摘 要

委婉语，作为一种常用的修辞手法，在我们的日常生活对话以及文学作品中都发挥着重要的作用。然而在使用委婉语的过程中，我们发现其与美国语言学家格莱斯所提出的“合作原则”在某种程度上是矛盾的。有人提出这是明显违反了合作原则，还有人认为这两者都是为了成功的对话而服务，算不上矛盾。但一直以来并没有研究就此给出过清楚的论断。

本文旨在回答以下问题：委婉语的使用是否违反了合作原则？

本文的研究材料取自《红楼梦》。首先从书中选取两种类型的委婉语，一为表示死亡的委婉语，一为表示性的委婉语；然后根据上下文本找出其真实含义；最后根据合作原则的具体条例，来判定他们是否违反了合作原则。

最终得出结论：委婉语的使用确实违反了合作原则。这一结论无论在理论研究还是实际应用方面都大有裨益。理论研究上，学生们可将二者融会贯通，达到对于委婉语更好的理解以及更灵活的运用；实际生活中，加深对二者关系的理解，有助于提高人们的沟通技能，从而促成交际的成功。

关键词：委婉语；合作原则；违反

Table of Content

Acknowledgments ii

ABSTRACT

中文摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION 1

1.1Background of the research 1

1.2Purposes of the research 2

1.3 Structure of the thesis 2

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Basic definitions 3

2.1.1 Definitions of euphemism 3

2.1.2 Definition of the cooperative principle 4

2.2 Related studies 4

2.2.1 Studies of euphemism 4

2.2.2 Studies of euphemism from the perspective of the Cooperative Principle 6

Chapter Three METHODOLOGY 8

3.1 Research question 8

3.2 Research subject and material 8

3.3 Research procedures 9

Chapter Four RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10

4.1 Euphemism violating the maxim of quality 10

4.2 Euphemism violating the maxim of quantity 12

4.3 Euphemism violating the maxim of relation 14

4.4 Euphemism violating the maxim of manner 15

Chapter Five CONCLUSION 18

5.1 Major findings 18

5.2 Implications 18

References 20

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

This section includes three parts, namely the background of the research, the purpose of the research and the structure of the research.

1.1Background of the research

Euphemism is not so much a rhetorical device as a social cultural phenomenon. It plays an increasingly significant role in language communication and literature creation and exerts great influence on human’s culture and life. The definition of euphemism is first raised by English cultural anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor, but before that time it had been used by people unconsciously for hundreds of years. Euphemism is a kind of chosen language by people’s results in a certain context. The use of it enriches the way of language expression, enables the success of our daily conversation and has wonderful effects on our literature works.

In social science generally and linguistics specifically, the cooperative principle describes how people interact with each other. Though phrased as a description of how people normally behave in conversation, Jeffries and Mclntyre describe them as encapsulating the assumptions that we prototypically hold when we engage in conversation. The cooperative principle can be divided into four maxims, called the Gricean Maxims, describing specific rational principles observed by people who obey the cooperative principle; these principles enable effective communication. Grice proposed four conversational maxims that arise from the pragmatics of natural language. The Gricean Maxims are a way to explain the link between utterances and what is understand from them.

During the past decades, many theses have emphasized the importance of either euphemism or the cooperative principle in language application, especially in our daily conversation and literature. Some of them have mentioned that there might be a kind of relationship between euphemism and the cooperative principle. Under some circumstances, the use of euphemism seems to be a violation to the Gricean Maxims. However, someone believes that euphemism has the same purpose with the cooperative principle, which is used to make the conversation continue successfully and effectively. But there had never been a clear conclusion about their relationship.

1.2Purposes of the research

The purposes of this research can be classified into three types. First, also the most intuitive one, is to illustrate the question whether euphemism is a kind of violation to the cooperative principle. Second, the answer to this question will be useful to students who study linguistics and help them come to a better understanding of euphemism and the cooperative principle. The last but not least, it will enhance people communicative skills and make them more appreciative of literature works.

1.3 Structure of the thesis

This paper will be divided into five sections. The first chapter functions as a brief introduction to this research, including the background, purposes and the structure of this research. Chapter two is an overview of the literature, which includes basic definitions and related studies of both euphemism and the cooperative principle. In chapter three, methodology adopted in this research will be illustrated, including the research subject and material, as well as the general procedures of the collection and analysis of the research material. In chapter four, a large number of examples will be given to elaborate the question and major findings will be reported based on the analysis of all these examples. This paper will end with a summary of the findings and some implications for further study and our daily conversation in chapter five.

Chapter Two

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter consists of two sections. Section 2.1 briefly explains basic definitions of euphemism and the cooperative principle. Section 2.2 mainly reviews some valuable and related studies.

2.1 Basic definitions

2.1.1 Definitions of euphemism

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant; also: the expression so substituted.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, euphemism is a kind of rhetoric. That figure of speech which consists in the substitution of a word or expression of comparatively favorable implication or less unpleasant associations, instead of the harsher or more offensive one that would more precisely designate what is intended.

According to the Longman Dictionary of the Contemporary English, a euphemism is a polite word or expression that you use instead of a more direct one to avoid shocking or upsetting someone.

According to the Wikipedia, a euphemism is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse; while others use bland, inoffensive terms for things the user wishes to downplay.

In this study, a euphemism is a word or phrase of comparatively agreeable or favorable implication that substitutes for one that may be offensive or suggest something unpleasant.

2.1.2 Definition of the cooperative principle