A study of the pragmatic features of english euphemism and its communication functions in expressing sexuality

Abstract

This thesis is aimed at investigating how English euphemisms are applied in communicative contexts. It has focused on the study of the pragmatic features of English euphemisms in expressing sexuality, mainly speech acts. Examples are taken from American movie extracts and literary works in relation to sexual language and conversational analysis is done to see how these pragmatic features have helped understanding the speaker’s communicative intension without mensioning unpleasant words or embarrassing expressions. This study also discusses the correlation between English euphemisms and their contexts. The findings of the study are hoped to uncover English euphemisms and direct expressions in the process of translating scripts for movies or literary works related to sexuality.