Abstract Euphemism is a common language phenomenon. Different scholars have different definitions of euphemism and there are many aspects of euphemism. Euphemism contains different kinds of topics that people are reluctant to talk about directly and plays a significant role in conversations. This thesis uses the death euphemisms in religion as a breakthrough point and is intended to find out the similarities and differences between the two languages - Chinese and English. Chinese death euphemisms in religion mainly come from Taoism and Buddhism while English death euphemisms in religion mainly come from Christianity. By comparing the death euphemisms in Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity, the thesis explores major similarities of Chinese and English death euphemism in religion from two aspects. One is that both Chinese and English use nonfigurative symbols in death euphemisms in religion. The other is that words or phrases with verbs are both used in the two discussed languages. There are two major differences in religious death euphemisms in Chinese and English. First, death euphemisms in religion of the two languages have different target users. Second, there are different sources of different death euphemisms in religion. The thesis intends to give people a basic and specific picture of death euphemisms in religion.53658

Keywords: death euphemisms; similarities and differences; Taoism; Buddhism; Christianity

摘要委婉语是一种普遍的语言现象，不同学者对委婉语有不同的定义，委婉语也涵盖很多方面。委婉语包含了多类人们不愿意直接谈及的话题，在对话交流中起到了十分重要的作用。本文以宗教死亡委婉语作为切入点来对比英汉两种语言的异同之处，旨在探究不同语言之间的联系与区别。汉语中的宗教死亡委婉语主要来源于道教和佛教，而英语中的宗教死亡委婉语主要来源于基督教。本论文在对比了道教、佛教以及基督教里的宗教死亡委婉语的用法之后，认为英汉两种语言中的宗教死亡委婉语的主要具备两个相似点：一是英汉两种语言都使用抽象的符号，二是使用动词及动词短语来委婉地表达死亡。而英汉两种语言的宗教死亡委婉语的主要差异，主要体现在两个方面：一是英汉宗教死亡委婉语的使用人群不一样，二是英汉宗教死亡委婉语的来源不同。本论文旨在让人们对宗教中的死亡委婉语有个基本的、具体的了解。

毕业论文关键词：死亡委婉语；异同点；道教；佛教；基督教

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

3. Death Euphemism 2

3.1 The Definition of Death Euphemism 2

3.2 The Origins of Death Euphemism 3

4. Death Euphemisms in Major Religions 6

4.1 Death Euphemisms in Taoism and Buddhism 6

4.2 Death Euphemisms in Christianity 8

5. The Major Similarities of Chinese and English Death Euphemisms in Religion 8

5.1 Using Nonfigurative Symbols 8

5.2 Using Words or Phrases of Verbs to Describe Death 9

6. The Major Differences between Chinese and English Death Euphemisms in Religion 10

6.1 Different Target Users of Language 10

6.2 Different Sources of Death Euphemisms in Religion 10

7. Conclusion 11

Works Cited 13

1. Introduction