Unit 8 Euphemisms and Taboos委婉语与禁忌语
1.__ ___ People’s age, income, political, marital status, and religious beliefs, etc. are normally
considered too personal to talk about.
2._______are pleasant, polite or harmless sounding words or expressions used to mask harsh,
rude or infamous truths.
3.The euphemism of gardener is _____.
4.The euphemism of garbage collector is _____.
5.Sometimes English people will tell a white ________, when they feel it is merely more
convenient or polite than telling the truth.
6. “strategic villages or hamlets”is the euphemism for “_________.”
7.Which one is not the euphemism of “go to the lavatory” ?
A. to wash one’s hands,
B. to powder one’s nose, to fresh up,
C.to relieve oneself
D. to make up
8. --These days Mr.．Smith looks anxious and restless．What happened?
--I heard his wife was in the family way this month．
A．badly sick
B．dead
C．dying
D．pregnant
9. -"Can you lend me 10 dollars?"
--"I'm afraid not. I'm broke."
A. I had an accident.
B. I hurt myself.
C. I am breaking myself.
D. I have no money.
10. The following are all euphemisms for “ poor ” except ____________.
A. Down
B. Needy
C. Underprivileged
D. Disadvantaged
11.Nowadays a servant can be referred to as a____________.
A. sanitation engineer
B. beautician
C. landscape architect
D. domestic engineer
12. “To be expecting”is a euphemistic expression for ____________.
A. “to be pregnant”
B. “to have sex”
C. “to relieve oneself ”
D. “to be unemployed”
13. ____________ may be used by racists to refer to Jews.
A. Japs
B. Dagos
C. Polacks
D. Kikes
14. “____________” is not euphemistic expression in English for lavatory.
A. Comfort station
B. To be patient
C. To relieve oneself
D. To wash one’s hands
15. “Surgical strike” is a euphemistic expression for ____________.
A．victory B．invasion C．military action D．surprise attack
16.Translation.
a. The senator told me under the rose that there is to be a chance in the cabinet.
这位参议员私下里告诉我说可能有机会进内阁。
b. They are the culturally deprived.
c. He needs a guidance in developing good habit of hygiene.
d.You are putting on weight.
e. He has credibility gap.
Key:
1.__ ___ People’s age, income, political, marital status, and religious beliefs, etc. are normally
considered too personal to talk about. T
2._ ______are pleasant, polite or harmless sounding words or expressions used to mask harsh,
rude or infamous truths. Euphemisms_
3.The euphemism of gardener is _____.landscape architect
4.The euphemism of garbage collector is _____. sanitation engineer
5.Sometimes English people will tell a white ________, when they feel it is merely more
convenient or polite than telling the truth.lie
6. “strategic villages or hamlets”is the euphemism for “_________.”concentration camps
7. Which one is not the euphemism of “go to the lavatory” ?
A. to wash one’s hands,
B. to powder one’s nose, to fresh up,
D.to relieve oneself
D. to make up
8. --These days Mr.．Smith looks anxious and restless．What happened?
--I heard his wife was in the family way this month．
A．badly sick
B．dead
C．dying
D．pregnant
9. -"Can you lend me 10 dollars?"
--"I'm afraid not. I'm broke."
A. I had an accident.
B. I hurt myself.
C. I am breaking myself.
D. I have no money.
10. The following are all euphemisms for “ poor ” except ____________.
A. Down
B. Needy
C. Underprivileged
D. Disadvantaged
11.Nowadays a servant can be referred to as a____________.
A. sanitation engineer
B. beautician
C. landscape architect
D. domestic engineer
12. “To be expecting”is a euphemistic expression for ____________.
A. “to be pregnant”
B. “to have sex”
C. “to relieve oneself ”
D. “to be unemployed”
13. ____________ may be used by racists to refer to Jews.
A. Japs
B. Dagos
C. Polacks
D. Kikes
14. “____________” is not euphemistic expression in English for lavatory.
A. Comfort station
B. To be patient
C. To relieve oneself
D. To wash one’s hands
15. “Surgical strike” is a euphemistic expression for ____________.
A．victory B．invasion C．military action D．surprise attack
16.Translation.
a. The senator told me under the rose that there is to be a chance in the cabinet.
这位参议员私下里告诉我说可能有机会进内阁。
b. They are the culturally deprived.
他们是没有学识的人。
c. He needs a guidance in developing good habit of hygiene.
他很脏。
d.You are putting on weight.
你发福了。
e. He has credibility gap.
他是一个骗子。
Unit 6 Traveling and Sightseeing Thinking Ahead Students are asked to discuss the following questions in groups. The reference answers for the questions are offered below: 1. Do you like traveling? Where have you been before? Yes, I do. I have been to quite a lot of places, Mountain Tai, the Great Wall, Korea and Singapore, among which, Singapore impresses me the most for its combination of both a prosperous society and city of natural beauty. Believe me: you can never forget this country once you take a deep breath of fresh air there. 2. How to make a reservation in the hotel? Firstly, you should make it clear when you want to check in, how long you are supposed to stay there. Then, you should tell what kind of room and how many rooms you want. The last but not the least is that, you must leave your name and maybe your contact number, which will surely help you a lot afterwards. 3. What should you pay attention to when at table abroad? mind your manners at table; pay attention to your words and gestures; handle your knives and forks correctly; never talk with your mouth full; never make sounds when you’re eating or drinking something. Part I Video Time In this part, students will have 2 tasks to accomplish. Task 1 In task 1,students will watch a video clip from The Beach and then do the exercises as required. Before watching, they are supposed to read the words, expressions and cultural notes related to the video. Transcript First Visit to Bangkok My name is Richard.
摘要语言和文化是种辩证关系，每一种语言都是其文化的一部分，语言既服务于文化又反映了文化的需要。这篇文章仅谈论语言中的两个小方面-委婉语和禁忌语，并以此来研究他们如何在多方面反映文化。因此本文着重于讨论委婉语和禁忌语的定义及其他们的关系，委婉语的交际目的以及委婉语的语用特征。此外，在教学过程中也应重视委婉语的使用，以增强学生学习语言的现实感。关键词委婉语禁忌语交际目的语用特征每个国家的语言是其文化必不可少的一部分，文化对语言也有种内在的、不可避免的影响，所以语言和文化之间有密不可分的关系。这篇文章就从研究委婉语和禁忌语来看语言如何影响文化，以及常见的禁忌语及运用委婉语的目的和语用特征。一、委婉语和禁忌语的定义及其关系 Taboowords （禁忌语）这个词最初用于波利尼西亚，当时禁忌语和宗教有着一定的联系，宗教仪式中的一些语言是神圣的，在其他场合就是禁忌语，如果使用就是亵渎神灵。后来禁忌语就定义为：人们在说话时，由于某种原因，不能、不敢或不愿说出的某些具有不愉快的联想色彩的词语。禁忌语在说英语国家里同样存在，但一些禁忌语和宗教是没有联系的。比如，性，性器官，排泄物。说英语的人都避免（fuck）性交，（prick）性器官等类似的词语。一些人甚至把 breast （乳房），也称作为禁忌语。（Shit）粪便，（fart）放屁，这样的词一般也是受过教育的人所避免的。禁忌语的存在就促进了委婉语的产生，因为委婉语能很好的代替禁忌语。所以委婉语和禁忌语是同一交际中的两个方面。委婉语是一种比较流行的比喻语，是一种语言学现象，更是一种社会语言学现象。无论是在中国还是在外国委婉语广泛用于工作，报纸，杂志以及在我们日常生活中。另外，委婉语在我们的语言学习中也有着非常重要的作用，所以了解委婉语和禁忌语对学好语言也有很重要的作用。委婉语这个的单词来源于古希腊。前面一部分eu 意思是good（好的），后面一部分phemism意思是speech（言语），所以整个单词euphemism 的意思就是（好听的言语）。委婉语是一种用无害或悦耳的词语替代那些较直接或唐突的言词，用善意的话语把事实掩盖起来的修饰手段。一般认为，凡是表示禁忌或敏感事物的含蓄、迂回或动听的言词，均在委婉语之列。比用portly（发福的）和full figured（丰满的）来代替（fat）肥胖。二、使用委婉语的目的无论是在写作还是在说话中修辞都是一种工具，而委婉语作为一种比喻语不仅仅是一种工具，而是想使用这种语言来达到一定的目的。所以在现实的表达中，我们使用委婉语就是想突出它的目的性，或者是想表达一种语用效果。常见的禁忌语及使用委婉语交际有以下三个主要目的：（一）第一种目的——避讳委婉语的产生与古代社会中某些原始信仰遗存下来的语言禁忌有关。人们由于对不理解的神秘力量的恐惧而形成了一些消极的防范措施，在语言上的表现就是语言禁忌。为了避免想象中的不利后果，在某种场合不讲某些话，而采用避讳的说法或词语（委婉语）去代替。语言禁忌的内容多是人们生活中充满偶然的、无法把握的东西，如未来命运、生死、吉凶等。由于人们对神灵的崇拜或畏惧，或者因为神灵神圣不可侵犯，或者认为神灵太神奇可怕，所以使用委婉语。英语世界中的人不敢擅自使用上帝的名义，便用jeepers （天呀）和gosh（天哪）代替Jesus （耶稣或主）和God（上帝）。无论西方东方，“死”都是人们很忌讳的一个词语。在英语中，人们一般不直截了当地说die（死），而是把die委婉语，例如（pass away）离去，（toanswer thelast cal 了）应答最后的呼唤，perish （谢世），expire（断气），emit thelast breath 呜呼哀哉，endone's days （寿终正寝）。fall asleep（睡觉）、rest （休息）、depart （去了）、jointhe（great）majority（加入群体）、be gone（走了）、go to heaven（进天堂）、safe in the arms of Jesus（进入上帝的怀抱）、jointheangels （加入天使的队伍）、begonetoabetter land （去了圣地）、quit theworld（离弃了世界）、depart fromthewor- ld （离开世界）、breathe one's last（最后一口气）、go to another world（去了另外一个世界）、go to one's home（回老家）、trou- blesbeover now（结束苦难）等等。我们用这些委婉语不仅表达了同样的意思，而且不会对听者心理造成害怕和痛苦，可以说文解字 318 安徽文学 2008 年第期 8 使听者心里更加舒服。如果我们直接说某人（die）死了，不仅表
Unit 8 Preview 1. Listen to the recording of the text and choose the answer that best reflects your understanding. 1. C 2. C 3. D 4. B 3. Read the text again for language and complete the following tasks. 3 Translate the following expressions into Chinese. 1．给她一顶帐篷 11.告诉你实话 2．递给他一件军外套 12.给他们一个教训 3．给我们唱首歌 13.卖给我一辆车 4．希望你一路顺风／旅途愉快 14.给我带食物来 5．给我自己找广-介丈夫 15.把糖递给我 6．给我们寄个包裹 16.助我一臂之力 7．给他提供一个工作 17.给我们树立榜样 8. 给我买本书 18.给你做顿饭 9．给你看张画／照片 19.给你弄些现款 10.给你提供一个机会／条件／价位等 Vocabulary 1. Become familiar with the rules of word formation 1. Give the corresponding nouns for the following verbs. 1. discovery 9. dependence 2．Addition 10. amazement 3．Display 11. consideration 4. determination 12. reliance 5. entertainment 13. supposition 6．Renewal 14. addiction 7. treatment 15. acceleration 8．Intrigue 16. schedule 2. Translate the following expressions paying attention to the different use of the suffix “-tive”. 1．积极支持 9．一项保守的政策 2. 一个富有想象力的主意 10.一位进步的学者 3．积极正面的效果 11.一个引人注目的年轻姑娘 4．一张表情丰富的脸 12.生产力 5．在一种相对的意义上 13.一个非常敏感的人 6．一种被动的态度 14.一门选修课 7．一个给人深刻印象的展示 15.一触即发的形势 8．一项比较研究
欢迎阅读 称谓语、禁忌语、委婉语 称谓语 根据《现代汉语词典》的解释，“称谓”是指“人们由于亲属和别的方面的相互关系，以及由于身份、职业等而得来的名称”。称谓语既是语言现象，也是社会、文化现象。在任何语言中，称谓语都担当着重要的社交礼仪作用。 古代称谓语 2.下, 以其无礼于晋且贰于楚也。 4.称地望 杜少陵（杜甫） 韩昌黎（韩愈） 现代称谓语 1.亲属称谓
辈份(父辈:伯、舅；同辈:哥、妹),父系或母系(姑、姨),直系或旁系(孙、侄孙),年龄的大小(伯、叔、哥、弟)及血亲或姻亲(哥、姐、嫂子)。 2.社交称谓 职务:部长、省长、司长、厅长、校长、院长、厂长、经理等 军衔:上将、中将、中校、少尉等 职称:工程师、教授、讲师等 职业:医生、护士、老师、会计、律师、教练等都可以加上姓称呼别人 A 等； “小”“老”“薄”“贱”“敝”“鄙”“愚”“寒”（称自己或与自己有关的人或事物）：小女、小可；老夫、老朽；薄技、薄酒、薄面；贱姓、贱内；敝人、敝处；鄙人、鄙见；愚兄、愚见；寒舍、寒门。 “敢”（表示冒昧地请求别人）：敢问、敢烦。?? “劳”（烦劳，请别人做事所说的客气话）：劳驾、劳步。 常用敬词 “拜”
拜读：指阅读对方的文章 拜贺：指祝贺对方 拜托：指托对方办事情 拜望：指探望对方 “叨tāo” 叨光：（受到好处，表示感谢）沾光 “奉 惠 玉（如玉成、玉体） 垂（如垂询、垂爱） 雅（如雅正，雅意） 斗胆：形容大胆（多用作谦词）。 驾临：敬辞，称对方到来。 光顾：敬辞，商家多用以欢迎顾客。
光临：敬辞，称宾客来到。 后学：后进的学者或读书人，多用作谦辞。 鼎力：敬辞，大力（表示请托或感谢时用）。 海涵：敬辞，大度包容（多用于请人特别原谅时）。 斧正：敬辞，请人改文章。 指正：（用于请人批评自己的作品或意见）指出错误，使之改正。 。2~3 10岁以下——黄口；13~15岁——舞勺之年；?????? 15~20岁——舞象之年；??????? 12岁（女）——金钗之年； 13岁（女）——豆蔻年华，???? 15岁（女）——及笄之年；??? 16岁（女）——碧玉年华；
禁忌语与委婉语的家族相似性分析 禁忌语和委婉语研究是语言研究的重要内容之一，日常交际中人们经常使用委婉语代替禁忌语。在认知语言学领域中，维特根斯坦的家族相似性理论是对经典范畴理论的继承发展，是原型范畴理论的基础。本文以家族相似性理论为基础，探讨禁忌语与委婉语的范畴化及委婉语的生成。 禁忌语和委婉语是一对不可分离的语言现象，两者相互依存。禁忌语指一些粗俗不雅的语言，使用禁忌语会引起听话人的反感。交际中，人们不可避免会提及禁忌话题。因此运用委婉语来替代禁忌语，通过使用间接的语言表达形式来避免交际中出现的尴尬，保证交际气氛和谐。本文以家族相似性为理论基础，对禁忌语和委婉语实例进行分析。 一、家族相似性原理 家族相似性是维特根斯坦提出来的，他认为不同事物间构成一种错综复杂的相似关系网络。理解家族相似性原理，首先要理解认知范畴理论，认知范畴理论的发展经历了从经典范畴理论到原型范畴理论。其中原型范畴理论源于家族相似性。原型在范畴化过程中作为参照物，而家族相似性则在范畴的建构、层次的划分及成员间相互关联中发挥重要的作用。 经典范畴理论认为范畴内事物拥有共同的特性，事物具有这个特征或不具有这个特征，是确定性的。维特根斯坦针对经典范畴理论的不足，提出范畴中事物之间存在“家族相似性”。家族相似性理论主要是强调语义范畴中成员间错综复杂的相似性，但两个成员间的相似处不一定被其他成员所拥有，没有一个共同特征是范畴内所有成员共同拥有的，成员间只有相似和亲缘关系。家族相似性是指同属一个家族的成员之间在智力、相貌、性格等方面具有一定的相似性，但彼此间相似程度不同。例如一个家庭中哥哥和姐姐长相上有相似性，姐姐和妹妹性格上有相似性，妹妹和哥哥智力上有相似性，他们的关系是重叠复杂的，没有一个特征被三人共同拥有，但是三人间可以看到亲缘关系。 二、从家族相似性原理下的禁忌语与委婉语 （一）、禁忌语和委婉语同属一个语义范畴 范畴是普遍存在的，语义范畴也存在原型义项和边缘义项，各个义项间拥有着家族相似性。语义范畴内的边缘义项围绕原型义项，原型义项是核心成员，拥有范畴最典型的属性，其他成员拥有更多相似属性。边缘义项根据与原型义项的家族相似性程度决定其地位。在委婉语与其对应的禁忌语所构成的语义范畴中，禁忌语是原型义项，具有范畴家族相似性的典型特征；委婉语是边缘义项，具有较少原形义项特征，其委婉程度取决于与禁忌语的家族相似性程度，越边缘所具有的范畴属性越少。
II. Listening Skills Listening to People Talk About Health 1.M: I haven’t been to see my doctor for a very long time. I’m worried that he’ll be angry with me for not having a physical examination for so long. W: Which is more important, the doctor’s feelings or your health? You’d better go if you want to make sure everything is all right with you. It seems that the man worries more about the doctor’s feelings than his own health. 2.W: Oh, I’ve got a cold. I’m not used to the cold weather, and it often gets the best of me. What I need now is some good medicine. M: The best medicine is to keep healthy. I promise you that if you get involved with some sort of physical exercise, you’ll get sick a lot less. Why don’t you try joining a gym? The woman catches cold easily and believes in taking some good medicine, but the man thinks physical exercise is more important. 3.W: Exams are coming up soon. I’ve been so busy with schoolwork that I’ve had a lot of trouble sleeping. M: School is important, but so is your health. Maybe you should talk to a doctor. Doctors see people all the time for this very problem. They can help you. The woman has been so busy with schoolwork that she has had difficulty sleeping. The man believes that health is important that she should see a doctor. 4. M: Do you mind if I have a cigarette before we eat? W: Well, actually, I do. If you don’t mind, could you smoke outside? If you want to poison your body and shorten your life, that’s your business. But as for me, I want to live long and healthy. The woman asks the man to smoke outside because she wants to live long and healthy. She believes second-hand smoke causes cancer too. 5. W: Robert, when we last talked, you promised there would be less television and junk food, and more exercise in your life. But now you’re becoming quite overweight. M: I know it’s bad, but I really like watching TV. After all we should enjoy ourselves while we are young. W: But you’re risking your health watching TV so much. M: Oh, yes: heart trouble, high blood pressure. But I’d rather die than give up TV. The man once promised he would watch TV less, eat less junk food and have more exercise. But he believes it is more important to enjoy himself, although the woman says he’s risking his health watching TV so much. III. Listening In Task 1: Diets If you’re a young lady in your twenties, you may be either on a diet or wondering which diet to follow. Indeed, people are so concerned with their appearance that the word “diet”has lost its original meaning. It now has the same meaning as “weight loss diet”. There was a time when women bound their waists to have a nice figure. Them came Twiggy, a British supermodel most famous in the 1960s, and since then everyone has wanted to look like a twig. Because of this trend, many diets have become popular. It is not uncommon to meet young girls who look weak enough to be blown away in the wind, yet they are still talking about diets! However, extreme diets can lead to health problems. Many such dieters may end up with very serious disorders. Princess Diana suffered from an excessively strong appetite; Karen Carpenter, a popular singer of the 1970s, died of the less of appetite. You should know that looking good is important but not when it comes at he risk of your health and life. Better eating habits and proper exercise are all you need to be fit and look good. 1.A 2.C 3.B 4.B 5.C Task 2: Culture Shock (D=Doctor; S=Student) D: Hello, I’m Dr. Black. How’re you feeling? S: I’m not feeling well, doctor.
英汉禁忌语和委婉语在英汉互译中的处理技巧分析 . 第卷第期兰州交通大学学报 试眦 年月∞ . .... 文章编号:枷. :./.遗 英汉禁忌语和委婉语在英汉互译中的处理技巧分析 胡绍廷 兰州交通大学外国语学院,甘肃兰州 摘要:任何一种语言,都是英文化的戢体,都各有其语言禁忌和由此产生的禁忌语和委婉语。英汉两种语言在禁 忌语和委婉语的使用上存在着相似之处,又有所不同。本文尝试对英汉禁忌语和委娩语的异同之处进行对比分 析,并在此基础上提出,在英汉互译中,对于禁忌语和委婉语的翻译可以采用直译:意译、套译和加注翻译等四种处 理技窍,以期有助于译者在翻译实践中更准确地传达原文的信息和文化内涵,从而使读者能跨越语言和文化差异 的鸿沟,成功地实现交际的目的。 关键词:禁忌语;委婉语;对比分析;翻译技巧
中图分类号: 文献标志码: 即是产生于人类对自然认识的局限性,其中一些逐渐成为根引言 植于人类文化中的风俗,人们在交际中都应该遵守。在日常交际中,当人们不得不涉及那些受到禁忌的行为或语言时, 任何一种文化,任何一种社会,都存在语言禁忌,而委婉 为了避免直接提及,人们寻找另外一些词语或说法来暗示或是禁忌心理的产物,委婉语和禁忌语休戚相关。为了使交际代替它们。委婉语即是用来暗示或代替这些禁忌词语的成双方均能接受,保证交际的和谐顺利,在人们的交往中,一些分,在英语中Ⅱ。咖”。。”一词源于希腊 属于禁忌的事物的名称就必须改头换面,以一种相对得体、文,从词源上说,即或、盹好;锄即能 高雅的名称出现,人们对犯忌讳的事物或避而讳之或委婉言话,整个单词的意思就是好听的话,即。融 之,于是产生了委婉的修辞手法。禁忌语及其相应的委婉语啪耐”,有时还被称作美化词“、Ⅳ”。 这一语言现象在各民族语言中普遍存在,在语言交际中不可在人们的交往中,哪些行为或语言受到禁止或可以接 避免。英语与汉语两种语言在禁忌语和委婉语的使用上有受,因所处的文化背景或历史时期的不同而不同。下面就对着诸多相似之处,同时,也由于两种语言在历史背景、生活环
新职业英语2 通用版 Unit1——Unit8 课后翻译题答案新职业英语2 通用版 Unit1——Unit8 课后翻译题答案 ==================================================================== ======================== Unit1 1. 公司所有规章制度都应严格遵守。(observe) All the company rules and regulations must be strictly observed. 2. 和这些同学在一起我们应随便一些。(casual) We should be casual when we stay with these students. 3. 上述所说的是一些在职场环境中非常有用的交际技能。(setting) The above-mentioned are some communication skills that are very useful in an office setting. 4. 我们有一个专业的团队来营销我们的产品。(professional) We have a professional team to market our products. 5. 你知道今秋流行黑衣服吗,(trendy) Do you know black clothes will be trendy this fall? 6. 与其求人，不 如求己。(rely on) We would rather rely on ourselves instead of seeking help from others. 7. 新车必须符合国家标准。(comply with) New vehicles must comply with national standards. 8. 我们公司的一些年轻人可能会来寻求你的建议。(seek) Some young people in our company may come to seek your advice -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Unit 6 Task 1 【答案】 A. In the five short advertisements, sofa beds, a women’s magazine, a car buyer’s magazine, a kind of soap and a radio programme on music are advertised. B. 1) a) 2) c) 3) b) 4) d) 5) c) C. 1) T 2) F 3) F 【原文】 1) At Simply Sofabeds at Notting Hill Gate we're lowering our prices—for Christmas. Masses of sofa beds for immediate delivery. We're open six days a week, with viewing on Sunday. So celebrate Christmas early this year with a Simply Sofabeds sofa bed at a price that's right. Simply Sofabeds! 2) Could there really be a woman's magazine that's different? Yes. It's called Prima. It's packed with news, opinion, fashion and once again there's a free giant pull-out section with clothes to make, crafts to create, beautiful sweaters to knit. Get your second, value-packed issue of Prima! 3) Car Buyer magazine. Every Thursday. It gives you a choice of more new and used cars than all of your local papers put together—and for less. Car Buyer for car buyers. At your newsagent's now. 4) Girls! Sensitive skin really does need more sensitive care. And I take special care of my sensitive skin with Cuticura soap. Because Cuticura soap contains a medicated ingredient which cleans your skin without leaving it dry or tight. Cuticura medicated soap. From chemists everywhere. 5) Hello. This is Bob Harris inviting you to join me this Friday and every Friday evening for the LBC "Pop Review". I play the best of the recent releases, review the British and the American charts, play classic music by the big stars and new tracks by the names of tomorrow. So it's a real mix of different styles and I'm sure you'll love the music. I'd certainly love to have your company. This Friday evening at half past nine. Right here on LBC. Task 2 【答案】 A.
我们只不过是人 劳拉．施莱辛格Pre-class Work 1. Explain the following. 1) free will (Para. 1): the ability to make your own decisions about what to do rather than being controlled by God or fate 自由意志 2) the product of causation (Para. 1): the.human behavior is a response to external stimulation, and therefore is genes-determined. 某种原因造成的结果 3) fateful night (Para. 9): the night that had an important bad effect on future events 那个决定性的夜晚 4) honor his commitment (Para. 10): to do what he has committed to do to others; to do his duty; to respect his obligations to others履行义务或实践许诺 5) clause (Para. 20): a separate division of a written legal document with its own separate and complete meaning 条款 6) absorbing (Para. 26): interesting; enjoyable; gripping 吸引人的 2. Paraphrase. 1) Human beings have no free will, they are all victims of these external causes as a group. 2) As if the fact we are human were a kind of detailed plan which determines how we react to situations. This reaction is instinctive and natural just like with all animals, insects, birds. 3) The 3 C's are Character, Courage, and Conscience, without these qualities, we cease to be human and will be just like big ants which live out their lives in a way that is determined by their natural instincts. 4) Only managing to live in a vegetable state. 5) If you want to live a good and energetic life, you need the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do; you should be brave enough to take risks; you should take continued action against difficulties; you should be ready to lose life for ideals and you should have an instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot be readily seen or trusted. 6) Courage is as important to life as broth is to soup. 7) In order to be excused, we often try hard to twist things and put the blame on others or try to justify our actions in various ways in our speaking as well as in our thinking. 8) Relating to what we have mentioned, pleasure is something that just happens; happiness is a series of things that involved. Pleasure is a finishingpoint; happiness is a long process. Pleasure is something related to the real world and physical objects; happiness
Euphemisms and T aboo 2008级4班吕佳佳 There exists a close relationship between euphemisms and taboo. Taboo can be used as a criterion to judge whether a word is euphemisms or not. Taboos and euphemisms exist in every language. They play an important part in c ulture. Dealing with them appropriately enables us to successfully communicate. And euphemisms and taboo plays an important role in our daily life. Therefore it is necessary for people to have a clear view of some fundamental knowledge about them. No doubt, euphemism is a widely and frequently used figure of speech. As a hot research issue in the field of linguistics, it needs a concise and definite criterion to judge the scope of euphemism. Western linguists think the word “euphemism” comes from the Greek “eu”( meaning “good”) and “pheme”(meaning “speech” or “saying”), and thus it literally means “to speak with good words”. Later on, euphemism is defined differently and more precisely. As traditional western linguistics restricts euphemism study to the lexicon, euphemisms are, therefore, words or phrases in place of things considered to be rude or unpleasant. In simple terms, an euphemism is just a less explicit substitute for an explicit term or phrase. It manages to conceal the offending nature of the word or phrase, but still gets the meaning across. This has led to the birth of many satirical movies, shows and books t hat effectively use the art of “double meaning”phrases in an attempt to humor people. From a moral point of view, the person who produces this content has a responsibility to ensure that his content does not offend any particular person, least of all, children. For instance, talking about sexual intercourse openly in a movie is bound to have a bad effect on children, and this will greatly offend their parents. As an alternative, the birth of phrases like “to sleep with” or “to make love to”have found their way in popular culture, and they are less graphic and explicit indicators of the same action. Read more on grammar and composition. The word taboo was borrowed from the Tangan language, originally used in Polynesia with religious connotations. Now in sociolinguistics it refers to a prohibition on the use of, mention of, or association with particular objects, actions, or person. What is taboo or not taboo depends on the context. Some expressions denoting some body functions are avoided on formal occasions but quite normal in doctor-patient conversations when the patient complains about his physical problems to the doctor. Taboos and euphemisms are mostly culture-specific. What is taboo in one culture may not be so in another culture. It is a norm among English-speaking people not to ask about each other's income, but in Chinese culture there is no such a norm (though it is hard to predict whether there will be the same norm). In many cultures taboos and euphemisms are associated with religion and superstition. Taboos and euphemisms exist in all natural languages but what is taboo is culture-specific.