Luận Văn A study on euphemism used in expressing the death in English and Vietnamese

Khóa luận tốt nghiệp
Đề tài: A study on euphemism used in expressing the death in English and Vietnamese


Table of contents
Acknowledgement
List of abbreviations
Part one: Introduction 1
1. Rationale 1
2. Aims of the study 1
3. Scope of the study . 2
4. Methods of the study . 2
5. Design of the study 3
Part two: Development 4
Chapter 1: theoretical background 4
I. Definitions 4
1. What is Euphemism? . 4
1.1. Some definitions of English Euphemism . 4
1.2. Some example of English Euphemism 5
2. Classification of euphemisms . 6
2.1. Terms of foreign and/or technical origin . 6
2.2. Abbreviations . 6
2.2.1. Abbreviations using a spelling alphabet . 7
2.2.2. Plays on abbreviations . 7
2.2.3. Use in mostly clinical settings . 7
2.2.4. Abbreviations for phrases . 7
2.3. Abstractions and ambiguities . 7
2.4. Indirections . 7
2.5. Mispronunciation . 7
2.6. Slang . 7
II. Characteristics of English Euphemism . 7
1. Universality . 8
2. Localization . 8
3. Contemporaneity . 8
4. Language Territory 8
5. National Characteristic 9
6. Having division of the sentimental color 9
7. Having life . 9
8. Sociality . 9
9. Re-symbolism 10
10. Arbitration . 10
11. Relevance and Indirect 10
12. The English Euphemism of Idiom and Temporary . 11
13. Fuzziness . 11
14. Humorous 12
15. Accuracy 12
III The major function of the English Euphemism . 12
1. The social communicative function of English euphemism . 12
1.1. The evasive function of English euphemism . 13
1.2. The polite function of English euphemism 14
1.3. The cosmetic function of English euphemism . 14
2. The communication function of English Euphemism 16
2.1. Avoidance of taboo 16
2.2. Politeness 16
2.3. Avoidance of vulgarism . 17
2.4. Covering up 17
Chapter 2: On English “Death” Euphemism . 19
1. Understanding English “Death” Euphemism 19
1.1. Introduction 19
1.2. English “Death” Euphemism and Culture . 20
1.3. The main origin of “Death” Euphemism . 21
1.3.1. Christianity Belief . 21
1.3.2. Funeral Way 22
1.3.3. Professional Language 23
1.4. The Development of “Death” Euphemism 24
2. Why Euphemism “Death” Euphemism? 25
2.1. English “death” Euphemism and Metaphor . 25
2.2. English “Death” Euphemism and Age, Relationship 29
2.2.1. Age 29
2.2.2. Relationship . 29
2.3. English “Death” Euphemism and before or after death, Dead Cause . 30
2.3.1. Before or After Dead . 30
2.3.2. Dead Cause 31
2.4. English “Death” Euphemism and Oral expression, Slang . 31
2.4.1. Oral Expression . 31
2.4.2. Slang 32
2.5. Summary 33
Chapter 3: English and Vietnamese “death” euphemism in
comparison . 34
1. Some example about “Death” Euphemism in English and Vietnamese . 34
1.1. “Death” Euphemism and Metaphor . 34
1.2. “Death” Euphemism and Age 35
1.3. “Death” Euphemism and Relationship 35
1.4. “Death” Euphemism and before . 36
1.5. “Death” Euphemism and after death, Dead cause . 36
1.6. “Death” Euphemism and Oral expression . 37
1.7. “Death” Euphemism and Slang 37
2. The Similarities in using “Death” Euphemism in English and
Vietnamese 38
3. The Difference in using “Death” Euphemism in English and
Vietnamese . 40
3.1. In English . 40
3.2. In Vietnamese . 41
Part III: Conclusion 43
1. The summary . 43
2. Suggestions for further study 43
References . 44


Acknowledgement
I would like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy
Thu, for her patient and invaluable guidance at every stage of the study. To me, it is
fortunate to have her encouragement and critical comments throughout the study.
And I owe a special debt of gratitude to all teachers of the English department of
Hai Phong Private University for their lectures who has thoughtfully trained me in
the last four years.
My thanks also go to all of my friends and whose names are not identified here for
their assistance and advice.
Finally, I would like to thank every member of my family for their continuing
support and precious help to the completion of this study.


PART ONE: Introduction
_____________________________________________________________
1. Rationale of the study
Language is a system of characters which came into being from men’s common
labor, being developed and enriched with the development of men. With the
development of our society, a fair number of words are labeled frivolous vulgar or
at least inconsiderate, and some kinds of language as forbidden, as different
religions, superstitious, believes, social customs and other reasons. Meanwhile,
there were some other languages which are used to take place. In communication,
for better maintaining social relationship and exchanging ideas, people have to
resort to a new different kind of language, which can make distasteful ideas seem
acceptable or even desirable. This type of language is defined as “Euphemism” in
linguistics. It’s considered as “polite words or expressions that you instead of a
more direct one to avoid shocking or upsetting someone”. Euphemism has been
always played an important role in English and especially, it is chiefly the key
point for man in daily communication. Hence, with the hope to help English
learners understand more deeply about using Euphemism, I decided to choose the
research titled: “A study on Euphemism expressing Death in English and
Vietnamese”.
2. Aims of the study
Euphemism is a cultural phenomenon as well as a linguistic concept, every
language has its own euphemism, so does English. It’s deeply rooted in social life
and has a great influence on social communications.
This study aims at:
- Pointing out theoretical background including the definition of Euphemism,
its characteristics, type of Euphemism, its feature, its function.
- Bringing about some useful knowledge about using Euphemism expressing
death in English and Vietnamese and the comparison between them.
- Offering preliminary further studies about the study.
- Giving understanding on English “Death” Euphemism.
- Finding out the differences and similarities in the way of using Death
Euphemism in English and Vietnamese.
3. Scope of the study
Due to the limitation of time and my own knowledge, this study focuses on giving:
- Understanding about English Euphemism and the Death Euphemism in
English.
- Making clearly the similarities and difference about Death Euphemism in
English and Vietnamese.
4. Methods of the study
- To distinguish similarities, and difference in using Death Euphemism
between two languages, comparison is the most effective method. The result of
comparison helps to make language learning and teaching easier. For that reason, I
choose the contrastive analysis method in my study.
- Besides, this study is carried out by gathering and analyzing the reference
materials, Internet researching which contains a huge, convenient scope of
information as well as my personal knowledge day by day I learn from my
teachers, books, internet and friends.
5. Design of the study
This study consists of three main parts:
Part1 is the “Introduction” which introduces Rationale, Aims of the study, Scope of
the study, Methods of the study and Design of the study.
Part 2 is the “Development” which is divided into three main chapters:
Chapter 1 is the “Theoretical background” providing the definition, the
characteristics, the feature and the function of the Euphemism.
Chapter 2 is the “The “Death “Euphemism in English”.
Chapter 3 is the “Comparison between the Similarities and Difference of
Euphemism in expression of death in English and Vietnamese.
Part 3 is the “Conclusion” which summarizes the main points of the study
Part two: DEVELOPMENT
____________________________________________________________
Chapter1
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
I. Definition
1. What is Euphemism?
There are words in every language which people instinctively because they are
considered indecent, indelicate, rude, too direct or impolite. They are often
described in a round-about way, by using substitutes called Euphemism.
1.1. Some definitions of English Euphemism
There are some definitions of English Euphemism I want to mention below:
 According to Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition ( 2006):
“A euphemism is a polite word or phrase, which is used to describe a controversial
or indiscreet activity. A euphemism is a substitute word, which is often more
politically correct. But, a euphemistic statement can also be funny, humorous, or
witty depending on the context of the statement”.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com)
 According to Neaman & Silver, 1983, pp. 1-2:
“Euphemisms are words we use to soften the reality of what we are communicating
to a given listener or reader. They are a universal feature of language usage; all
cultures typically use them to talk about things they find terrifying (e.g., war,
sickness, death) because, anthropologically, "to speak a name was to evoke the
divinity whose power then had to be confronted").
 American scholar Rawson (1983, p. 1) states:
“Euphemisms are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those
who pride themselves on being plainspoken, ever get through a day without using
them. Euphemisms are pervasive in our society. It is essential we know some basic


References
1. Cambridge Advanced learner’s Dictionary. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
2. Donglin Feng. Euphemism—A mirrors of social life US-China Foreign
Language, 2006.
3. Ho Chi Minh, “Di Chuc”, Culture Publishing House, 1969.
4. Literature 7. Education publishing House, 2005.
5. Nam Cao, “Chi Pheo” Story. Culture Publishing House, 2003.
6. Nguyen Du, Kieu Story. Culture- information Publishing House, 2003.
7. Nguyen Manh Hung, Le Quoc Hanh, English Lexicology. Education Publishing
House, 2003.
8. Nguyen Hong, “Bi Vo” story. Culture Publishing House, 2004.
9. Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2000.
10. Tang Wenjun, Brief Discussion of English Euphemism and Its Communicative
Functions, Sichuan Stationary College Journal. 2007).
11. Eliecer Crespo Ferneandez.The.(1980). The language of Death Euphemism and
Conceptual Metaphorization in Victorian Obituaries.
Website:
- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/English/metaphor.
- http:\ sers.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/saying.htm.
- http://www.translationdirectory.com/glossaries/glossary014_k.htm
- http://www.thefreedictionary.com.