英语禁忌语的起源与发展——从伊丽莎白到维多利亚时期(一)

英语禁忌语的起源与发展——从伊丽莎白到维多利亚时期

Absract

From the Elizabeth to Vitoria,the paper tries to do a systematic study on the Engl ish taboo,expecting to find a more scientific explanation of the English taboo and to expand the field of linguistic study.Finally,it will indicate the limitations for the current study and the suggestions for the further study.

Keywords:English taboo;The perid of the development;Adaptation Theory

1.Introduction

1 The Background of Linguistic Taboo

The early contributions to taboo research are relevant to the anthropology,sociology,ethno graphy of the communication and psychology.

Among the most important researches on the topic are the Golden Bough (1890) by Sir James G.Frazefr,Totem and Taboo(1913) by Sigmund Freud, and Taboo,and Religion(1967) by Franz Baermann Steiner.Of all the scholars,Freud Provides the most ingenious explanation for the apparently irrational nature of taboo,postulating that they are generated by emotional ambivalence and in effect represent forbidden actions for which there nevertheless exists a strong unconscious inclination.

Steiner (1967) does the most comprehensive work by providing the full history of the origin of the word taboo,its cognates and its meanings in Polynesia,its signifieance and functions in Polynesian religion,and its relationship to anthropological and Psychologieal theories.

1.2 The importance of studying Linguistic Taboo

It is true that linguistic taboo exists universally in almost all languages and culture and cultures and that violation of linguistic impolite,but People of different cultures taboo is consid ered do not all agree on what are taboos and what are not taboos,and even taboos on the same thing maybe viewed from different Perspectives since people from different cultures stick to diff erent social norms,and culturally accepted values and beliefs.In intercultural communication,they may interpret each other.

In intercultural communieation,it may interpret each other’s speech and behavior inaccor dance with their own beliefs and values,and therefore,adopt different politenes s strategies to achieve the same goal.This gives rise to violation of linguistic taboos. And we can get in accordance with its’meaning and direct translation, anyway we should pay attention to the accuracy of the translation of the language such as “Die”, which is translated as “Death”, and also can be called “The dead”.With the sentence,the English sentence is concise.There are a few synonyms of the Chinese or English description which is based on the modified nouns, verbs, adverbs, non predicate verb and is mainly composed of the components in main structural charac teristics.

The description is the details to the reader to demonstrate the  impression which can let their readers feel their love.In C-E translation of the public signs,it will pay attention to the characteris tics and provide the theoretical guidance for Eugene.The theory will be based on the practice of English taboos.

1.3 The purpose and the Layout of the Thesis

The Present research intends to present a detailed analysis of English taboos on the basis of the preiod.From this Point,we hope to expand the field of linguistic study and find a more scien tific explanation of English taboos result of linguistic choice.

2.The study of Linguistic Taboo.

2.1 The definition of Linguistic Taboo

But taboo phenomenon is not unique in Tonga.Instead, it has long existed in all cultures and languages throughout the world,although what is Prohibited in one culture may turn out to be normal and acceptable in another.

After it achieved its widespread curreney,it further acquired the sense/avoided or banned by social custom on the grounds of morality or taste.If the society regards something or certain acts as taboo,usually the names of these things and acts should not be mentioned or talked about in language.As a result,words and expressions related to these social tab oos become linguistic taboos.

2.2 The factors of Linguistic Taboo

Linguistic taboo has been historically viewed as the result of superstitious behaviors of primitive people.But it may not be so simple.Language,as a guide to socialreality,changes with the development of the soeiety.So does linguistic taboo,wh ich is an integral part of language.In this sense,linguistic taboo is both a linguistic and,more importantly,a social phenomenon.It will deeply rooted in the culture of a society in which it was bom.This Part will devote to the exploration of the sources of linguistic taboos.However,it should be maded clear that these factors are interrelated to each other and work out linguistic taboos collectively.

2.2.1 The word Fetishism

Linguistic taboosc onceming the death,disease and other misfortune things are related to word fetishism.This is also the reason why people often say something auspicious to avoid mentio ning anything unfortunate on some occasions .Even words and expressions implying such conc epts are usually forbidden in communication.

2.2.2 Psychological Factors

While the informative connotations of a word or an expression are socially agre ed-upon and impersonal,human beings may develop the affective connotations when they associate their experiences in real life with the language they use.

Our knowledge from the society and our past experiences may influence our attitude towards people and things,which can further affect the way we choose words to express our ideas and the way we understand people and things in daily communic ation since the use of a particular word or an expression can provoke negative or pos itive feelings associated with the referent or concept.

As time goes on,some may have favorable affective comnotations.And some may pick up unfavorable ones.The unfavorable sense is so strong that the original inform ative connotations of this word or expression may be Putina minor position.Such wo rds or expressions then may become linguistic taboos.

2.2.3 The Cultural Factors

The linguistic taboos reflects the different functions. The state of information displayed will be different.The information of the signs is both static and dynamic.The indicative signs reflect the information of the service which does not have the limit meaning and the characteristics of compulsory.