Study on the Features of English Political Euphemism
and its Social Functions
Xiaonan Zhao (Corresponding author)
Foreign Languages Department, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Tel: 86-10-8973-3282 E-mail: nancy_zxn@hotmail.com
Jingping Dong
Foreign Languages Department, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Tel: 86-10-8973-3282 E-mail: bjjpdong@126.com
Abstract
Political euphemism is a tool for political leaders to control information transmission. Based on some examples, this
paper begins with a summary of three features which distinguish political euphemism from others. Then, it discusses its
two social functions based on Austin's Speech Act Theory: 1. as political leaders' tool, political euphemism plays the
role of hiding the truth and legalizing wrong behaviors; 2. it influences people's sense of right and wrong as well as
their understanding of the objective world, hence succeeding in persuading them. Such a linguistic phenomenon
provides another proof that language is not only a reflection of the objective world but a process of social construction.
Keywords: Political euphemism, Social Functions, Feature, Speech act