Study on the Features of English Political Euphemism and its Social Functions

Xiaonan Zhao and Jingping Dong

English Language Teaching, 2010, vol. 3, issue 1, 118

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ibn:eltjnl:v:3:y:2010:i:1:p:118

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