ERIC Number: EJ1081477
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1916-4742
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Study on the Features of English Political Euphemism and Its Social Functions
Zhao, Xiaonan; Dong, Jingping
English Language Teaching, v3 n1 p118-121 Mar 2010
Political euphemism is a tool for political leaders to control information transmission. Based on some examples, this paper begins with a summary of three features which distinguish political euphemism from others. Then, it discusses its two social functions based on Austin's Speech Act Theory: 1) as political leaders' tool, political euphemism plays the role of hiding the truth and legalizing wrong behaviors; 2) it influences people's sense of right and wrong as well as their understanding of the objective world, hence succeeding in persuading them. Such a linguistic phenomenon provides another proof that language is not only a reflection of the objective world but a process of social construction.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction, Second Language Learning, Language Usage, Descriptive Linguistics, Political Issues, Speech Acts, Linguistic Theory, Influences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A