Taboo and Euphemism.ppt

1、Taboo and Euphemism,Eliza death and illness; taboos on body parts as buttocks ，breast and sex organs as well as excretion actions, menstruation, pregnancy and the related terms.,Dont speak about it that way! - god,Chinese,English “Jeeze”, “Jeepers Creepers” , or “Gee” “Jesus”, “Jesus Christ” or “Chr

2、ist”, “goodness” “God” “My Gum” “My God,Death,Chinese “百年后” “长眠”, “安息”, “上天国/升天堂”, “去见老祖宗”, “作古” “去世”， “长眠”，“安息”，“没了”，“作古”，“谢世”, “与世长辞”，“去见马克思” “死”（die）,English pass away, pass out, pass over, pass on, go to sleep, depart, depart from the world forever, decease, rest in peace, be at rest, breathe on

3、es last, go the way of all flesh, pay ones debt to nature, go to a better world, be in heaven, be with God, etc.,Illness,Chinese 铁拐李/腿脚不方便， 耳朵背/耳朵有点不好使， 眼睛不太好,English “the mobilityimpaired, the hearingimpaired/hard of hearing, visually impaired, partiallysighted/people with low vision” etc,Excretion

4、 actions,Chinese “出恭” “更衣” “起夜” “ 解手” “去去就来”, “方便方便” ,“有事”, “去洗手” “去打个电话”,English go to the mens /ladies room, go to the rest room, to wash ones hands, to relieve oneself, or to see a man about a horse, or because nature calls; if a woman feels the call of nature, she can just say, “where can I powd

5、er my nose?” or “Where to freshen up?”,Sex,Chinese “房事”, “过夫妻生活”, “同房”, “圆房”, “行房”, “做爱”, “云雨”, “发生关系”,English “have an affair with”, “go to bed with”, “ be in bed”, “do it”, “make love”, “lie with”, “ make it,Differences,Privacy Old age Different taboos resulting in different euphemisms,A mans home

6、 is his castle,In China: natural to ask exchange daily greetings by asking personal matters; In western countries: questions related to ones age, weight, income, religion, marriage are taboos “what have you eaten in the dinner” How are you! Hello! Hi! “you are getting fat” “round”, “plump”, “stout”,

7、 “wellfed”, “full”, “full bodied”, “kingsized”,Old age is valued in China but tabooed in the western nations.,China: “老师傅”, “老板”, “老总”, “金秋年华”, “古稀之年” “老成持重”, “老当益壮”, “老骥伏枥”, “老马识途”, “老谋深算”, “姜还是老的辣” “seasoned”(老练的), “well preserved” (保养非常好的), etc. The aged become “senior citizens”(已属退休年龄的公民), who a

8、re enjoying their “golden years” (黄金年华). “sunset years”(晚年) and “twilight years”（迟暮之年）,1 Touching Someone Where Its Offensive: Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East.2 Blowing Your Nose Where Its Offensive: Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, France.3 Talking Over Dinner Where Its Offensive: Africa

9、, Japan, Thailand, China, Finland.4 Removing Your Shoesor Not Where Its Offensive: Hawaii, the South Pacific, Korea, China, Thailand.5 Knowing Your Right from Your Left Where Its Offensive: India, Morocco, Africa, the Middle East.,To conclude,一个唱白脸一个唱黑脸 Taboo - serves as a norm in language communication about things that should not be said (bad-cop) Euphemism- ab