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1、A Conceptual Metaphor Study of English Euphemisms学校代码：10254密 级：论文编号：091005020120上海海事大学SHANGHAI MARITIME UNIVERSITY硕士学位论文MASTER DISSERTATION论文题目： 英语委婉语的概念隐喻研究 学科专业： 英语语言文学（语言学） A Conceptual Metaphor Study of English EuphemismsBy Li Peng Under the Supervision of Professor Zheng LixinA Thesis Submitted
2、 to the College of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Maritime Universityin Partial Fulfillment ofthe Requirements for the MA Degree Shanghai Maritime UniversityJune, 2009ii毕业设计（论文）原创性声明和使用授权说明原创性声明本人郑重承诺：所呈交的毕业设计（论文），是我个人在指导教师的指导下进行的研究工作及取得的成果。尽我所知，除文中特别加以标注和致谢的地方外，不包含其他人或组织已经发表或公布过的研究成果，也不包含我为获得 及其它教育机
3、构的学位或学历而使用过的材料。对本研究提供过帮助和做出过贡献的个人或集体，均已在文中作了明确的说明并表示了谢意。作 者 签 名： 日 期： 指导教师签名： 日期： 使用授权说明本人完全了解 大学关于收集、保存、使用毕业设计（论文）的规定，即：按照学校要求提交毕业设计（论文）的印刷本和电子版本；学校有权保存毕业设计（论文）的印刷本和电子版，并提供目录检索与阅览服务；学校可以采用影印、缩印、数字化或其它复制手段保存论文；在不以赢利为目的前提下，学校可以公布论文的部分或全部内容。作者签名： 日 期： 学位论文原创性声明本人郑重声明：所呈交的论文是本人在导师的指导下独立进行研究所取得的研究成果。除了文
4、中特别加以标注引用的内容外，本论文不包含任何其他个人或集体已经发表或撰写的成果作品。对本文的研究做出重要贡献的个人和集体，均已在文中以明确方式标明。本人完全意识到本声明的法律后果由本人承担。作者签名： 日期： 年 月 日学位论文版权使用授权书本学位论文作者完全了解学校有关保留、使用学位论文的规定，同意学校保留并向国家有关部门或机构送交论文的复印件和电子版，允许论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权 大学可以将本学位论文的全部或部分内容编入有关数据库进行检索，可以采用影印、缩印或扫描等复制手段保存和汇编本学位论文。涉密论文按学校规定处理。作者签名：日期： 年 月 日导师签名： 日期： 年 月 日指导教师评阅
5、书指导教师评价：一、撰写（设计）过程1、学生在论文（设计）过程中的治学态度、工作精神 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、学生掌握专业知识、技能的扎实程度 优 良 中 及格 不及格3、学生综合运用所学知识和专业技能分析和解决问题的能力 优 良 中 及格 不及格4、研究方法的科学性；技术线路的可行性；设计方案的合理性 优 良 中 及格 不及格5、完成毕业论文（设计）期间的出勤情况 优 良 中 及格 不及格二、论文（设计）质量1、论文（设计）的整体结构是否符合撰写规范？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、是否完成指定的论文（设计）任务（包括装订及附件）？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格三、论文（设计）水平1、论文（设
6、计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平 优 良 中 及格 不及格建议成绩： 优 良 中 及格 不及格（在所选等级前的内画“”）指导教师： （签名） 单位： （盖章）年 月 日评阅教师评阅书评阅教师评价：一、论文（设计）质量1、论文（设计）的整体结构是否符合撰写规范？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、是否完成指定的论文（设计）任务（包括装订及附件）？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格二、论文（设计）水平1、论文（设计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义 优 良 中 及格 不
7、及格2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平 优 良 中 及格 不及格建议成绩： 优 良 中 及格 不及格（在所选等级前的内画“”）评阅教师： （签名） 单位： （盖章）年 月 日教研室（或答辩小组）及教学系意见教研室（或答辩小组）评价：一、答辩过程1、毕业论文（设计）的基本要点和见解的叙述情况 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、对答辩问题的反应、理解、表达情况 优 良 中 及格 不及格3、学生答辩过程中的精神状态 优 良 中 及格 不及格二、论文（设计）质量1、论文（设计）的整体结构是否符合撰写规范？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、是
8、否完成指定的论文（设计）任务（包括装订及附件）？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格三、论文（设计）水平1、论文（设计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义 优 良 中 及格 不及格2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？ 优 良 中 及格 不及格3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平 优 良 中 及格 不及格评定成绩： 优 良 中 及格 不及格（在所选等级前的内画“”）教研室主任（或答辩小组组长）： （签名）年 月 日教学系意见：系主任： （签名）年 月 日Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsi摘要iiABSTRACTivChapter One Introduction
9、1Chapter Two A General Review of Studies on Euphemism42.1 Understanding of Euphemism42.1.1 Definitions of Euphemism42.1.2 History of Euphemism62.1.3 Features of Euphemism82.1.3.2 Vagueness82.1.3.3 Variability92.1.3.4 Indirectness92.1.4 Formation of Euphemism102.1.4.1Phonetic Approach102.1.4.2Lexical
10、 Approach112.1.4.3 Grammatical Approach122.1.5 Classifications of Euphemism132.1.5.1 Euphemistic Expressions in a Narrow Sense142.1.5.2 Euphemistic Expressions in a Broad Sense152.2 Previous Studies of Euphemism from Different Perspectives162.2.1Rhetoric and Fuzzy Linguistics162.2.2 Semantics and Pr
11、agmatics172.2.3Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics182.2.4Limitations of the Previous Studies19Chapter Three Theoretical Framework of This Study: Conceptual Metaphor203.1 General Description of Cognitive Linguistics203.1.1 Cognitive Linguistics Divergence from Generative Linguistics in Metaphor213
12、.1.2 Three Approaches within Cognitive Linguistics213.1.3 Experiential Realism: Philosophy of Cognitive Linguistics223.2 A General Review of the Theory of Conceptual Metaphor223.2.1 Traditional Approaches to Metaphor233.2.2 Cognitive Approach to Metaphor: the Conceptual Metaphor243.2.2.1 The Three M
13、ain Characteristics of Metaphor253.2.2.2 Metaphor as a Mapping across Domains263.2.2.3 The Experiential Basis of Metaphor283.2.3 Classification of Metaphor29Chapter Four Conceptual Metaphor Mechanism of the Understanding of English Semantic Euphemisms304.1 The Application of Conceptual Metaphor Theo
14、ry in English Euphemisms304.1.1The Systematicity Character of Metaphorical Concepts314.1.2 Highlighting and Hiding Effect of Mapping324.1.3 The Application of Systematicity and Its Highlighting and Hiding Effect in English Euphemisms334.2The Internal Semantic Construction of English Euphemisms354.2.
15、1. Semantic Conflicts364.2.2 Similarity384.2.3 Exchanging of Images40Chapter Five Metaphorical Mechanism of the Understanding of English Grammatical Euphemisms425.1 Pragmatic Interpretation of the Euphemisms Formed by Grammatical Approaches435.1.1 Politeness Theory435.1.1.1 Brown & Levinsons Politen
16、ess Theory445.1.1.2 Politeness Strategies455.1.2 Pragmatic Interpretation of Grammatical Euphemisms455.2 Spatial Metaphor Interpretation of the Euphemisms Formed by Grammatical Approaches475.2.1 TIME-AS-SPACE Metaphor485.2.1.1 Time Passing Is Motion along Horizontal Axis495.2.1.2 Time Passing Is Mot
17、ion along Vertical Axis515.2.2 The Application of TIME-AS-SPACE Metaphor to Euphemisms51Chapter Six Conclusion546.1 Significance546.2Limitations56Bibliography57AcknowledgementsMy sincere thanks, first of all, go to my supervisor, Professor Zheng Lixin. The insightful suggestions, careful comments an
18、d serious criticisms he gave me during the process of writing have made the accomplishments of this thesis possible. I am as well deeply indebted to Professor Zheng Lixin for his continuous encouragement and guidance, which are conductive to the completion of my thesis. My thanks for his patience an
19、d kindness can never be fully expressed. My deep thanks also go to Professor Cai Yongliang, from whom I have learned a lot not only knowledge but also his academic attitude. I also give my gratitude to Professor Shang Xin from whom I draw the inspiration of this thesis and Professor Zhang Yan for he
20、r leading me into the realm of cognitive linguistics. My warm thanks go to friends and classmates of mine as well for their valuable materials, ideas and encouragements. I would also like to avail myself of this opportunity to give my sincere gratitude to my parents. Their love and understanding ena
21、ble me to make the desirable achievements in the past years.摘要委婉语是一种迂回的表达方式，它以间接、含蓄、愉悦的说法代替直截了当、令人不悦的说法，它是调节人际关系、使社会沟通顺畅的手段。正如Rawson (1981)所说，委婉语“渗透到我们的语言深处，没有哪个人包括那些自诩言谈最为直截了当的人没有一天不使用委婉语。”作为一种如此普遍的语言现象，委婉语一直是国内外学者研究的热点。关于委婉语的研究在修辞学、语义学、社会语言学、心理语言学、模糊语言学、语用学等诸多方面均取得很大的进展，然而，在新兴的认知语言学领域，尤其是在概念隐喻理论的框
22、架下，对委婉语的研究却相对较少。从委婉语的构成手段来看，语义构成手段比较典型，而且由此类手段构成的委婉语的数量较多；而语音手段和语法手段所构成的委婉语在数量上相对较少，在整个委婉语的范畴中处于边缘地位, 相应的对其研究也寥寥无几。基于以上所提到的委婉语研究方面的问题，本文作者运用认知语言学中的概念隐喻理论对英语中语义和语法两类委婉语进行研究，试图总结出英语委婉语内在意义构建的方法及其认知理据。隐喻本质上是一种认知现象。认知语言学者提出概念隐喻这一说法并认为人们常以一个概念去认知、理解和构建另一概念。同时，隐喻又是一种间接性的语言现象，这就为阐释同样以间接性为根本特点的委婉语现象提供了依据。本论
23、文分为六章：第一章将简明地阐述论文的写作动机、研究方法及论文主要构成；第二章概述英语委婉语的定义、历史，特点，构成方式及分类问题，回顾委婉语在国内外的研究历史及应用于委婉语研究的主要理论；第三章重点介绍本文的理论框架，即概念隐喻的发展、主要特点及分类。第四、五章是全文的重点章节也是本研究的新意所在。作者将会以认知语言学的概念隐喻为理论基础，分别对语义类委婉语和语法类委婉语的内在意义构建进行认知阐述。第四章在对语义类委婉语的分析中，笔者主要将从隐喻理论在英语委婉语的应用中总结出潜在于委婉语下的认知理据；第五章对于对语法类委婉语的分析，笔者将运用空间隐喻对其如何达到委婉效果加以阐释。第六章总结全文
24、并说明本研究的意义及其存在的局限性。关键词：概念隐喻，英语委婉语，映射，空间隐喻ABSTRACT Euphemisms are roundabout expressions, substituting indirect, vague, pleasant and mild words for more explicit and offensive ones. Using of euphemisms is the strategy of harmonizing interpersonal relationship and smoothing social communication. As Raw
25、son (1981) puts it, euphemisms “are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain-spoken, ever go through a day without them”. As such a pervasive phenomenon, euphemism has always been the focus of scholars home and abroad. And considerable achieve
26、ments have been made in the scopes of rhetoric, semantics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics and fuzzy linguistics, etc. However, relatively fewer studies on euphemism have been conducted with the newly-developed cognitive linguistics, especially under the framework of conceptual metap
27、hor theory. Furthermore, the previous studies on euphemism are mainly on the semantic euphemisms rather than that formed through grammatical approaches.According to the formation of English euphemism, the semantic forming approaches are typical and the number of the euphemisms formed by such approac
28、hes is big. Whereas the number of euphemisms formed by phonetic and grammatical approaches is small and such kind of euphemisms are in marginal position. Based on the above defects of euphemism researches, the author studies the two kinds of euphemisms, i.e. euphemisms formed with semantic approache
29、s and euphemisms formed with grammatical approaches under the framework of conceptual metaphor theory and attempts to single out the cognitive motivation underlying them. As for motivation in this thesis, we define it as the most fundamental factor for the existing and developing of language symbols
30、.Metaphor is a kind of cognitive phenomenon in nature. The cognitive linguists put forward the term conceptual metaphor and consider that people always cognize, understand and construe a concept by use of another one. Meanwhile, metaphor is an indirect language phenomenon, which provides the basis t
31、o its interpretation of euphemism, the essential feature of which is indirectness as well. This thesis consists of six parts. The first chapter is the introduction and the second chapter reviews the development and the previous studies of euphemism. Chapter three sets up the theoretical framework of
32、 the present study, namely, conceptual metaphor theory. Its development, main characteristics and classification are introduced.As the keystones of this thesis, chapter four and chapter five also carry the authors original ideas. Under the framework of conceptual metaphor theory, the author explores
33、 the cognitive motivation underlying the semantic and grammatical euphemisms respectively. In chapter four while analyzing the euphemisms formed by semantic approaches, the author tries to single out the ways of the internal semantic construction underlying them through exploring the theoretical app
34、lication of conceptual metaphor to euphemism. When it comes to grammatical euphemisms in chapter five, the spatial metaphor TIME AS SPACE is applied here to interpret how the expressions achieve a euphemistic effect. The last chapter sums up the whole thesis and discusses the contributions and limit
35、ations of the study.KEYWORDS: conceptual metaphor; English euphemism; mapping; spatial metaphor A Conceptual Metaphor Study of English EuphemismsChapter One IntroductionEuphemisms, which originate from language taboos, are motivated by the desire to appease the mysterious forces that rule the univer
36、se and the strong motive to compliment or avoid offending others. With the development of human beings understanding of the universe as well as the development of human society, euphemism has witnessed the changes of language use and has been widely used in different ways. Moreover, it has been stud
37、ied from different perspectives as a common language phenomenon. For instance, the theories of rhetoric, semantics, psychology, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics, etc. have all been applied to the study of euphemism. However, the theories of cognitive linguistics have relatively been less used in our
38、 interpretation of euphemism. Therefore, this study of euphemism will be developed in a more detailed way from a cognitive perspective.So far, some cognitive theories like categorization, conceptual integration have been applied to the understanding of euphemism. However, conceptual metaphor theory
39、has not been meticulously used as they have been studied. In this thesis, based on the previous studies, further study of euphemism will be conducted with a conceptual metaphor approach. We will attempt to employ the previous and current theories of conceptual metaphor to illustrate the cognitive mo
40、tivation underlying the formation and working process of euphemisms so as to make the conceptual metaphor interpretation of euphemisms more comprehensive. By taking the conceptual metaphor theory as the theoretical framework, the present thesis approves of the view that metaphor is essentially a map
41、ping across conceptual domains; that metaphorical thinking is part of the cognitive processes through which the human mind conceptualizes the world; that underlying the numerous linguistic expressions of the metaphor, there is a huge coherent system of conceptual metaphors operating without our cons
42、ciousness and organizing our thinking. (Lan Chun, 2003:1) Since space enjoys an important position as a foundational category both in language and philosophy, and since the human conception of space seems to structure other parts of the conceptual system through metaphorical mappings, this study cho
43、oses to use spatial metaphors as well, which can give a non-spatial concept a spatial orientation, to interpret the distance constructed by time, i.e. the past time, which is one of the grammatical approaches to form euphemisms and gives the hearer the sense of remoteness thus achieve the euphemisti
44、c effect.For studying cognitive motivation underlying the formation and the internal semantic construction of euphemisms, the data of euphemisms formed by the semantic approaches is mainly collected from Liu Chunbaos A Dictionary of English Euphemism (2001), which contains over 8000 carefully chosen items, most of which are attached with items accounting for the source and usage. As for the euphemisms formed by the grammatical approaches, we choose to explain pairs of euphemistic expressions which are generally acknowledg