There is a Short Glossary of Words and Their Euphemisms

accident, crisis, disaster	incident
addict; addiction	substance abuser; substance abuse, chemical dependency
arrest (v)	apprehend
break-in	security breach
cheap	frugal, thrifty, economical
criminal (adj)	illegal
criminal (young)	juvenile delinquent
crippled	disabled, physically challenged
dead	departed, deceased, late, lost, gone, passed
death	demise, end, destination, better world, afterlife
die	pass away, pass on, expire, go to heaven
drugs	illegal substances
drunk (adj)	intoxicated, inebriated, tipsy
fail	fizzle out, fall short, go out of business
false (adj)	prosthesis
fat	overweight, chubby, portly, stout, plump
garbage dump	landfill
genocide	ethnic cleansing
illegal worker	undocumented worker
imprisoned	incarcerated
informer	confidential source
kill	put down/away/out/to sleep
lazy	unmotivated
lie (n)	fib, fabrication, cover story, story, untruth, inaccuracy
money	funds
multi-racial	diverse
murder	hit, kill, do someone in, finish off someone
old	mature, distinguished, senior, traditional, seasoned
old age	golden age, golden years
old person	senior citizen, pensioner
old persons home	convalescent hospital, retirement home, rest home
person	representative, individual
poor nation	emerging nation, developing nation, third-world nation
poor student	underachiever, underperformer
poor	low-income, working class, modest, underprivileged
prison	correctional facility
prisoner	inmate, convict, detainee
problem	issue, challenge, complication
rude	self-centered
sales	marketing
secretary	administrative assistant
selfish	self-centered
sick	indisposed, ill, under the weather
small	quaint, cozy, petite
stupid	slow
suicide (to commit)	to end it all, take the easy way out, do oneself in
talk (v, n)	converse (v), conversation (n)
teacher	educator
toilet	john, WC, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory
totalitarian	authoritarian
ugly	unattractive, modest, plain
unemployed	between jobs, taking time off
used	previously owned, pre-owned, refurbished, second-hand
victim	casualty
wrong	improper, questionable, impropriety (n)

Taboo. According to the George Frazer we could divide taboo into 2 parts. Cultural superstitious taboos (superstitious, cultural, religious beliefs) and Daily life using taboo words (swear words and politeness taboo). The first kind of taboo is disappearing. The coincidence of time and the transition from a devout and moral society to capitalistic society where things like freedom of speech and democracy destroys cultural taboo words (E.g. taboo in such societies as the United States and Western Europe, cultural and superstitious taboos are gradually disappear). In our time developing the second kind of taboo. Because it’s a part of our daily culture and behaviour.

As a English learner there I gave some taboo that you should avoid in some foreign countries. If you are teaching English or study in a foreign country, you should take active steps to learn as much about the culture and customs of its people. This includes finding out about the taboo topics and actions that could embarrass, confuse or upset a student.

Remember, that what is considered appropriate conduct or conversational material in your country may be considered rude, insulting or even bad luck in another. You may also find that younger generations are more accepting of and accustomed to American or European topics and gestures, while older students still consider some things taboo.

Here some general topics to avoid as teacher in a multicultural class:

· Religious beliefs

· Political beliefs

· Sexuality

· Poverty

· Historical Conflict

Here are some general actions and gestures to avoid as teacher in a multicultural class:

· Swearing

· Touching students

· Eating or chewing gum in class

· Embarrassing students

· Pointing

· Holding eye contact for a long period of time

· Standing very close to a students

	Topics and behaviour to avoid	Helpful notes for travelling teachers
China	· Students may not maintain steady eye contact with you when you are talking to them. Try to be respectful of the culture by not holding eye contact with a single student for too long. · Never wave someone over with your finger. Wave them over with a hand and fingers pointed down. This is also the way to hail a taxi. · If your students give you gifts, know that it is customary not to open it in front of them.	· You may think that your Chinese students are unhappy or disliking your class because they don't smile as much as other students. However, Chinese students often repress their emotions because this is part of their culture.
France	· Avoid discussions of jobs, and financial success or wealth. This is often considered the greatest taboo in France. · Avoid talking about immigration. · The American sign for OK (making a circle with finger and thumb), which teachers often use to show that a student has done something correctly or perfectly means "nothing" in France.	· Maintaining eye contact is not customary between strangers. If you hold eye contact with someone on the street or in a store you are suggesting you want a relationship with them. Refusing eye contact, however, suggests that you think you are of a higher status than the other person. · Students will cover their mouth with their hands to gesture that they have made a mistake.
Germany	· It is considered very rude to be even a few minutes late. · The American sign for OK (making a circle with finger and thumb), which teachers often use to show that a student has done something correctly or perfectly refers to female private body parts in Germany.	· If you are dining out with others, it is considered rude to start your meal before everyone has received theirs. · It is considered bad luck to wish a German person a Happy Birthday before the actual date.

One of the most remarkable properties of Taboo, is that it can change the meaning of the words after a short period. Words that used properly some times ago, now may offend people’s feeling. F.e. the word Devil in the 19^th century meant an unhappy person, but now it is one of the Satana’s name.

At school, teachers must evaluate students truthfully and objectively. But it is also necessary for teachers to give consideration to students’ psychology, for sometimes a blunt statement of fact will hurt their sense of self–respect. Under such a situation, euphemism finds its way into the evaluation of students. The following periphrases are far more polite than direct statements.

1) The student is a bit slow for his age. (The student is stupid.)

2) The girl is hard of hearing. (The girl is deaf.)

Conclusion

In my scientific-research work, we have discussed about the universality, classification, social function and the culture of English taboo words and euphemisms and analyzed their advantages and the motivations of the users. Taboos and Euphemism plays an important role in our daily communication. To show yourself politeness we should substitute euphemisms with their synonyms. And we also should to know taboo words to infuse into a new cultural association. Their use and very existence are caused either by social conventions or by certain psychological factors. Euphemisms always tend to be a source of new formations because after a short period of use the new term becomes so closely connected with the nation that it turns a word as obnoxious as earlier synonym.

And as linguistic phenomenon euphemism is needed to be investigated in many aspects: in comparison with other languages, definition of the time and reason of their appearance, determination of usage in literary and scientific books. It helps us to get information of the world people.

As a result of distribution and influences of mass media and different psychological levels on language presently constructing type euphemisms and taboo will intensively penetrate into all spheres colloquial and a literary language. They become a great political weapon. Political correctness is currently important in society; people have to be careful not insult anyone or hurt other people's feelings with their words.

For the translator it is very important to know about features of the use euphemism in language correctly to estimate a role of implied sense, it is especial while translating publicist materials or fiction.

And also taboo and euphemisms are closely related. One complements the other. The main function of euphemism is to replace taboo. In speech interaction, out of politeness or tact, one uses a pleasant, less direct word instead of something unpleasant.

I want to tell you that with the development of society is developing euphemism and taboo. With changing of society, will change once euphemism become normal words, taboo to normal phenomenon. I am not sure about the taboo but euphemisms never will disappear from our life. They will accompany us in our communicate sociable life. Euphemisms and taboo are part of our language.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30