英语论文网

over the political scandals. For example, “lie” is referred to as “less than truthful, prevaricate, inoperative”; “illegal” is referred to as “inappropriate” There are a lot of euphemisms produced during the “Watergate scandal” about president Nixon in America of 20th century 1970s.For instance, “plumber” is referred to as “intelligence-stealer”, “eavesdrop” as “intelligence-gathering”, “the scheme of eavesdrop” as “scenario”, and even “the scandal” became “event”. In modern society， social problems are numerous，so it is with China. To reassure and pacify the public，the government just makes such remarks as “我们绝大多数党员干部是廉洁自律的，这样的人在我们的干部队伍中只是极少数，问题是有的，但成绩是主要的，主流是好的” etc. For diplomatic talks，we have such remarks as “双方进行了建设性的会谈，双方就共同关心的问题坦率地交换了意见，总之，双方的会谈是有益的和富有建设性的”etc. All these indicate that both sides are quite far from reaching agreement concerning certain issues. These vague remarks just conceal the fact of truth and serve certain political purpose. Political euphemism also has positive function. In internal aspect, the use of political euphemism is embodied in the talk between different parties. The proper political euphemisms can enhance the friendly relationship and keep a friendly atmosphere. Taiwan problem is a typical example of this kind. In October,1995,when chairman Jiang Zemin was interviewed by the American journalists, he said that, “我们一贯主张和平统一, ‘一国两制’,但是如果台湾岛内分裂主义势力搞 ‘台湾独立’我们不排除采取非和平手段的可能性.”The “Anti-secession Law” passed in 2005,also emphasizes that “必要时将通过’非和平手段’来确保国家的领土完整.” Here, “非和平手段”(non-peaceful means) in fact is referred to “war”. The use of these two political euphemisms of “不排除采取非和平手段的可能性” and “必要时将通过’非和平手段’” reflect that the government of China tried their best to consolidate the whole country through peaceful way. 2.1.2 International aspect In the case of international aspect, the cosmetic euphemisms also can be easily found in political and military activities. For instance, “lie” is referred to as “terminological inexactitude”; “aggression” as “pre-emptive action” or “police action”; “retreat and tout” as “phased withdrawal”; “admit defeat” as “concede the victory to”; “concentration camps” as “strategic villages” or “hamlets”; “bombing and blasting of whole villages” as “pacification of the enemy infrastructure” or “softening up of enemy resistance” or “give massive air support”. The euphemisms here are in the true sense of the word “false.” They are used to cover up the true nature of events, deceiving the public with nice-sounding and pseudo-technical words. Political euphemisms used in military activity come into being with the war. Politicians in the western countries call the invasive war used to transfer the internal contradiction as “preventive war” or “international armed conflict”; “defeat” as “strategic withdrawal”; “the refugee tide ”during the war as “transfer of population”. The military activity of the allied forces of the USA and Britain in Iraq also produced many political euphemisms. The moment of starting the war was called as “moment of truth”; the slogan of this action was “Iraqi Freedom”; the illegal and inhuman aggression become “liberation”; “bombing” was called as “ a target of opportunity,” that is, a target of the Iraqi leadership, which really means “random bombing”. Government discussion of the Vietnam War was saturated with euphemisms. Villagers were burned and the inhabitants imprisoned-that were ‘pacifications’; saturation bombing with B-525 was ‘ordnance delivery’