硕士学位论文-顺应论与委婉语翻译.doc

学校代码：10254密 级：论文编号：上海海事大学SHANGHAI MARITIME UNIVERSITY硕 士 学 位 论 文MASTER THESIS 论文题目： 顺应论与委婉语翻译 学科专业： 外国语言学及应用语言学 作者姓名： 居 晶 指导教师： 瞿宗德 副教授 完成日期： 二零零九年六月 论文独创性声明本论文是我个人在导师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。论文中除了特别加以标注和致谢的地方外，不包含其他人或其他机构已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。其他同志对本研究的启发和所做的贡献均已在论文中作了明确的声明并表示了谢意。 作者签名：_日期：_论文使用授权声明本人同意上海海事大学有关保留、使用学位论文的规定，即：学校有权保留送交论文复印件，允许论文被查阅和借阅；学校可以上网公布论文的全部或部分内容，可以采用影印、缩印或者其他复制手段保存论文。保密的论文在解密后遵守此规定。作者签名：_导师签名：_日期：_A Study on the Translation of Euphemism from the Perspective of Adaptation TheoryByJu JingUnder the Supervision ofAssociate Professor Qu Zongde A Thesis Submitted to the College of Foreign Languages ofShanghai Maritime Universityin Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the MA Degree Shanghai Maritime UniversityJune, 2009AcknowledgementsMy two years of postgraduate study in SMU is full of good memories, which I will cherish forever. Its here that I got valuable encouragement and knowledge from distinguished professors and good friends. All these have become inspirations for my future life.Firstly, I wish to express my sincere and deepest thanks to my supervisor, Associate Professor Qu Zongde, who painstakingly revises the draft for me before the work is done. It is his patience, kindness, suggestions, and encouragement that enable me to complete this work.My sincere thanks also go to Professor Han Zhonghua, whose lectures have widened my field of vision and helped me understand the theory of translation better. My heartfelt gratitude should also be extended to other professors and teachers, who have given me enlightening and illuminating courses. They are Wang Juquan, Wang Dawei, Zheng Lixin, Zuobiao, Shang Xin and Zhang Jun.Furthermore, I deeply appreciate the contribution to the thesis made by my friends Wang Haiyan, Zhang Lingjing and Xu Weili, who have generously given me their help and advice in my preparation of the thesis. Finally, my thanks extend to my parents whose encouragement is a constant source of my plentiful energy to go through all the gloomy days. 摘 要委婉既是一种语言现象、社会现象，也是一种交际策略。每个社会、每个群体、每个社会阶层都有其各种各样的委婉语。Hugh Rawson（1981：73）曾断言“委婉如此深植于我们的语言中，以至于很少有人能一天离得开它，就连那些以说话平铺直叙而自居的人也不例外。”因此，委婉语一直引起人们的关注。多年来许多语言学家和学者分别从不同角度对这一语言现象进行研究。但本文作者发现，很多文章都是针对委婉语本身的一种阐释，或是描述委婉语是如何体现各种语言学理论等等之类。而对委婉语的翻译理论及使用的翻译策略的相关著作及文章相对较少。并且在理论研究上，委婉语翻译没有得到应有的重视；在翻译实践上，现有材料中对委婉语的翻译也是有许多不尽如人意之处。因此，在借鉴前人研究成果的基础上，本文以汉英委婉语为主要研究对象，试引用语用学中的顺应理论来指导委婉语的翻译，对此进行探索性的研究。本文引用的是比利时语用学家Jef Verschueren 提出的语用学的新理论-顺应论（Theory of Adaptation）。在他的新作语用学新解（Understanding Pragmatics）中，Verschueren 阐述了这一理论，并且提出了一种新的观点，即语用学是对语言的一种综观（a perspective on language）。他将认知、社会和文化因素结合起来研究语用学，以全新的视角去理解和诠释语用学，从而推动了语用学的发展。本文结构如下： 第一章是对整篇论文的介绍，包括理论、研究目标、重要性以及文章的组织结构。第二章是对委婉语的回顾。首先从委婉语作为一种语言学概念入手，分析委婉语的定义、功能、分类、构成。其次从语言交际这个角度分析，委婉语本质上是一种间接言语行为，其目的是要更有效地表达说话者的本意，而且它也是一种传递社会功能的交际策略。事实上，产生委婉语的根源在于面子问题或想要得到对方言语美化和安抚的一种心理倾向。尽管违背合作原则，但委婉语与礼貌原则、面子论、关联原则息息相关。 第三章阐述了本研究的理论框架顺应论。Verchueren认为使用语言是一个不断选择语言的过程，不管这种选择是有意识的还是无意识的，也不管是出于语言内部的原因还是出于语言外部的原因。但语言的选择必须动态地顺应不同的心理意识、社会规约及其时空的变化。顺应论包含四个研究视角，即语境关系的顺应、语言结构的顺应、顺应的动态性和顺应的意识程度。 第四章是本文的重点，主要阐释了在英汉委婉语的翻译过程中，遵循Verchueren的顺应理论，从而顺应心理世界、社交世界以及物理世界。Verschuere的顺应论认为语言的使用即是在不同意识程度下为顺应交际的需要而不断做出选择的过程。而翻译是跨文化的交际活动语言使用的一种特殊形式，因此翻译也可从顺应论的视角去研究。语境关系顺应要求译者在做出语言选择时，要顺应译语读者的心理世界、社交世界和物理世界。遵循顺应论，说话者使用委婉语是一种有意识而非无意识的选择。 第五章为全文的结束语，指出了本研究的局限，并提出对未来研究的建议。关键词：委婉语 顺应论 翻译 心理世界 社交世界 物理世界ABSTRACTEuphemism is a linguistic and a social phenomenon, as well as a communicative strategy. Every society, every speech community and every social class has its euphemisms of various kinds. Hugh Rawson (1981:73) has also affirmed that “Euphemisms are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain-spoken, even get through a day without using them”. So it is not surprising that euphemism has long been a focus of interest in linguistic circle, and a considerable number of literatures on euphemisms have been published. However, the author finds that many researches focus their attention on the explanation and description of euphemism itself, or how it is illustrated by linguistic theories, while few systematic studies have been made on the translation of euphemisms from a new perspective and even fewer have been made based on “Theory of Adaptation” in relation to euphemism. Thus on the basis of other scholars researches and with the aim to shed light on the translation of euphemisms in communication, this thesis attempts to make a tentative study in this new area, by adopting the theory of adaptation. It is organized as follows:Chapter one of this thesis is a brief introduction. It demonstrates the theory, objectives and necessity along with the organization of the thesis.Chapter two presents a survey of euphemism. Firstly, the thesis demonstrates the English euphemisms definition, function, classification and formation, as well as some related researches. Besides, as an Indirect Speech Act in essence, euphemism aims to convey the intended meaning of the speaker. As a matter of fact, the essence of the motive for generating euphemism reflects a central focusthe notion of face, and the common psychological tendency to beautification and comfort in order to reach a kind of psychological balance. Though violating Cooperative Principle, euphemism obeys the Politeness Principle, Face-saving Theory, Fuzziness Theory and Relevance Theory. Chapter three elaborates on the theoretical framework for the analyses of euphemism translation. It is based on Jef Verschuerens Theory of Linguistic Adaptation (2000) which holds that human being “makes negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities in such a way as to approach points of satisfaction for communication needs” (Verschueren, 2000:61). Verschueren suggests that using language consists of the continuous making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously for language-internal and language-external reasons, while the selection of words must be dynamically adapted to different psychological salience. The Theory of Adaptation contains four angles of investigation, i.e. contextual correlates of adaptation, structural objects of adaptation, dynamics of adaptation, and salience of the adaptation. Chapter four is the center of this thesis. In accordance with the Adaptation Theory, the translation of euphemisms is a highly conscious act of linguistic choices and involves the adaptation to the mental, social and physical world. Verschueren assumes that language use is a continuous making of linguistic choices with different degree of salience for the purpose of adaptation. And translationa special form of language use, is a cross-cultural communication, which therefore can be approached by Verschuerens Theory of Adaptation. Contextual correlates of adaptability require a translator to adapt to target readers mental world, social world and physical world when making linguistic choices.Chapter five is a conclusion, which summarizes the major findings, the implications and limitations of the present study. It also provides some suggestions for future research.Key Words: euphemism, the Adaptation Theory, translation, mental world, social world, physical world vCONTENTSAcknowledgementsi摘 要iiABSTRACTivChapter One Introduction11.1 The Rationale of the Present Research11.2 The Objectives of the Present Research21.3 The Significance of the Present Research31.4 The Organization of the Present Research4Chapter Two General Discussion of Euphemism62.1 General Review of the Study of Euphemisms62.2 Definition of Euphemism102.3 Formation of Euphemism112.3.1 Phonetic Device112.3.2 Lexical Device112.3.3 Figurative Device122.3.4 Grammatical Device132.4 The Classification of Euphemism132.4.1 The Positive Euphemism and the Negative Euphemism142.4.2 The Unconscious Euphemism and the Conscious Euphemism152.4.3 Other Classifications of Euphemism152.5 Pragmatic Function of Euphemism162.5.1 Evasive Function172.5.2 Upgrading Function182.5.3 Cosmetic Function182.6 Pragmatic Principles of Euphemism202.6.1 Euphemism and Indirect Speech Act Theory202.6.2 Euphemism and Cooperative Principle212.6.3 Euphemism and Politeness Principle232.6.4 Euphemism and Relevance Principle252.7 Limitations of Previous Studies26Chapter Three Theoretical FrameworkAdaptation Theory in Pragmatics273.1 Introduction to Verschuerens Theory of Adaptation273.1.1 Four Perspectives of Adaptation Theory283.1.2 Three Features of Adaptation Theory303.2 Making Choices313.3 Three Key Notions333.3.1 Variability333.3.2 Negotiability333.3.3 Adaptability343.4 Context and Adaptation353.5 The Concept of Adaptation Utilized in this Thesis36Chapter Four Translating Euphemism with the Application of the Adaptation Theory384.1 Essence of Euphemism Translation384.2 Translating Euphemism to Adapt to the Mental World394.2.1 The Role of the Mental World in Communication394.2.2 Linguistic Adaptation to the Mental World404.2.2.1 Adapting to the TT Readers Psychological Need404.2.2.2 Adapting to the Translators Purpose and Culture434.3 Translating Euphemism to Adapt to the Social World454.3.1 The Role of the Social World464.3.2 Linguistic Adaptation to the Social World464.3.2.1 Adapting to the Social Norms/Conventions474.3.2.2 Adapting to Conventional Power504.4 Translating Euphemism to Adapt to the Physical World524.4.1 Adapting to the Time Order524.4.2 Adapting to the Space Order534.4.3 Adapting to Objects and Events534.5 Significance and Prospects of Euphemism Translation554.5.1 Comprehending the Source Language Culture554.5.2 Enriching the Culture of Target Language564.5.3 Developing the Effectiveness of Cross-cultural Communication57Chapter Five Conclusion58Bibliography60Publications64Chapter One IntroductionAs an indispensable and natural part of language, euphemism has a great effect on communication and has aroused wide academic interest. This thesis attempts to explore the translation of euphemisms from a fresh angle. 1.1 The Rationale of the Present Research There have been many valuable studies on euphemism at home and abroad, but as far as I am concerned, I maintain that Verschuerens Adaptation Theory is the most pertinent to the study of euphemism translation, because euphemisms are used in practical communication, to which their elements are adapted. This thesis intends to utilize the Adaptation Theory proposed by Jef Verschueren, a famous pragmatic scholar, to make an in-depth analysis of euphemisms and their translation. From his point of view, people make the negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities in such a way as to approach points of satisfaction for communication needs. Whats more, he suggests that using language consists of the continuous making of linguistic choices, consciously or unconsciously for language-internal and language-external reasons, while the selection of words must be dynamically adapted to different psychological salience. The Theory of Adaptation contains four angles of investigation, i.e. contextual correlates of adaptation, structural objects of adaptation, dynamics of adaptation, and salience of the adaptation. Contextual correlates of adaptability include any ingredients of the communicative context and linguistic context with which linguistic choices are inter-adaptable. Structural objects of adaptability include structures at any layer or level of organization as well as principles of structuring. The dynamics of adaptability is the unfolding of adaptive processes in interaction. The salience of adaptation process is the status of those processes in relation to the cognitive apparatus. These four tasks can be seen as necessary ingredients of an adequate pragmatic perspective on any given linguistic phenomenon. Their contributions are not only complementary; they have different functional loads to carry within the overall framework of the pragmatic perspective. Apart from four angles of investigation, he also notes three hierarchically related key notions needed in understanding the process of “making choices”, including variability, negotiability and adaptability. Variability is the property of language which defines the range of possibilities from which choices can be made. Negotiability is the property of language responsible for the fact that choices are not made mechanically or according to strict rules or fixed form-function relations, but rather on the basis of highly flexible principles and strategies. Adaptability is the property which enables human beings to make negotiable linguistic choices from a variable range of possibilities in such a way as to approach points of satisfaction for communicative needs. These three notions are fundamentally inseparable and constitute the basic elements of language use. Variability and negotiability are the condition and base, whereas adaptability is the purpose and result. They do not represent topics of investigation, but merely interrelated properties of the overall objects of investigation for linguistic pragmatics, the functionality or meaningful functioning of language. 1.2 The Objectives of the Present Research The present research has the attempt to present a detailed analysis of the translation between English and Chinese euphemisms with Adaptation Theory as the theoretical framework. From the functional perspective, we hope to find a more scientific explanation of euphemism realized by linguistic choice, so as to help us gain a more profound understanding of euphemistic communication and the specific features of euphemism in different cultures. The objectives of the present study are as follows:Firstly, to develop a theoretical framework of euphemism from a pragmatic perspective that takes into account the linguistic, mental, social and physical factors.Secondly, to elaborate the adaptive process of euphemism with examples of language use.Thirdly, to apply the concepts in Adaptation Theory to euphemism translation. In addition, the process of translation is dynamic, varying with the specific situations and with mental, social and physical world of different cultures.With these objectives, the present thesis will offer a more dynamic and detailed analysis of euphemism translation so as to shed light on the use and understanding of euphemism in communication. It will also explore how people adapt their euphemisms to a specific context. In this study, mental world, social world as well as physical world is emphatically discussed. Accordingly to this study, euphemism translation is to realize the communicative intentions of speakers in different cultures, and it is the result of the adaptation to target cultures. With these objectives, the thesis tries to explore euphemism researches from a new perspective.1.3 The Significance of the Present ResearchTraditionally, euphemism is regarded as a figure of speech, and has always been studied in literature and rhetoric. In modern linguistics, many scholars have made studies on euphemism from different aspects, such as the definition, origin, meaning, formation, rhetorical application and usages. There are still other studies on euphemism in pragmatics and conversational analysis. However, most of the studies are from semantic perspective and its application. Though in recent years, euphemism has drawn much attention, yet not much attention has been paid to euphemism translation. Besides, the former researches on it are mostly static thus failing to provide a satisfactory and mature illustration. Up to now, there has been less concern about how communicators should employ euphemism to adapt to different contexts in communication, not only in English-speaking countries, but also in China. In particular, there is no study that integrates the mental, social and physical elements in the translation between English and Chinese euphemisms. Thus we need an approach to reveal more aspects of euphemism translation. That is to say, a comprehensive angle, i.e. a pragmatic perspective is needed, which integrates the mental, social and physical dimensions to shed more light on the study of euphemism translation in communication. The present study, which is based on Verchuerens Adaptation Theory, may provide both a theoretical and practical perspective to reveal the essence in the translation of euphemism between English and Chinese. Translation between English and Chinese euphemisms is also affected by other linguistic elements. With the help of Adaptation Theory, English euphemisms along with Chinese euphemisms are illustrated in a new perspective and play a vital role in the communication between these different cultures. 1.4 The Organization of the Present ResearchThe dissertation consists of five chapters. Chapter one is the general introduction of the thesis and chapter two demonstrates the general discussion of euphemism. In the following chapter, the writer illustrates the theoretical framework, that is, the Adaptation Theory in pragmatics. The fourth chapter applies the Theory of Adaptation to the translation of English and Chinese euphemism, and the last chapter concludes the present study. Among them, the fourth part is the main part, which analyzes how English and Chinese euphemisms are translated by adapting to the mental world, the social world and the physical world and shows the dynamistic process of the translation. The first part is the general instruction of the whole research, including the rationale, significance, objectives an