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is woman with other things that were outlying when she talked about one thing. Because the Paris man was not aware of euphemisms that the landlord used, even he did not understand “Conversational implication” of euphemism. As a matter of fact, what she said means that her husband passed away. In other words, her husband died. “Passed to the other side, kick the bucket, and snuffed it” these phrases in the story are all “death” euphemisms. Usually, people alive do not want to say the word “die” directly when someone acquainted has passed away. This language phenomenon in society is quite common, and in a sense, it is also an application of language. English “death” euphemism, at the same time, reflects some custom, social value and belief, etc. Therefore, it can not exist alone without social culture. In order to analyze its inner cultural meanings, we now study the origins of English “death” euphemism first.
2.1 The Main Origin of “Death” Euphemism
Everything in the world has their origins. So is with the English “death” euphemism. Long time ago, many phenomenon could not be explained clearly, just like “die”. People did not know why a man would die, but they believed it was a mysterious power. “Death” is a terrible word that reminds people of dark or cold things. People avoid talking about it, because they are afraid of losing their families or friends. Consequently, a lot of euphemisms are used, such as: “be asleep forever”（永远安息了）is taken to substitute “death” as well as the “ to be brought to one’s long home”（回老家）. In different cultures, it needs to use the different euphemisms to express “death”. Namely, the origins of English “death” euphemism are so wide and different.
2.1.1 Christianity Belief
The first origin of “death” euphemism is Christianity belief. A large number of the euphemisms originate from the stories or allusions of Christianity. Moreover, Christianity has explained the death and described the world after death in order to help people get rid of angst and trepidation about death. To the world beyond death, Christianity has had great effects on people’s mind and obviously emerges in the language. We know, English, America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are all the countries which believe in Christianity. Christianity is focused on the salvation of the world beyond death, and there are many “death” euphemisms are found in Bible, Hymns and preached documents, etc. Accordingly, a part of English “death” euphemisms originate from Christianity. In the Medieval Century, Christianity unified the whole Europe, and Bible 本论文由英语论文网 www.51lunwen.org整理提供was unique and supreme truth. The “death” euphemisms from Bible have embodied life value and explained people’s death. just as God creates human beings with clay, and after death, they would “return to dust” (归尘). In Bible, God created Adam, human beings’ ancestor, with clay. One day, God said to him: “Thou come from dust, and shalt return to dust.” The notion that people have sins with birth, they must atone for it, and after their death, they would “pay the debt of nature”. God is a master of everything in the universe. When people die, they “are called to God”. Death means “go the way of all flesh”. People alive, they must keep noble mind and helping others, they would “go to heaven” in the future. And then, they can “be with God, be asleep in the arms of God / in Jesus / lie in Abraham’s bosom” and “be at peace”. This makes life “go to one’s final reward”. People