A Pragmatic Analysis of English Euphemism and its Application to Literary Translation

English euphemism is popular as a way of conveying positive words, through which speakers can achieve the goal of communication instead of offending others. As regards its usage, emphasis is put upon the reflection of politeness in a speech environment. Euphemism can also be found in literature, which calls for a correct understanding of its distinctive formation and pragmatic functions. Without proficient knowledge of euphemism, readers cannot taste the deep feelings of speakers or narrators. In such a case, for a translator of literary works, it is important to compare pragmatic functions of euphemism examples between different versions. This paper discusses its application to literary translation from the perspectives of culture, grammar, lexis, context, and rhetorical effects with a case study of A Dream of Red Mansions. In conclusion, based on the results, suggestions are proposed for a better understanding of literary works in order to improve the quality of literary translation.