Abstract：Chinese and foreign scholars have achieved a lot in the study of euphemism. However, most of the researches are conducted from the angle of linguistics. Some scholars take euphemism as a rhetorical device，others treat euphemism as a cultural phenomenon. Some papers that deal with euphemism are only a general discussion without any specific classification of euphemism. Since the most important function of euphemism is to substitute taboo words, this thesis begins with a comparison of English and Chinese taboo words in the cultural aspect, and classifies the corresponding euphemisms into two main groups. Guided by the principle “similarity in function and correspondence in meaning”, this thesis then puts forward some specific translation strategies. This thesis attempts to offer some help to the translators when doing the translation of euphemism and assist them to overcome the misunderstandings and barriers during the cross-cultural communication.
Key words: taboo words; euphemism; translation strategies
中文摘要:中外学者在委婉语的研究中已取得了很大的成果，其中绝大多数的研究都是从语言学的角度出发。有的学者把委婉语作为一种修辞手段来研究，有的学者把委婉语作为一种文化现象来比较。在翻译领域，关于委婉语翻译方法的论文数量不多，且往往分类不详，讨论笼而统之。由于委婉语的重要功能之一是替代禁忌语，本文便从文化的角度入手，根据英汉两种文化中禁忌语的异同，将其对应的委婉语分成两个大类。之后，在“功能相似，语义相符”的总原则下，针对每一类委婉语提出相应的翻译策略。本文旨在研究委婉语的翻译策略，帮助译者在委婉语的英汉互译中克服跨文化交际所引起的障碍。
关键词：禁忌语；委婉语；翻译策略
