从合作原则看英语委婉语的使用

　　2.1.4 BackformingBackforming is the substitution for one part of speech (usedin shortened form) for another, as in "burgle (rob) which isderived from 'burglar'"[6].

　　2.1.5 ReduplicationReduplication is the repetition of a syllable or letter of aword. Particularly common in children’s bathroom vocabulary,it substitutes "pee-pee for'piss', poo-poo for 'bowelmovement'"[7].

　　2.1.6 Blend wordA blend word is a form of phonetic distortion in which twoor more words are squeezed together both orthographically andphonetically. An example of this is "gezunda for a chamberpot, a term derived from the fact that this object 'goes underthe bed'"[8].

　　2.1.7 DiminutiveA diminutive is the formation of a new term by nicking orshortening a name and adding a suffix indicating affection orsmallness. "Heinie, for example, is the diminutive of 'hindend' and refers to the buttocks"[9].

　　2.2 Semantic innovation2.2.1 BorrowingMost obviously, euphemisms may be formed by borrowingwords from other languages—terms that are less freighted withnegative associations. Thus, we use Greek and Latinexpressions for many bodily parts and functions. We havecoined halitosis (bad breath) from the Latin (halitus) for“breath” and we have substituted micturition for the morevulgar Indo-European “Piss”. In addition, English euphemismsalso borrowed a lot of scientific or academic terms, which arebelieved to be more euphemistic and objective than the usualterms, such as magnetic for “sexy” and perspire for “sweat”

　　and so on.

　　2.2.2 WideningEuphemisms may be made by a semantic process calledwidening. When a specific term becomes too painful or vivid,we move up in the ladder of abstraction. In this way, cancerbecomes growth and a girdle becomes a foundation . Sometimes,in addition to widening we divide the negative connotations ofa single direct term between two or more words. Instead ofsaying “syphilis” openly, we speak of a social disease.