In summary, English diplomatic euphemism in foreign affairs is a kind of action and strategic use of the linguistic expressive device. It replaces the direct or unpleasant words with indirect or pleasant ones out of the consideration of minimizing tensions inherent in the diplomatic communication. As a component of diplomatic language, English euphemism has serious reasons for utilization in diplomatic circles and has been widely used in various diplomatic occasions. The use of English euphemism has a great effect on foreign affairs, especial diplomatic communication.

II. Features of English Euphemism in Foreign Affairs

“With the development of diplomacy, diplomatic euphemism is essential and indispensable part of the diplomatic language and powerful tool for diplomats conducting foreign affairs.” (Lei 8) The English euphemism is formal and conservative in diplomatic activities. It is a persuasive, cautious and polite language. The English euphemism has some characteristics in foreign affairs. The following will discuss the character of timeliness, nationality, humor and regionalism.

2.1 The Character of Timeliness

Following the development of the society and the need of culture, language also develops and changes constantly with the development of the society. The language is various and the meanings of words are mutative. As we know, we can explain a word from different aspects. From the viewpoint of language in constant change, the new words in foreign affairs are emerging with the old words are disappearing. The timeliness is an intrinsic characteristic during the development of language. The timeliness shows that the new meaning of a word is endowed while the original meaning is ignored. People always endow new meanings to the words because of the need of the contexts. Euphemism is the same too. The English euphemism in foreign affairs is variability depended on the timeliness character. Few euphemisms, in some cases, are temporal. With the using ranges expanded, it became fixed euphemism after acknowledging people. Of course, the fixed is relative, because, over the time, it will gradually lose the characteristics of euphemism. For example, English euphemism expression of “pregnancy”. These expressions have occurred as the follows: “Cancel all her social engagements; be an interesting condition; be in a delicate condition; be knitting little booties; be in a family way; be expecting; be pregnant.” (Xu 213)

For example, the title of “black” has been from “Negro” to “black people” in the United States, to today’s “African American”. For example, the original meaning of “nation” represents one unified tribe which has the common faith and the similar lifestyles. But now, “nation” has another meaning. It usually represents “country” during international communication.

2.2 The Character of Nationality

English euphemism is a common linguistic phenomenon in foreign affairs. However, different nations have a different natural environment, social environment, production mode, life styles and cultural precipitation. Inevitably, there are differences in the English euphemism by different languages. These differences embody the national characteristics of English euphemism. The most classic example is “the poor” in English. “Poor” is a terrible word in the English language. It means of livelihoods and marked the low social status too, so the generation language of the poor also has very much. Therefore, people often use same synonyms to express the poor: need (lack of daily necessities of life), culturally deprived (loss of education opportunity), the underprivileged (low status) and disadvantaged (poor conditions).

2.3 The Character of Humor

The use of euphemism can make the English language witty and humorous. The language in foreign affair usually is humorous when the atmosphere of communication is awkward. We know humor can adjust the atmosphere of embarrassment. There are many humorous euphemisms in the foreign affair. For example, “battle of the bulge” is a sense of humor in the Second World War, but now is used to describe for staying in shape fat carried out anti-fat protracted war. It means exaggerating the behavior of the ladies to lose weight for slim like war. It shows the determination and perseverance of ladies to lose weight. Another example is that the relationship between the couple is equal in the east and west, just as a friend. But in English, if the wife is strong, the husband is weak. The husband is humored called “hen-pecked husband” (be hen-pecked husband).