Abstract:As language phenomenon, euphemism is common in all cultures, among which political euphemisms are those used in governmental documents, speeches of statesmen, newspapers, etc, to achieve some particular goals. Being widely used by politicians, political euphemism is a mild way to deliver the statemen's real information without inciting the audience. The previous studies mainly focused on the usage, interpretation, linguistic formation and communicative principle of political euphemism, comparatively few on its characteristics and communicative functions
By these lights, the thesis makes an effort to analyze the characteristics and communicative functions of English political euphemism in stump speeches. Based on the research, a conclusion is drawn that English euphemisms in the political domain always possess three specific characteristics: nationality, timeliness, and vagueness. Nationality means the political euphemism has a strong characteristic of nationality on influences of national culture. Timeliness means there will be creating and changing some euphemistic expressions with the development of society. Vagueness means in order to achieve some certain purposes, the politicans always using some fuzzy expressions to communicative. Euphemism is employed by statesmen for communicative needs as well as a tool for achieve certain political purpose, it is a choice to achieve better communication effect . From these purposes we can analyze out the communicative functions of English political euphemism: 1)To achieve the effect of politeness, 2)To diminish disagreements or conflicts, 3)To embellish scandals, 4)To avoid sensitive topics, 5)To conceal the truth, 6)To induce the populace to do something.
This research is significant in political euphemism. Through such a study, people can have a better understanding on English political euphemism and then know well the politicians' communicative strategies. In addition, the study will offer some references for people who research on political euphemism in the future.
Keywords: English political euphemism; purpose; characteristics; communicative functions
摘要:委婉语作为一种语言现象普遍存在于世界各文化中,而政治委婉语是指用于政府文件，政治演讲，报刊评论等中的委婉语，用于达到某种特殊的目的。政治委婉语广为政治家们使用，它使政治家们得以一种温和，不带刺激的语言来传递其真实信息。以往关于政治委婉语的研究大多注重其使用，意义理解，和交际原则等方面。对其特点和交际功能进行研究的相对较少。
有鉴于此，本文尝试对治活动中的使用的英语委婉语进行了分析，主要是对其特点和交际功能进行研究。通过研究发现英语政治领委婉语主要有三大特点，分别是民族性，即受一个国家民族文化的影响，政治委婉语也带有鲜明的民族特点；时代性，即随着时间推进和社会的发展，政治委婉语也发生着变化或者产生一些相应的表达；模糊性，即为达到某种目的，政治家们常常使用委婉的表达来达到效果。政治委婉语是政治家们为达到某种目的工具，也是为了更好的实现交际需要而做出的语言选择。从这些目的可以分析出政治委婉语所具有的交际功能主要是：礼貌功能，减少矛盾和冲突，美化丑闻，避开敏感话题，掩盖事实真相和劝诱功能。
此项研究具有一定的意义，使人们能够了解政治家的交际手段和更好的理解政治委婉语。此外，在其特点和交际功能上对日后研究政治委婉语的有一定的借鉴意义。
关键词：英语政治委婉语；目的；特点；交际功能
