lecture 14 禁忌与委婉语.ppt

Lecture 14 Taboos and Euphemism 禁忌与委婉语 Taboos In different cultures, some words or expressions are to be avoided. These are verbal taboos. Peoples of different cultures do not all agree on what taboos are. English and Chinese have certain areas of agreement on taboos. For example: Human excretion Sex and certain parts of the body are taboo in both cultures. In English cursing words --- “four letter words” swear words --- Jesus Christ! Holy Mary! son of a bitch, Damn! Damn it! Hell Taboos The taboo is stricter in public speaking, in the classroom, or at gatherings of people with a certain social status. It would be less strict at home, at one’s work place, or in one’s office, and in buses, subways and crowded market places. taboos Age, to most British and Americans, is one of the things considered improper to ask a stranger or a person that one does not know well. Besides age, other such matters include one’s income, marital status, politics and religion. taboos Thus questions like the following, although inoffensive to Chinese, should be avoided when conversing with English-speaking people: Offensive Questions: How old are you? What’s your age? How much do you make? What’s your income? How much did that dress cost you? How much did you pay for that car? Are you married or single? How come you’re still single? Offensive Questions: So you’re divorced? What was the reason? Couldn’t you two get along? Are you a Republican or a Democrat? Why did you vote for ___? Do you go to church? What’s your religion? Offensive Questions: In connection with Western feelings about privacy, there are certain English expressions meant to be deliberately vague. 与西方的隐私有关的是，有些表达方式是故意含糊其辞的。 privacy If a person says “I’m going out”, one should not ask where. If he says “ I have an appointment,” it would be improper to ask with whom or what kind of appointment it is. If a woman claims she has a headache, it would not do to be over-solicitous （过于担心）and ask what the trou