望的主婦中英語委婉語的語用研究

ChapterTwoEuphemisminDesperateHousewivesIntheprocessofcommunication,peoplewill,forsomereasons,useeuphemismtoindirectlyexpressthemeaningthatcannotbesaiddirectly.Inreallife,theuseofeuphemismhasitsuniquepracticalsignificationandeffectivelyachievecommunicationgoals.Butatthesametime,euphemismshouldbecorrectlyselectedaccordingtothecontextatthattime,andaccurateuseofeuphemismcanavoidunnecessarytrouble.2.1EuphemismofOldAgeandDeathWiththepassageoftime,everyonewillenteroldageuntildeath.InWesternculture,oldpeoplerepresentuselesspeople,andpeoplewillavoid“old”and“death”intheirsubconscious.Therefore,someeuphemismswillbeusedtoreplacethedirectexpressionof“old”and“death”.2.1.1APoliteExpressionofOldAgeInwesterncountries,oldinpeople'sconsciousnessstandsforuseless.Thefearof“old”hasbecomethesocialandpsychologicalstereotypeofthewholewesternworld.Onceapersonentersoldage,hewilllosehiscompetitiveadvantagewithothersandwillbeeliminatedbythesociety.Therefore,Westernersavoidtalkingaboutageandtheword“old”.Example(1)Lynette:I’mawomanofacertainageinabusinessthatvaluesyouthaboveallelse.Example(2)Susan:what’stheissueabout,seniorOlympics?Theaboveexamplescomefromdifferentcharactersintheseries.Forgoodunderstanding,Iwillexplainitonebuyone.Example(1),Lynettedecidedtoreturntotheworkplace,butshedidn’tknowthebottomofherheart.Shesighedthatshewasnolongeryoung.Sheused“awomanofacertainage”todescribeherself.Example(2),SusanheardMikepraisingCatherineforhergoodfigureandevenonthecoverofSportsIllustrated.ShesarcasticallysaidCatherinewithjealousy.Indailylife,peopledonotsay“anoldperson”,but“aseniorcitizen”.Otherexpressionsinclude“thenature”or“sealedman”.“Oldage”isnotoldage,but“goldenyears”.Inthesameway,Catherineusedtheeuphemismof“nursinghome”whenshetalkedaboutherauntlivinginanursinghome.Lynettealsousedtheeuphemismof“retirementvillage”whentalkingwithTomabouthermother.Thesephrasesavoidthelonelinessanddesolationoftheelderlylifethatpeopleassociatewiththenursinghome.2.1.2ACrypticExpressionofDeathGenerallyspeaking,deathisaterribleandominouswordinpeople’sminds,sowhenpeoplemention“death”,theyalwaysavoiddirectexpression,butusevariouseuphemisms.Throughouthistory,peoplehaveusedvariouswordstoreplacetheworddeath.Withthechangeoftimes,theeuphemismsthatreplacedeathareconstantlychanging,butpeople’spsychologyoftryingtoescapedeathhasalwaysexisted.Example(1)MaryAlice:IwaslaidtorestonMonday.Example(2)MaryAlice:Herhusband'spassing.Inthefirstepisodeofthefirstseason,MaryAlicesaid:“IwaslaidtorestonMonday.”“l(fā)aytorest”referstoburial.Whenpeoplerest,theyneedtoclosetheireyes,liedownandkeepstill.Thissituationisverysimilartothesituationafterdeath,sotheychoose“rest”astheindirectexpressionof“death”.Inthefirstepisodeofthesecondseason,whenMaryAlicementionedthedeathofBree’shusbandRexinthevoice-over,shesaid:“Herhusband’spasting.”Later,whentheministermentionedthedeathofRex,healsoused“passing”insteadof“die”.Therearemanywordsoftenusedtoreplacedeathintheplay,suchas“topassaway”,“topart”,“togotosleep”,“toreturntodeath”or“finalsleep”.Aconsiderablepartofeuphemismsarerelatedtoreligion,suchas“gotohealth”,“gotojointhehealthyschool”,etc.TheformationofthesewordsiscloselyrelatedtotheBritishculturalbackground,whichiscloselyrelatedtoChristianity.Inwesterncountries,Christianity,asthemostpowerfulandinfluentialreligion,hasbecomeanindispensablepartofwesterncivilizationandhasgraduallypenetratedintoallaspectsofpeople’sdailylife.Therefore,manyeuphemismsrelatedtodeatharealsocloselyrelatedtoChristianity.2.2EuphemismofInterpersonalIntercourseWhenpeopleusecertainwords,theimageoftheobjectreferredtobythesewordswillvividlyemergeinfrontofpeople,andatthesametime,itwillcausecorrespondingpsychologicalreactions.Therefore,thequalityoflanguageexpressionwillleadtodifferentresults,evenifitisaverycommonsentence,ifitispoorlyexpressed,itmaycauseestrangementorhurtthefeelingsoftheotherparty;Onthecontrary,ifyouspeakskillfully,youcanimpresspeopleandconvincethem.Inthiscase,euphemismcomesintobeingandbecomesafirstchoiceforpeopletocommunicate.Euphemismisanimportantmeanstomaintainpeople'ssocialrelationsandinterpersonalrelationshipsinlanguagecommunication,acommunicationneedandacommunicationstrategy.2.2.1AvoidingAwkwardVagueExpressionsThereferenceofeuphemismisthesameasthatofthesymbolitreplaces,butitsliteralmeaninghaschanged,makingitsexpressionmoreeuphemisticandacceptable.Therefore,theuseofeuphemismmakesthesignifierofawordchange,soastoachievethepurposeofexpressingeuphemism.Theeuphemisticmeaningisformedthroughtheuseofvaguelanguage.Theuseofvaguelanguagecanexpandtheextensionofsomewordsandmakethemappearvague.Example(1)Susan:No,Julie,shewasn’tmarriedtoXavier.Thatwasjustoneofherspecialfriends.Ithinkweshouldchangethesubject,youknow,unlessyouwannakeeptalkingaboutit.Example(2)Susan:Whatdoyouthinkofmynewcoat? Julie:Funny.Intheplay,whenSusan'sdaughterasksherabouttherelationshipbetweenEdieandXavier,Susanuses“specialfriend”insteadof“paramour”,whichisambiguousbuthasaeuphemisticeffect.Afterall,Julieisstillachild,andSusan,asamother,doesnotwantherdaughtertocontactthingsbetweenadultsprematurely,soitsoundsmoreappropriatetouseamoreeuphemisticexpression.Inaddition,thereissuchadialogueintheplay.SusanasksJuliewhetherhercoatlooksgood.JulierepliesthatFunny,the“funny”herecan’tbeusedtoexpresstheevaluationofSusan’scoat,butthevaguewordsusedtoeuphemisticallyexpressherfeelingthatSusan’scoatisnotgood.Thiswayofansweringavoidstheembarrassmentcausedbyexpressingyourideasdirectly.2.2.2AEuphemisticExpressionofFeelingsIntheconversationwithothers,somewordsneednotbeexpressedinastraightforwardway,buttheaudiencecanunderstandtheimplicitorunspokencontentofthewords,savethefaceofothers,andhaveakindofrelationshipeffect.Example(1)Headmaster:Tobehonest,Mr.andMrs.Scavo,yourchildren’seducationalbackgroundisabitmorecommonthanwewouldprefer,butMrs.VanDerKampmentionedtheywereidenticaltwins?Lynette:Yes.Completelyidentical.Youcan’ttellthemapart.Theyarelikebookends.Example(2)Lynette:Well,youknowhowwebothagreethatoneofusneedstostayhomeandparentthekidsandoneofusneedstogooffandmakealiving.AndthenIsuddenlyremembered,whenIwasworkingImadealittlemorethanyou.Example(1)istheconversationbetweenHeadmasterandLynette.Lynettewantshertwinsonstogototheschooloftheheadmaster.Whiletheheadmasterfindsthattheboysisnotexcellentenoughtoenrolltheschool.So,heusestheeuphemism“abitmorecommon”torefusethem,savingtheirfacemeanwhile.Example(2)isaconversationbetweenhusbandandwifeTomandLynette.Theyarehighlyeducated.Actually,LynetteearnedmuchmorethanTom,shejustsavesfaceforhimbysayingthis.So,forhighereducatedpeople,theywouldliketouseunderstatementtotellthetruth,justsavingothers'face.2.3EuphemismofHumanBodyandSexAlthoughWesterncultureisopen,itdoesnotmeanthatpeoplecanuseanysex-relatedwordswithoutchoice.Peoplegenerallyavoiddirectlytalkingaboutsexandsomewordsaboutthebody,ortopicsrelatedtoit.Eveniftheyhavetotalkaboutit,theywillchooseeuphemismsinstead.2.3.1ExpressionofRespectforPhysicalDisabilityWhenwesometimeshavetogetinvolvedinsomeunpleasantthings,inordernottohurtotherpeople’sfeelings,itismuchbettertoexpressthemrelativelyeuphemisticallythandirectly.Insocialoccasions,peoplealwayspayattentiontobeingpolitetoothers.Byusingeuphemisms,notonlycanthespeakerappearelegantandpolite,butalsocanconsiderandcareaboutthefeelingsandfeelingsofothers,soastogainthefavorandrecognitionofothers.Forexample,euphemismsaboutphysicaldisabilityareoftenusedinpoliteexpressions.Example(1)MerryAlice:Buthiswife,whowasquicklystartingtofeelshewastheonewiththehandicap.Example(2)Voiceover:Yes,theworldisfilledwiththosewhocannotsee.Inexample(1),Carloswasdiagnosedasblind,saidMaryAlice.Here,“Handicap”ismoreeuphemisticthan“thedisabled”.Example(2),inthissentence,use“thosewhocan’tsee”insteadofdirectlyusing“blindpeople”.WhentalkingaboutphysicaldisabilityinEnglish,allkindsofdisabledpeoplecanbecalledHandicapped,Inconvenienceorinvalid.Sucheuphemismsareusedtoexpresspoliteness.Forexample,“Deaf”isreplacedby“hardoflistening”,“blind”iscalled“thevisuallychallenged”,and“colorblind”iscalled“colordefective”.Forexample,ifateacherisnotconvenienttocallachild“stupid”infrontofhisparents,hecancarefullyuse“heisaslowlearner.”or“heisunderachiever.”instead.Everyparentbelievesthattheirchildrenhavegreatpotential.Theuseofeuphemisminsuchcircumstancescanshowthespeaker'srespectforthelistener.2.3.2EuphemismofWeightInwesterncountries,obesityisverycommon,especiallyintheUnitedStates,where2/3ofadultsareoverweightorobese,and1in4adultsinBritainisobese.Theissueofobesityisaheadacheandunpleasant.Therefore,thetopicofobesityhasnaturallybecomeatabootopicforpeople.Example(1)Salesman:Ifeelforyou,myniecealsohasaweightproblem.Example(2)Carlos:Iknowshe’sakindofchubby.Gabrielletookherdaughtershopping.Whensheboughtaprincessskirt,Juanitacouldn’twearit.Gabriellewenttoasktheshopassistantifshehadabiggersize.Thesalespersonexpressedsympathytactfully,sayingthatherniecealsohadweightproblems.Whentheygothome,GabriellewarnedCarlosnottoputtoomuchcheeseinJuanita’svegetables.Carlossaiddisapprovingly,“Iknowsheisalittlechubby.”Inthesetwosentences,“weightproblem”and“chubby”areeuphemismsfor“fat”.Theyavoidtheembarrassmentandunhappinesscausedbydirectuseoffat.2.3.3EuphemismofSexAsweallknow,westerncultureisopen,butthisdoesnotmeanthatpeopleinwesternsocietycanusesex-relatedphrasesatwillinanysituation.Incommunication,whenpeopletalkaboutsex,theyusuallychooseeuphemism.Ifsuchwordsarespokeninastraightforwardway,theywillmakeothersfeeluncomfortable,andalsomakethespeakerfeelvulgarorhumiliating.Example(1)Bree:Wewerelyingdown,resting.Example(2)Susan:ButonlyI’mgoing.Becauseyou’regonnacomedownwithsomethingsemi-seriousthatrequiresbed-restandfluids.Inexample(1),whenBreeandherdoctortalkedaboutthesexbetweenherandOrson,heranswerwasverytactful.Here,“l(fā)yingdown,resting”originallymeanslyingdownandresting,butinthecontext,BreeisanditseuphemisticwaytoexpressthebeddingbetweenherandOrson.Inexample(2),itshouldbepointedoutthatJulieisSusan'sminordaughter.Inordertoavoidtheembarrassmentofherdaughterseeingherhaving“sex”withaman,SusantactfullyexpressedherideathatshemighthavesexwithMike.InChineseculture,thetranslationofaseriousthingthatwillsweatandneedtorestinbedafterfinishingexpressesthesamemeaning.ChapterThreePragmaticWaysofEuphemisminDesperateHousewivesThelinguistBolingereversaid,“Euphemismisnotrestrictedtothelexicon.Therearegrammaticalwaysoftoningsomethingdownwithoutactuallychangingthecontentofthemessage.”Manylinguistsbecometonoticethateuphemismscanbeappliedthroughgrammaticaldevices.Inthiswaytheycouldimplyaspecialmeaning.Onlythroughthecontext,canlistenersfindspeakers’impliedintention.Generallyspeaking,grammaticaldeviceincludestense,negation,etc.Thefollowingaresomeanalysesindetail.3.1TheGrammaticalAspectofEuphemisminDesperateHousewivesInsocialoccasions,inordertoavoidembarrassmentoreasetheatmosphere,wecanchangethesentenceexpressiontomakepeopleavoidsomeunpleasantassociationsordilutepeople'sinnerfearanddisgust.Insociallanguagecommunication,ifeuphemismcanbeusedcorrectly,itcannotonlymaintaintheself-esteemofreadersandspeakers,butalsoenhancetheirconfidence,andatthesametime,itcanalsoachievethepositiveeffectofcoordinatingtherelationshipbetweenpeople,balancingthementality,alleviatingcontradictionsandconflicts,eliminatingmisunderstandingsandfrictions,andachievingpeaceandunderstanding.3.1.1UsingPastTenseGenerallyspeaking,thepasttenseisusedtoexpressanactionorafacthappenedinacertainpointoftimeinthepast.Butsometimesthepasttensecanmaketheunpleasantmeaningoftheexpressionsoundmorepoliteandsoft.Atthesametime,itcanconveyanothermeaningtoblamesomebodyorsomethingchanged.Therearetypicalexamplesfromtheseries.Example(1)Gabrielle:PaulandZacharefightingagainSusan:It'sashame.Theyusedtobesuchahappyfamily.Example(2)Tom:Idid.Youtoldmetostopbeingashrinkingvioletandtostepup.Lynette:Ithoughtthiswasanin-houseposition.Thepasttenseofexample(1)hintsthatnowthey(PaulandZach)arenothappy,becauseMaryAlicewhowasPaul'swifeandZach’smotherisnotalivenow.So,theyalwaysquarrelfiercely.Andthetenseofexample(2)makeclearthatLynettemadeamistakeatthatspecialmoment,notnow.Bothofthemshowthepresentconditioniscontrarytowhattheywant.Themeaningisconveyedbyusingpasttense.So,fromtheexamplesweknowthatthiskindofeuphemismispreferredbythepeoplewhohavegoodeducationandliketoplayword.Itisalsoatrendindailycommunication.3.1.2UsingNegativeSentencesThisdevicecanlessentheunpleasanteffectofthelanguagethatisunwelcome.Foraverycommonexample,wesaythegirlisnotpretty(actuallysheisveryugly),butthatisacceptable,becausenotprettydoesnotequalto“ugly”,itcouldbe“plain”too.Becausenotprettyhasmoremeaningthanugly.Thefollowingphraseshavesameeffect:Idon’tthink,Iamafraid,Iamnotsure,Idon’tlike,etc.Wecanfindtheexamplesfromthestudy:Example(1)Susan:Idon'tknowthatpeoplereallysaythatanymore.Mrs.Huber:Ido.Example(2)Mrs.Huber:Oh,lord!Susan,youburnedyouloverival’shousedown!Ifthatisn’tdesperatedIdon’tknowwhatis.SusanandMrs.Huberareneighbors.Mrs.HubercomestovisitSusancarryingacake.Shenamesthecake“mincemeat”whichshegivesanothermeaningcutpeopleintopieces.ButSusandoesnotbelievehernewexplanationoftheword.InordertosaveMrs.Huber'sface,Susansaysshedoesnotknowthat.TheotheroneisalsotheconversationbetweenMrs.HuberandSusan.ItshowsthatMrs.HuberdoesnotbelieveSusan.So“Idon’tknow”ismoreacceptablethan“Idon’tbelieve”intheconversation.Therefore,whentwopeoplewhoarenotveryclosemakeaconversation,theywouldliketousesyntacticalnegationtoexpresstheiropinions.3.1.3UsingSubjunctiveMoodThesubjunctivemoodismainlyusedtoexpressdoubt,wishes,orpossibility;sometimesitcanshowthespeaker'sattitudeaswell.InoralEnglish,itcantellthetruthwhichmayoppositetothesuperficialmeaning.Thefollowingexamplesgiveavividpicturethatwhatisreal.Example(1)Paul:Bree,youshouldn’thavegonetoallthistrouble.Example(2)Dr.Goldfine:Bree,Rexjustcalled,hewon'tbeabletomeetyouheretoday.Apparently,therewasanemergencyatthehospital.Bree:Oh.Well,Iwishhehadcalledme.Example(3)Bree:(callsaftertheboys)Ihopeitwasn'tanythingIsaid.Fromthefunctionofsubjunctivemood,weknowalltheaboveexamplesareexpressingatruefactthatcontrarytowhatthespeakershopes.Itcanalsoreflecttheattitudeofthespeaker.Example(1)and(3)reflectspeakers’sympathy.Especiallyexample(3)Breesaidsomethingunpleasanttohissonandotherboys,sotheboysleftunhappy.Itisherwordsgetridoftheboysandsheknowsthat.Whilethesubjunctivemoodshowshersympathytotheboy.Example(2)isthedialoguebetweenDr.GoldfineandBree.IntheseriesRexandBreearehusbandandwifewhohavemarriageproblem.Forthisreason,theyvisitDr.Goldfine.ThisdialoguereflectsBree’sindirectandslightblametoRex,forhedidnotcallherbutthedoctor.Ontheotherhandshesaveshishusband’sface,althoughhedidwrong.Sothisgrammaticaleuphemismhasitsowneffect.3.2TheRhetoricAspectofEuphemisminDesperateHousewivesAsweallknowrhetoricisthe“(artof)usinglanguageimpressivelyandpersuasively,especiallyinpublicspeaking.”Incommunication,peopleliketoexpresshiminanaccurate,impressiveandpervasiveway.Inbroadsense,euphemismscanbeappliedbytheformoffigureofspeechThereforeitisveryimportanttoanalyzetheapplicationofeuphemismrhetorically.Inthispart,wewillfocusourstudyonthesefiguresofspeech.Thefollowingaretheapplicationofeuphemismformrhetoricalpointofviewintheseries.3.2.1HyperboleHyperboleistheuseofoverstatementandexaggerationdeliberatelytoachieveaeuphemisticeffectbyemphasizingtheconnotationofwords.Therearesomeexamplesinthestudy:Example(1)Susan:Imadeit,trustme.(Mikepreparestotakeabite)Hey,hey,doyouhaveadeathwish?Example(2)MaryAliceVoiceover:Suburbiaisabattleground,anarenaforallformsofdomesticcombat.Husbandsclashwithwives;parentcrossswordswithchildren,butthebloodiestbattlesofteninvolvewomenandtheirmothers-in-law.Example(3)Lynette:You'renothuman,areyou?Youweresentbyalienstomakethehumanracefeelinadequate.Theconversation(1)isbetweenMikeandSusanwhoareneighbors.Theyattendthesameparty.SusantakesherownfoodawayfromMikebecauseshethinksthecakeistoounsavorytomakepeopledie.Ofcourse,itisakindexaggerationbutreflectstheunfavorableofthefood.Inexample(2),asweallknowtherelationshipbetweendaughterandmother-in-lawisverydifficulttodealwith,and“thebloodiestbattle"alsorevealsthispoint.Itgivesdeepimpressiontothespeakerandlistener.Inexample(3),LynettemeansthelistenerissokindandverygeneroustohelpothersjustlikeheisnothumanbeingbutaGod.3.2.2MetaphorMetaphorpointsouttheresemblancebutwithoutacknowledgingword.Itisthecomparisonbetweentwounlikeelements.Theoriginalwordinmetaphordoesnotmodifyitselfdirectly,butisrepresentedbythevehiclesothatthereaderorlistenercanimagineitsrealmeaningbeyondtheverbalone.Euphemismcreatedinthiswayisvividandexpressive.Herearesomeexamplesfromtheseries:Example(1)Mike:Youmean,peoplewholiveinglasshousesshouldn'tthrowsodacans?Example(2)Lynette:Idon’tknow.RexannouncedthatheandBreeareincounseling.SheretaliatedwiththiswholerevelationwhichIwon'tevengointonow.Andthebottomlineis,hestormedout.Clearlythere’stroubleinparadise.Inexample(1),MiketalkssomethingtoSusanandtriestomakeherforgetherfailuremarriageandbehappy.HiswordmeansSusanthoughtshehasnorighttojudgeother'smarriagebecauseherselfinmarriagetrouble.Thismetaphorisveryvividandexpressive.ThesecondexampleisLynette’sdescriptionofBree’smarriage.IntheLynette’smind,Breehasaveryhappyalmostperfectmarriagewhichjustlikeaparadise.Butnowshechangesheridea.BecausethereisabigtroubleinBree’smarriage,whichisunbelievabletothem.Themetaphorreflectsherthoughtsclearly.3.2.3PunPunistoplayonwords,orrathertoplaywiththeformandmeaningofwords,forawittyorhumorouseffect.TherearemanywordsintheEnglishlanguagewhichlookorsoundalike,buthavedifferentsensesorconnotation.Thefirsttypeinvolveswordsorphraseshavingthesamesoundandform,butwithtwoormoredistinctmeanings.Suchwordsarecalledhomonyms.Forexample,Tommywenttolawschoolandpassedthebar,andIwentofftotownandboughtabar.Forthesameword,to“passedthebar”meanstopasstheexamsforthelegalprofession,to“buyabar”meanstobecomeownerofacoffeebar.Inthesecondformofpun,thewordshavesamesoundoralmostthesamesound,butdifferinformandmeaning.Thesewordsarecalledhomophones.Forexample,thepurestaudiofortheaudiopurist.Purestmeansbeflawlessandperfectintone,etc.Puristmeansonewhodemandsabsoluteperfectioninart,sound,etc.Ithashumorouseffect.Inthecasestudytherearesometypicalpuns.Forexample:Example(1)Narrator:SincehermodelingdaysinNewYork,Gabriellehaddevelopedatasteforrichfoodandrichmen.Example(2)MaryAliceVoiceover:Andjustlikethat,Lynetterealizedtheroadtoenlightenmentandspiritualwellbeingwasnowclosedtoher.ThenarratorgivesusasimplebutimpressivedescriptionofGabrielle.Shewasaverybeautifulmodelbeforeshebecomessomebody’swife.Theword“rich”heremeansdifferentoneismuchmoredeliciousfood,whileanotherreferstomoremoney.Itisapunwithhumorouseffect.Thisdeviceimpressesusdeeply.Example(2)isanotherpun.Theword“road”herehastwomeanings,oneisLynette’sadmissiontoenjoyherselfinthegymnasium,andtheotheristobepraisedbyothers.Mostofthepunsinthestudyarehomonyms.Althoughthewordisverysimple,ithasmorepotentialandabundantmeanings.So,forthisfeatureofpun,peopleliketousethemindailylife.Insomepointitalsoreflectsthetalentandeducationofthespeaker.3.2.4PersonificationPersonificationmeanshumancharacteristicsorhumannamesaregiventoanimalsorobjectstoachieveavividandimpressiveeffect.Therearetypicalexamples:Example(1)Mike:ThemoretimeIspendinthistown,themoreIthinkwe'remakingamistake.Thesearenicepeople.Noah:Mymoneysaysoneofthemisn't.Example(2)Martha:AndIwantthosenon-fatpeachyogurts.Theydidn'tjustwalkoutofthatfridgebythemselves.Thefirstconversationhappenstofatherandson-in-law.NoahasksMiketoinvestigatethetruefactofhisdaughter’sdeathinthetown.ButMikethinksallthepeopleinthetownareverynice.So,theyhavetheconversation.FromtheconversationweknowNoahwouldlikeTomkeeponsearchingonthem,whileheusepersonificationtoconveyhisidea.ThesecondonehappenstoMarthaandherfriendEdie.MarthareferstoEdieateheryogurtswithoutherapproval.Thepersonificationhereisnotonlyvividbutalsosavestheothers’face.So,fromtheanalysisweknowpersonificationisasimpleandvividwaytoexpressone'sidea.3.2.5IronyIronyisafigureofspeechinwhichthemeaningliterallyexpressedistheoppositeoftheindicated.Itaimsathumororsarcasmandavoidshurtingothersbydirectexpression.Incertaincontext.itcanholdthereader’sattentionanddeepenitsimpression;therefore,apleasanteffectcouldbeachieved.Thefollowingaretypicalexamples.Example(1)Bree:Youradultery?No.Idecidedtokeepthatlittlegemalltomyself.Example(2)Susan:Howcouldyou?God,Susan,doyoutrustme?Yes,ofcourseIdo.Oh,Iamsuchanidiot,andyou’resuchaliar.Oh,andapparentlyakiller,andadrugdealer.That’sjustquiteapersonaladyou’vegotgoingthere.Example(1)isthedialogbetweenBreeandRexwhoarewifeandhusband.FromthecontextweknowgemherereferstoRex’sadultery.Nomatterwhomeetsthisaccident,shewillbemad.WhilethiswordusedbyBreenotonlyreflectsherresentmenttohishusbandbutalsoherattitudetothething.Shewillkeepsecretforthefamily,whichshowsherself-restraintandface-savingforthewholefamily.Example(2)isSusan’sopiniontoMike.SusangoestopolicestationbyaccidentandfindsMikewasamurderbeforehebecomesherboyfriend.Certainly,shealsoknowssomethingveryunacceptableandthinkssheischeatedbyMike.Forthisreason,sheyellstoMike.Theword“personalad”reflectsherangertoMikeindirectly.ChapterFourPragmaticFunctionsofEuphemisminDesperateHousewivesEuphemismhasmanyfunctions.Thiswillmakeunpleasantwordssoundbetterandmoreacceptable.Inthispart,thispaperanalyzesthefunctionofeuphemismfromapragmaticperspective.4.1TheFunctionofPolitenessPolitefunctionofeuphemismistoavoidunpleasantthingsandmakepeoplefeelbetterJoannaChannellwroteinherbookVagueLanguage“Vaguenessisusedasonewayofadheringtothepolitenessrulesforaparticularculture,andofnotthreateningface”.Itmeansthatindailylife,whenpeoplewanttoexpresssomeunpleasantthingsorbehaviors,theywouldliketousesomeimplicitexpressionstoavoidhurtingothers’face.4.1.1ExpressingReligionNeamanandSilver,expertsineuphemismpointedoutthat“theearliestthemeofeuphemismisundoubtedlyreligious.”Inotherwords,euphemismoriginatedfromreligioustaboos.Withtaboos,euphemismsmustbereplaced.Theyrefertothesamething,sosomepeoplecompareittothetwosidesofacoin.Inreligion,theidentityofGodissacred,andweshouldavoidaddressingit.Thefollowingaretypicalexamples.Example(1)Gaby:hetooktheLord’snameinvain.Example(2)Gabrielle:Ohmygosh!Bree:Mygoodness!InExample(1),GabyandCarlosmetatthechurchtodiscusshowtorespondtothepoliceinvestigationintothedisappearanceofGaby’ssecondhusband,Victor.WhenGabyhitCarlos,shewasseenbythecleaningwomanandexplainedthatthecleaningwomanwasdisrespectfultoGod.TheLordwasthehonorificnameofGod.Inmanyplacesintheplay,thefourheroinesusethewordGoshtoexpresssurprise,suchasexample(2),GabrielleheardBreesaythataftershewasengagedtoOrson,sheexpressedhersurprisewith“Ohmygosh!”.Breeusedthephrasetoexpresshersurpriseinthefirstepisodeofthefifthseason:Mygoodness!Infact,bothphrasesarefromMyGod!T