He Formation and Social Function of English Euphemisms Essay Example for Free

He Formation and Social Function of English Euphemisms Essay As an indispensable and natural part of English language, English euphemisms have existed for a long time.The appearance of everything, including euphemism, has its reasons.The emergence of English euphemisms has a close relation with language taboos and religion. Since English euphemisms play an important role in social communication, they worth careful and thorough study. This paper will mainly deal with the formation, classification and social function of English euphemisms. Introduction English euphemisms are almost employed in all fields of life such as in the field of daily life, in the field of education, in the field of law, in the field of politics, and in the field of commerce and industry. The function of English euphemisms is diversified. Besides evasion, English euphemisms now are also used for evasion, politeness, elegance. Formation ‘Euphemism’comes from the Greek ‘eu’ (good) and ‘phemism’ (speech) and thus means mans literally ‘to speak’ with good words or in a pleasant manner .Originally, offering sacrifices to gods, old Greeks used words of good omen, that is euphemisms as a rule. It is exemplified in the ancient Greek terms for the Furiesthe Eumenides or Erinyes. According to Neaman’s (1990)argument: Generally speaking, euphemizing is defined as substituting an inoffensive or pleasant term for a more explicit, offensive one, thereby veneering the truth by using kind words(P1). Euphemism is prevalent in human society, a linguistic phenomenon is the use of language is an important means of regulating interpersonal relationships, its use has an important social function.Such as interpersonal communication in the ceremonial functions, functions of deception to cover up the truth, and human Ironically function. Social function English euphemisms have great social significance and practical significance in purifying language, promoting human relation and embellishing professions to seek for the ideology of fair competition. As Liu Chunbao(1994)claims: Need is the mother of invention. The creation and formation of euphemisms is closely related to the needs of people, such as social communication, interest, reflection of values and mentality. Furthermore, these needs also give rise to their various social functions. In order to establish good social relation, people use euphemisms to make what they want to say more pleasant. So they become an important means in communication (P10). 1. For evasion Since death is inevitable, it has become the fear of all human being. In early time, people seldom mentioned death directly because they were superstitious about it. They believed that death was a devil that can hear human’s voice. So if you speak of it, it will appear. Thus, there were many euphemisms about the word â€Å"die† such as â€Å"breathe one’s last† and â€Å"join the majority†. 2 For politeness The Pursuit of beauty is the nature of human being. Beauty helps one feel confident while ugliness makes one have a sense of inferiority. So it is impolite even offensive to say someone is ugly directly. When people want to express someone is ugly, they usually say â€Å"He is plain looking† or â€Å"She is not pretty†, etc. With the improvement of living standard, more and more people have a weight problem. Various products of losing weight flood into the market for being too fat is not only a problem of appearance but also a problem of health. Obesity brings inconvenience as well as the risk of many diseases. Therefore, there are a lot of euphemisms about fatness like â€Å"plump†, â€Å"chubby† or â€Å"tubby†, etc. â€Å"Skinny† is another unpleasant word. No one likes to be described as â€Å"skinny†, but they will be really pleased when they hear others describe them as â€Å"slim† or â€Å"slender†. 3.For elegance Excrement is a disgusting topic in polite conversation. They are avoided by means of euphemisms. â€Å"Defecation† refers to one of the sickest elements in the world. When you go to see a doctor for a stomach upset, the doctor will ask you, â€Å"How is your bowel movement?† And if he wants to have a further examination, he will need a specimen of your manure. If someone rounds his thumb and index finger up to form the letter â€Å"C† with other fingers stretching out, he wants to go to W.C. There are other expressions having the same meaning, like â€Å"to sing a song†, â€Å"to see the moon†, â€Å"answer the nature’s call†, â€Å"do one’s business† or simply â€Å" Excuse me†. Conclusion: Based on the comparative study above made, euphemisms are more popular not only for the historical reasons, but also the needs of times. Lin Zhenyue(1994) notes: Euphemisms may be based on different cultures and histories, the psychological and linguistic patterns underlying their formation are the same. Psychologically, if not linguistically, meaning can be defined as the sum of our responses to a word or an object. Words themselves may be seen as responses to stimuli. After a word has been associated for a long period of time with the stimulus that provokes it, the word itself picks up aspects of the response elicited by the stimulus object(P59).

Human-Animal Relationships :: Essays Papers

Human-Animal Relationships Animals can be perceived in many different ways. While some humans consider animals to be mindless machines programmed with instinct, others view them as spiritual creatures capable of coherent thought and emotions. I feel that animals are somewhere in the middle. Although they rely heavily on instinct, the ability to feel emotions shows that their mental capacity is not far from that of a human. Since animals, especially dogs, share similar emotions as people they to make great companions. Animals do show us how to love better, because their emotions are more pure than a human's. According to Mary Lou Randour, in "What Animals Can Teach Us About Spirituality", animals are spiritual companions to humans. She tells the story of a boy who, after murdering someone, receives a dog to care for as a form of therapy. The dog comforts him, and the teenager learns to love the animal over time. The boy's pet is "healing his soul" by teaching him how to love. Dogs give their masters unconditional love, never questioning the human's orders or disciplines. I thought the story of the dog appearing in the author's backyard as her dead grandfather was rather outlandish. All of Randour's examples of how animals influence our feelings were viable aside from the disappearing ghost dog. Although their minds are not as advanced as a human's, animals are still capable of thought. Frans de Waal, author of "The Whole Animal", feels that humans and animals are closely related, through anthropomorphism. I agree with anthropomorphism, but not with anthropodenial. I also disagree with Rene Descartes' statement that animals are machines, because just as humans have different individual personalities, animals of the same species also have different behavioral characteristics. For example, some cats are arrogant and rude, while others are kind and playful, just like people. Georgia, the chimpanzee who spit water on unsuspecting visitors, did not do this out of instinct. Instinct would have told her to swallow the water.

How to Get a Fit Body

Stop moaning about being overweight and get moving! Everyone cares about their health but to be fit lots of hard work is required. To approve your aim, you must follow three difficult but necessary steps. Willpower, eating less and excercising daily are the most important things that you can do for ensure beautiful body. Belief in yourself is the first step to be fit. As we know doing nothing and just stupidly dreaming can’t help you with your plans. And of course you will waste your time. Firstly what you can do is to be confident that you will fulfill your aim. And of course if you begin to doubt you must submit all the advantages which could help you to support your body in balance. After all if you don’t do that it will be hard to continue your right way to be healthy and refuse to eat the sweets. One of the main responsibilities on diet is to restrict yourself from fatty food and sweets. The menu must be followed in all cases because you might not have another chance to make it up. Make sure you eat right and systematically because your body has adapt this kind of regime it is important for your health especially for strength. And if by any chance you still seem to be lazy to do that, then just shut your mouth. If you eat a lot, it certainly will be very dangerous and very difficult to lose weight by sport. The most effective way of burning calories is by excercising daily. By this man removes all shortcomings from the different part of body. You can have strengthen muscles, long beautiful legs and of course six or eight packs. That’s sounds great! Don’t lie front of the TV, don’t be so lazy and gloomy everything is possible to change in our world. Healthy diet is the best way to be fit. It is very important in our life because today people have a lot of different illnesses which can lead to death. It is very pity everyone can cure himself but not everyone can care about it. You need just think about. These advices will help you to be more satisfied and happy. Just belief yourself, eat more fruits and vegetables and do some sport. That’s all you need for perfect life. Take care!

The Seriousness of in Shakespeares Comedy of Errors...

The Seriousness of The Comedy of Errors The Comedy of Errors has often been dismissed as a mere farce, unworthy of any serious attention. Yet, when the author is Shakespeare, even a farce is well worth a second look. Shakespeare himself may have takent his comedic work quite seriously, for audiences expected comedy of his day not only to entertain, but also to morally instruct. It is not surprising, therefore, that for one of his earliest comedies, Shakespeare found a model in the plays of Plautus and Terence, which were studied in all Elizabethan Grammar Schools, praised by schoolmasters, and critically respectable. (Muir 3) The Menaechmi was the first Plautus play to appear in translation, and was a popular†¦show more content†¦The scholarly use of the classic comedies came not without controversy. These texts became well marked sites of ideological struggle (4). Not every educator was convinced that the works of these playwrights, who display so zestfully lust, avarice, and deceit (4) were suitable for impressionable young students. Yet others, pointing out such edifying cases as Messenio warning his master about the peril of fallen women in The Menaechmi (Riehle 34), emphasized the moral utility of the texts (Muir 4-5). One Sir Thomas Elyot argued eloquently that the comedies were a picture or as it were a mirrour of mans life, wherein iuell is nat taught but discouered; to the intent that men beholdynge the promptnes of youth into vice, the snares of harlotts and baudes laide for yonge myndes, the disceipts of seruantes, the chaunces of fortune contrary to mennes expectation, they being thereof warned may prepare them selfe to resist or preuente occasion. Semblably remembring the wisedomes, aduertisements, consailes, dissuasion from vice, and other profitable sentences, most eloquently and familiarely shewed in those comedies, undoubtedly there shall be no little frute out of them gathered. The works of Plautus and Terence were considered just as useful as dramatic models as they were academic primers. Renaissance critics felt that comedy, as well as tragedy, should mingle moral instruction with delight (Muir 3). As the inheritors of aShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Menaechmus And Comedy Of Errors955 Words   |  4 PagesBrothers Menaechmus and Comedy of Errors Titus Maccius Pluatus moved to Rome from Umbria as a young boy. In the early 200s B.C.E, he began adapting Greek comedies into plays meant for a Roman audience. Plautus’ The Brothers of Menaechmus, became a source for Shakespeare’s’ play, Comedy of Errors. Shakespeare expands the story line of The Brothers of Menaechmus for his Comedy of Errors. 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