Analysis 11

Chapter Four Results and Discussion 12

4。1 Causes of Pragmatic Failures in English and Chinese Euphemism 12

4。1。1 Causes of Pragmatic Failures of Chinese Euphemism 12

4。1。2 Causes of Pragmatic Failures of Western 13

4。1。3 Pragmatic Failures of Taboo Words 13

4。2 Similarity and Difference of Pragmatic Failures of Euphemism 14

4。2。1 Similarity in Pragmatic Failures of Euphemism 14

4。2。2 Difference Pragmatic Failures of Euphemism 14

4。2。3 Pragmatic Failures of Culture Conflicts 15

4。3 Pragmatic Strategies of Avoiding Pragmatic Failures of Euphemism 15

4。3。1 Strengthen the Understanding of Cultural Differences 15

4。3。2 Using Vague Language 16

4。3。3 Understand Euphemism Through Multiple Channels 16

4。3。4 Make a Good Use of Native Speaker Resources 17

Chapter Five Conclusion 18

5。1 Major Findings 18

5。2 Limitations of the Present Study 19

5。3 Suggestions for the Future Study 19

References 21

A Comparative Study of Pragmatic Failure Caused by Euphemism between Western and Chinese Culture

Chapter One Introduction

1。1 Need for the Study

    The study of euphemism and the repetition of euphemism are more than that included in the study, which has great limits。 Such as : (1)。 Studies on the pragmatic failures of Euphemism are usually from the aspect of “避讳”、“合作”、“面子”、“欺骗”、“礼貌” and so on。 (2)。 Studying pragmatic failures of euphemism is  limited to the same level。 For example, there is a broad range of “避讳”while a narrow range of“避讳”from “礼貌”、“面子”and “心理”。 (3)。 People paid little attention on euphemism, and studies on Euphemism were lacking of a kind of mechanism in the past。

    Pragmatic failure of Euphemism is the mistake caused by not achieving ideal communication effect in speech communication。 Today, when we talk to others, it is necessary to use euphemism but pragmatic failure of euphemism can’t be ignored。 As a general language phenomenon, euphemism plays an important role in communication。 So, it requires us to change sensitive expression into euphemistic expression when referring to some embarrassing topics or taboo words。 However, because of cultural differences, pragmatic failures were brought about by application of Euphemism in social intercourse。 So, using euphemism properly is essential。

    If one studies the formation or grammar of language without knowing cultural background, it is difficult to understand real meaning in communication。 

    This thesis aims to analyze causes of pragmatic failure of Euphemism between Chinese euphemism and English euphemism, with some examples and preventive strategies of pragmatic failure。

1。2 The Objective of the Thesis

    The objectives of this thesis are: (1)。 Make comparison of pragmatic failures between English and Chinese euphemism。 (2)。 Get the manifestations of pragmatic failure of euphemism。 (3)。 Make pragmatic strategies of avoiding pragmatic failure of euphemism。