英汉动物词汇的文化内涵对比

PAGE1AbstractBothEnglishcultureandChineseculturehavealargenumberofwordsrelatedwithanimals.ThesameanimalwordsmayhavethesameordifferentconnotationsinEnglishandChinese,anddifferentanimalwordsmayhavesimilarconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.Inaddition,animalwordshavesemanticgapsinEnglishandChinese.ThispaperisintendedtocontrastandanalyzetheconnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalwordsfromtheseaspectsanddiscussthecausesofdiscrepancyintheconnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalwordsformtheanglesofreligion,history,geographicalenvironmentandaestheticorientation.Moreover,thispaperanalyzestheinfluencesoftheconnotationofanimalwordsoninterculturalcommunication.Thenthispapergivessomesuggestionsforinterculturalcommunication.Atlast,itdrawsaconclusionthatlanguageisthecarrierofculture.Languagesofdifferentnationspresentrichculturalproperties.WeshouldpaymoreattentiontothediscrepancyintheconnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalwordsduringtheprocessofinterculturalcommunicationandenrichourknowledgeofdifferentculturesasmuchaspossible.Intheageofglobalization,communicationbetweentheChinesecultureandtheEnglishcultureisontheincreasedaybyday.Withthehelpofthispaper,peoplecanunderstandtheculturaldifferenceofEnglishandChineseanimalwordsfurtherandachieveperfectinterculturalcommunication.Keywords:Animalwords;EnglishandChinese;Connotations;Comparison英汉动物词汇的文化内涵对比摘要在英汉两种文化中有许许多多与动物相关的词汇。同一动物词汇在英汉语言中可能具有相同或者不同的文化内涵，不同的动物词汇在英汉语言中可能会有相似的文化内涵。另外，动物词汇在英汉语言中存在语义空缺现象。本文旨在从这几个方面对比和分析英汉动物的文化内涵，并从宗教、历史、地理环境、审美取向的角度探讨英汉动物词汇的文化内涵存在差异的原因。此外，本文分析了动物词汇的文化内涵对跨文化交流的影响。然后，本文为跨文化交流提出了一些建议。最后，得出结论：语言是文化的载体，不同民族的语言呈现出丰富多彩的文化特性。在跨文化交流过程中，我们应该更加重视英汉动物词汇的文化内涵差异，尽可能丰富我们在不同文化领域的知识。在全球化的时代，中西文化交流日益频繁。通过本文，人们能够进一步了解英汉动物词汇的文化差异，顺利进行跨文化交流。关键字：动物词汇；英语和汉语；文化内涵；对比Contents1.Introduction 12.ConnotationsofEnglishandChineseAnimalWords 12.1ConnotationofanimalwordsinChineseandEnglish 12.1.1Animalwordswiththesameconnotations 22.1.2Animalwordswithdifferentconnotations 32.1.3Animalwordswithsimilarconnotations 62.2Semanticgaps 72.2.1AnimalwordswithrichconnotationsinChinese 72.2.2AnimalwordswithrichconnotationsinEnglish 83.TheCausesofDiscrepancyintheConnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseAnimalWords 93.1Religion 103.2History 103.3Geographicalenvironment 113.4Aestheticorientation 114.InfluencesoftheConnotationofAnimalWordsonInterculturalCommunication 125.SuggestionsforInterculturalCommunication 136.Conclusion 14Bibliography 16PAGE17PAGE1AComparisonoftheConnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseAnimalWords1.IntroductionTheintimaterelationshipwithanimalsmakeshumanbeingshavecomplexemotions,suchasfondness,sympathy,disgustandhorror,etc.Humansoftenplacetheirfeelingsonanimalsanduseanimalstoexpressfeelingsaswell.ManyanimalwordsandphrasesareendowedwithconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.Therefore,learningaboutthedifferentconnotationsofEnglishandChineseanimalwordscanhelpEnglishlearnerstocorrectlyunderstandthislanguage.Animalwordshavethesame,differentorsimilarconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.Inmostcases,althoughbothEnglishandChinesehavethesamereferentialmeaningsofanimalwords,theconnotationsoftheseanimalwordsaredifferent(ShangQi,2006).Thisiscausedbyreligion,history,geographicalenvironmentandaestheticorientation.ThispaperstartswiththecomparisonofEnglishandChineseanimalwords.Afterwards,thispaperdiscussesthecausesofdiscrepancyinconnotationsbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalwords.Intheend,thispaperdiscussestheinfluencesofculturalconnotationsofanimalwordsoninterculturalcommunication.2.ConnotationsofEnglishandChineseAnimalWords2.1ConnotationofanimalwordsinChineseandEnglishThesameanimalwordsmayhavethesameordifferentculturalconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.Inaddition,differentanimalwordsmayhavesimilarculturalconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.2.1.1AnimalwordswiththesameconnotationsLivinginasimilarecologicalenvironment,peoplemayhaveasameimaginationaboutanimals.Therefore,animalwordswillbeendowedwiththesameculturalconnotation.InChineseandinEnglish,thefoxiscunning;theassisstupid;thelambisdocile;thewolfisalwayshungry;therabbitcanrunrapidly;thebeeisbusy;thesnakeiscrafty;thehenisassociatedwithwoman.Forexample,whenwesay“heisafox”,ChinesepeopleandNativeEnglishspeakerswillrealizethatheiscunning.TothenativeEnglishspeakersandChinesepeople,“pig”standsfordirtiness,lazinessandstupidity.Therefore,therearesomesayingslike“asfatasapig”,“eatlikeapig”,“makeapigofoneself”,etc.InChinesecultureandEnglishculture,“bee”alwaysgivesustheimpressionofanextremelyhardworker.Wecanuse“asbusyasabee”todescribesomeonewhoisdiligent.A“parrot”(atypeoftropicalbirdwithhookedbeakandbrightlycoloredfeathers)canbetrainedtoimitatehumanvoice.InChinesecultureandEnglishculture,itisusedtodescribesomeonewhorepeatsthewordsoractionsofotherswithoutunderstandingthemeaning.InChinesecultureandEnglishculture,“ass”isalwaysusedtodescribeastupidperson.Thesaying“makeanassofassofoneself”meansthatonebehavesstupidlyandridiculously.InChinesecultureandEnglishculture,“dove”isasymbolofpeace.TothenativeEnglishspeakerandChinesepeople,“sheep”isonekindofdocileanimal.Whenitcomestothesheep,peoplewillhaveagentleandmeekimageinmind.Therefore,“sheep”isalwaysusedtodescribeagentleandmeekcharacter.2.1.2AnimalwordswithdifferentconnotationsInChinesecultureandEnglishculture,differentculturalbackgroundscanresultindifferentconnotations.InChineseculture,“dragon”isakindofmythicanimalwhichhasscales,clawsandlegsandwhichcanflyinthesky,swimintheseaandcreatecloudandrain.“Dragon”issomethingsacredandisusedtorepresenttheancestorofChinesenation.ThisiswhytheChinesepeoplecallthemselvesdescendantsofdragon.InancientChina,“dragon”wasasymbolofimperialpower.Ancientemperorscalledthemselvesas“真龙天子”(thesonofdragon).Theirclotheswereembroideredwithdragonandwerecalledas“龙袍”(dragonrobe);theirchairswerecalledas“龙椅”(dragonthrone);theirposteritieswerecalledas“龙种”(dragonchildren).InChina,wemayoftenhearthatChineseparentsexpecttheirsonbecomea“dragon”(expectone’schildcanhaveabrightfuture)(LuoAifeng,2006).However,theliberaltranslationsoundsridiculoustonativeEnglishspeakers,becausetheythinkdragonisanevilmonsterwhichcanspitfireandhasthreetonineheads.InEnglishculture,“dragon”isalwaysusedtodescribefiercenessespeciallyforwomen.Forexample,“sheisadragon,you’dbetterkeepawayfromher”(sheisabad-temperedperson).ChinesenationandEnglishnationshareasamehabitofraisingdogs.InChineseculture,“dog”isaderogatoryanimalwordandisendowedwithuglythings.Forexample,“actlikeasnob”(狗眼看人低),“mistakeagoodmanforabadone”(狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心),“afilthymouthcannotutterdecentlanguage”(狗嘴里吐不出象牙).However,“dog”symbolizesfriendship,sincerityandloyaltyinEnglishculture.Forexample,“loveme,lovemydog”,“everydoghashisday”(everypersonwillsomedaysucceedofbecomefortunate),“toletsleepingdoglie”(tomakenotroubleornottodisturbpeople),“aluckydog”(aluckyman),“ajollydog”(ahappyperson),“acleverdog”(acleverman),“atopdog”(apersonhasadvantagesindoingsomethings),“nothaveadog’schance”(havenochance),“agooddogdeservesagoodbone”(amanwhomakesacontributionshouldberewarded)and“likeadogwithtwotails”(veryhappy).InChineseculture,owl,theanimalwhichalwaysshoutsandcriesatnight,isconsideredtobeananimalwhichwillbringunluckinessandmisfortune.InEnglishculture,“owl”isregardedasthesymbolofwisdom.Ifonesaysyouareowlish,itmeansthatyouarecleverandstrict.“Aswiseasanowl”indicatesthatthenativeEnglishspeakersassociatewisdomwithowl.Anotherexamplecanbeprovided,“hepeeredowlishlyatusthroughhisglasses”.InChinesetraditionalculture,“bat”isasymbolofhappiness,because“蝠”and“福”arehomonyms.Andredbatisasignofluckiness,because“红蝠”and“洪福”arealsohomonyms.Insomecases,Chinesepeoplecombine“bat”and“deer”togetherinordertoget“蝠鹿”,whichhasthesamepronunciationwith“福禄”.Anditmeanshappinessandgoodfortune(蒋磊,2000).However,theWesternersareafraidofbat.Theydislikebat,becauseitisoftenrelatedwithuglyandevilimage.Therefore,Englishidiomsaboutbatarealwaysderogatory,forexample,“asblindasabat”(haveeyesbutseenothing);“crazyasabat”(abnormal).“Peacock”isamalebirdwithlongblueandgreentailfeathers,whicharelikeafanwhenthetailfeathersarespreadout.However,astheaestheticorientationsofChinesecultureandEnglishculturearedifferent,“peacock”representsdifferentimagesandhasatotallydifferentculturalconnotation.NativeEnglishspeakersholdthatthepeacockisproudandvainwhenitiswalkingwithtailfeathersspreadout.Therefore,itgivesthemtheimpressionofvanityandarrogance.Suchas“asproudasapeacock”,“playthepeacock”,“asvainasapeacock”,etc.However,inChinesetraditionalculture,thepeacockisthesymbolofbeauty.InChineseculture,“magpie”isawelcomebird.“Magpie”isabirdwhichcanbringgoodlucktoyou.“Magpie”isalwaysconnectedwithgoodluck,happiness,etc.andisusedtoshowthatsomethinggoodisgoingtohappen.However,nativeEnglishspeakersholdthatmagpieisakindofdisgustingbirdandpaymoreattentiontonoisesmadebythisblackandwhitebird.Therefore,inEnglishculture,“magpie”isusedtodescribesomeonewhoalwayschattersinterminably.Forexample,sheisamagpieofawoman;shekeptmutteringlikeamagpie.Inaddition,theWesternersusuallyuse“magpie”tocomparetotheconditionofchaosoragreatmass,suchas“amagpiecollection”,“tomagpietogether”,etc.(ChenWenbo,1982)“Whale”isakindoflargeanimal.TheWesternerspaytheirattentiontoitsmeritsandprofits.InEnglishculture,“whale”impliesgreatbenefit.“Awhaleofchance”meansaverygoodchance,and“awhaleonskating”meansapersonwhoisgoodatskating.However,whatwhaleimpressesChineseisitsstrongappetite.InChineseculture,“whale”hasaderogatorysense,suchas“蚕食鲸吞”(nibbleawaylikeasilkwormorswallowlikeawhale).InChinesetraditionalculture,phoenixisasupernaturalbird.Itsymbolizesaqueenandstandsforluckiness.Peoplelikeitandbelievethatitcanbringthemluckiness.However,inEnglishculture,phoenixstandsforimmaculacyorrenascence(李青,2001).Itisconsideredasanimmoralbird.Phoenixsymbolizesanewstartoralonglife.Forinstance,“religion,likeaphoenix,hasbeenresurrectedfromtheashesofthewar”.2.1.3AnimalwordswithsimilarconnotationsDifferentanimalwordsmayhavesimilarculturalconnotationsinEnglishandChinese,namely,peopleusedifferentanimalwordstoexpresssimilarmeanings.Eventhoughtheanimalwordsaredifferent,theymayhavesimilarconnotations.“Tiger”isalwaysreplacedby“lion”inEnglish.Forexample,“alionintheway”(aroad-blockingtiger),“beardthelioninhisden”(godeepintotigercave),“putone’sheadinthelion’smouth”and“comeinlikealionandgooutlikealamb”.“Horse”appearsmorefrequentlyinEnglishidioms,and“ox”isalwaysreplacedby“horse”inEnglish.Forexample,“talkhorse”(talkbig),“asstrongasahorse”(asstrongasanox),“horselaugh”(laughloudly);“horseplay”(roughandnoisyplay);“horsesense”(commonsense)and“youcanpullahorsetoariver,butyoucannotmakehimdrink”.Whenitcomestocowardice,Chinesepeoplewouldliketosay“astimidasamouse”.However,nativeEnglishspeakerswouldemploy“rabbit,chickenandpigeon”toexpressthesimilarmeaning,thatis,“astimidasarabbit,chicken-heartedorpigeon-hearted”.InChineseculture,peopleoftenuse“catcriesformouse”todescribesomeonehypocritical.InEnglishculture,“shedcrocodiletears”hasthesimilarmeaning.InChinese,“asstubbornasanox”isusedtodescribesomeonestubborn.InEnglish,“asstubbornasamule”isemployedtoexpressthesimilarmeaning.Todescribeanxiety,Chinesepeoplewouldsay“antsonahotpan”whilenativeEnglishspeakerswouldliketosay“acatonhotbricks”.Todescribeslipperiness,Chinesepeopleusetheword“loach”whilenativeEnglishspeakersusetheword“eel”,suchas“asslipperyasaneel”.Todescribesomeonefoolish,Chinesepeopleusuallyusetheword“pig”whilenativeEnglishspeakersusetheword“ass”,suchas“makeanassofoneself”.Todescribesomeonedrenched,Chinesepeoplewouldsay“drenchedchicken”whilenativeEnglishspeakerswouldliketosay“drownedrat”.2.2SemanticgapsWordsineverylanguagedonotonlyrepresentanimals’images,butalsoaredeeplybrandedwithculture.Therefore,similarityanddissimilarityinconnotationofanimalwordsinthetwolanguagesexist.WeshouldtakesemanticgapsofthesameanimalwordsbetweenEnglishandChineseintoconsiderationincross-culturalcommunication.ItisnecessarytofindinEnglishandChineseculturalequivalentsratherthantranslatetheanimalwordsdirectly,aswhatwearetoconveytothetargetlanguageisthesymbolicimagesinthesourcelanguageratherreferenceofparticularanimals.2.2.1AnimalwordswithrichconnotationsinChineseSomeanimalwordshaverichconnotationsinChinese,whilethesameanimalwordsinEnglishhavenoconcernedconnotations.SilkwormisakindofChineseanimal.InancientChina,theSilkRoadiswell-knownallovertheworld.Thesilkgoodsattractingalargenumberofforeignersaremadeofsilkproducedbysilkworm.SilkwormishighlypraisedbyChinesepeopleforitsdedicationspirit,whichcanbereflectedinpoem“春蚕到死丝方尽”(thesilkwormtillitsdeathspinssilkfromitslove-sickheart)”.Thissentenceisusedtopraiseamanwhoisdevotionalandself-giving.ThecultureaboutsilkwormhasadeepandlonghistoryinChina.ThespecialconnotationisdeeplyrootedintheheartofChinesepeople.InEnglishculture,however,thesilkwormwhichisanexoticanimalisnomorethanalittleworm.ItisdifficultfortheWesternerstounderstanditsnoblequalityanddedicationspirit.InChineseculture,“crane”hasvariousconnotations.Firstly,itsymbolizeslongevity.Therefore,parentsliketogivetheirchildrennameswith“crane”,suchas“鹤年”,“鹤龄”,etc.Theywishtheirchildrengoodhealthandalonglife.Secondly,itsymbolizesexcellence.Chineseidiom“likeacranestandingamongchickens”impliessomeonewhostandsoutinthecrowd.Thirdly,itsymbolizeshermit.“Thesolitarycloudandthewildcrane”meansthatsomeonewhowithdrawshimselffromsocietyandlivesfreely.However,inEnglishculture,itdoesnothavetheseconnotations.InChineseculture,“mandarinduck”isconsideredasthelovebird.Themandarinduckisakindofbirdlivinginwater.Onemalemandarinduckandonefemalemandarinduckalwayslivetogetherandplayonwater.Theyliveahappyandfreelife.Therefore,“mandarinduck”inChinesecultureisthesymbolofaffectionatecoupleslivingahappylife.Peoplebelievethataffectionatecoupleswillturnintomandarinducksafterdeathandwillaccompanywitheachotherforever.InancientChina,agirlmaygiveherloveraclothbagwithapairofmandarinducksembroideredonit.Nowadays,groomandbrideliketousemandarinduckquiltsfortheirwedding.However,inEnglishculture,“mandarinduck”hasnosuchsymbolicmeaninganditisonlyakindofbird.2.2.2AnimalwordswithrichconnotationsinEnglishSomeanimalwordsmayhaverichconnotationsinEnglish,whilethesameanimalwordsinChinesehavenoconcernedconnotations.InEnglish,thebestoysteralwayskeepsitsshellsclosedtightly.Therefore,oysterisasymbolofamanoffewwordsinEnglishculture.Suchas“ascloseasanoyster”,“asdumbasanoyster”and“heseldomsaysanything,heisaregularoyster”.However,Chinesepeopleseldomseeoysterandtheydonothavesuchconnotation.InEnglishculture,“cat”hasplentifulmeanings.IntheEnglishmythology,catcanevenaffectthechangeoftheweather,asthesayinggoes,“toraincatsanddogs”and“thecathasagaleofwindinhertail”.Therearemanyphrasesandsayings,suchas“oldcat”(anoldwomanwithbadtemper),“cat’spaw”(apersonwhoisdupedordeceived),“acatinthepan”(atraitor),“bellthecat”(takerisksforthepublicbenefits),“catburglar”(anextremelyagilethief),and“letthecatoutofthebag”(todisclosethesecret).ItmaybedifficultforChinesepeopletounderstandtheaboveconnotations.Chinesepeoplehavenosuchrichmeaningsofcat,theyjustconsidercatasadocileandlovelyanimal.Beaver,aNorthAmericananimalwhichisnotwidelyknowninChina,hasauniquetechniqueandabilityforcreativity.Itsconstantactivity,itshabitofbuildingcomplexhouses,itsskillandingenuityhaveearnedhimselfthename“eagerbeaver”.Therefore,“beaver”standsforanactiveandstudiousman.Inmetaphor,aneagerbeaverisapersonwhoisanxioustogetsomethingdone,hard-workingandsomewhatimpatient.Thiswordsometimeshasaslightlyderogatoryconnotation.InChineseculture,beaverisjustananimalanditcannotstandforanyconnotation.3.TheCausesofDiscrepancyintheConnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseAnimalWordsInChineseandEnglish,thephenomenathatthereferentialmeaningsofthesameanimalaretotallyidenticalwhiletheirconnotationsaredifferentusuallyoccur.AsChinesepeopleandEnglishpeopleliveindifferentculturalbackgroundsforalongtime,naturally,animalwordsareendowedwithdifferentconnotations.3.1ReligionReligionisaculturalphenomenonandhasagreatinfluenceonpeople’slife.InWesterncountries,Christianityisthedominantreligioninfluencingpeople’slifeandthinkingforhundredsofyears.TheBibleisdeeplyrootedinpeople’smind.Forexample,“Alionintheroad”and“beardthelioninhisden”.LionsarementionedintheBiblefortheirstrength,boldnessandferocity.EnglishpeoplebelieveinChristianityandoftengotochurchtopray.InEnglishchurch,thereisnofoodformicetoeatandmicearealwayshungry.Therefore,“aspoorasachurchmouse”canbeusedtoshowpoverty.InChina,Buddhaisthedominantreligioninfluencingpeople’slifeforoverathousandofyears.ChinesepeopleholdthatBuddhacancontroleverythingintheworld.InBuddhism,“dragon”isthesymbolofpowerandsuccess.TherearemanyChineseconnotationsofanimaldirectlyrelatedwithBuddhism.Forexample,“佛口蛇心”(aBuddha’smouthbutaviper’sheart).3.2HistoryInChinesehistory,“dragon”isatotemimage.InChinesemythology,“dragon”isakindofmythicanimalwhichhasscales,clawsandlegsandwhichcanflyinthesky,swimintheseaandcreatecloudandrain.Inthousandsofyearsofhistory,“dragon”wasconsideredasasymbolofimperialpower.InWesternmythology,“dragon”isahugelizardwithwings,scalesandalongtail;itcanspitfireanditisasymbolofevil.InBible,SatanwhoisagainstGodiscalledas“thegreatdragon”.“Dragon”usedinmodernEnglishalwayshasderogatorysenses.InEnglishculture,“dragon”isalwaysusedtodescribefiercenessespeciallyforwomen.Whenonewomaniscalledas“dragon”,itmeansthatsheisfierceanddisgusting.3.3GeographicalenvironmentVariousculturescomefromallkindsofenvironment.Asweallknow,Englandisanislandnationwhichissurroundedbysea.Englandwasthedominantpowerinfishery,shipmanufacturingindustryandmarinetransportation.FishwasaninseparablepartofBritishpeople’slife.Therearemanyculturally-loadedwordsrelatedwithfish,suchas:“drinklikeafish”(牛饮),“abigfish”(大人物),“adullfish”(迟钝汉),“acoolfish”(无耻之徒),“acoldfish”(冷酷无情的人),“aloosefish”(放荡不羁的人),“anoddfish”(怪人),“apoorfish”(可怜虫或倒霉的家伙)andsoon.China,onthecontrary,isabigagriculturalcountry.Thousandsofyearsofagriculturalliferesultinpresentculturally-loadedwords.Takecattleforexample,“他壮得像头牛”(heisasstrongasabull);inEnglish,thisshouldbetranslatedas“heisasstrongasahorse”.Thisisbecausehorse,insteadofbull,isthemostimportantanimalinEnglishculture.Inaddition,horseisahard-workingsymbolinEnglishculture.Thesecanbeusedtoexplainthetranslationsof“worklikeahorse”(辛苦地工作)and“eatlikeahorse”(狼吞虎咽).3.4AestheticorientationAestheticsisanimportantpartofhuman’smentalworld.Accordingtoourmoralneeds,weareabletoperceiveandjudgeobject.Withoutaesthetics,wearelikelytobecomeslavesofobjectandenvironment.Thesameanimalwordmayhavecommendatorysensesinonecultureandhavederogatorysensesinanotherculturebecauseofdifferentaestheticorientation.Forexample,inChineseculture,“cat”isadocileandlovelyanimal.However,inEnglishculture,“cat”symbolizesfreedom,vitality,viciousladyandwindstorm.Forexample,“Don’tlistentohergossip,sheisacat(viciouslady)”.InChineseculture,“dog”isaderogatoryanimalwordandisendowedwithuglythings.Forexample,“actlikeasnob”(狗眼看人低),“mistakeagoodmanforabadone”(狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心),and“afilthymouthcannotutterdecentlanguage”(狗嘴里吐不出象牙).However,“dog”symbolizesfriendship,sincerityandloyaltyinEnglishculture.Forexample,“loveme,lovemydog”,“everydoghashisday”(everypersonwillsomedaysucceedofbecomefortunate),“toletsleepingdoglie”(tomakenotroubleornottodisturbpeople),“aluckydog”(aluckyman),“ajollydog”(ahappyperson),“acleverdog”(acleverman),“atopdog”(apersonhasadvantagesfordoingsomethings),“nothaveadog’schance”(havenochance),“agooddogdeservesagoodbone”(amanwhomakeacontributionshouldberewarded)and“likeadogwithtwotails”(veryhappy).4.InfluencesoftheConnotationofAnimalWordsonInterculturalCommunicationInterculturalcommunicationmeanscommunicationamongpeoplefromdifferentculturalbackgrounds.Withtherapiddevelopmentofscienceandtechnology,theworldisbecomingincreasinglysmaller.Communicatingwithpeoplefromdifferentculturalbackgroundsisinevitable.Ininterculturalcommunication,aplentyofanimalwordsarewidelyusedtoenrichthelanguageandculture.Astheabovecomparisonsshow,animalwordsmayhavethesame,differentorsimilarconnotations.IfwedonotknowtheconnotationsofEnglishanimalwordsandonlyanalyzetheinformationaccordingtoournationalconnotations,wewouldmisunderstandtheinformation,leadingtofailureofcommunication.Withthedevelopmentofeconomicglobalization,anincreasingnumberofproductsappearintheinternationalmarket,andsomeanimalwordsareusedasproducts’names(ZhangLifeng,2006).However,themisunderstoodconnotationsofanimalwordsmayhaveabadinfluenceontheproducts’marketsforculturaldifference.Forexample,abatteryfactoryuses“whiteelephant”asitsproducts’names.However,inEnglishculture,theword“elephant”impliessomethingcostlyanduseless.Therefore,eventhoughthebatteriesenjoyhighqualityandlargemarketsinChina,themarketfortheminEnglish-speakingcountriesissmall.Foranotherexample,atrademarkofaclockisnamedas“fivegoats”inChina.However,inEnglishculture,theword“goat”symbolizesasinner,lecherorfoolishperson.Therefore,theconnotationsoftheword“goat”mayaffectthemarketsinEnglish-speakingcountries.Theforegoingexamplesindicatethatitissignificantforpeopletoknowabouttheconnotationsofanimalwords.Peopleshouldpayattentiontoculturaldifferencesininterculturalcommunicationtoavoidfailureofcommunication.5.SuggestionsforInterculturalCommunicationAnimalwordshavethesame,differentorsimilarconnotationsinEnglishandChinese.Inmostcases,althoughbothEnglishandChinesehavethesamereferentialmeaningsofanimalwords,theconnotationsoftheseanimalwordsaredifferent.Therefore,weshouldpaymoreattentiontothediscrepancyintheconnotationbetweenEnglishandChineseanimalwordsduringtheprocessofinterculturalcommunicationandenrichourknowledgeofdifferentculturesasmuchaspossible.IfwedonotknowtheconnotationsofEnglishanimalwordsandonlyanalyzetheinformationaccordingtoournationalconnotations,wewouldmisunderstandtheinformation,leadingtofailureofcommunication.Itissuggestedthatweshouldadoptacomparisonmethodtodeepentheunderstandingandmemoryofanimalwords.Itiscommonthatthedifferentconnotationsmayresultinfailureofinterculturalcommunication.Thecomparisonmethodisagoodwayofhelpingpeopletoaccuratelymemorizeandunderstandanimalwords.Moreover,weshouldcultivateourhistoricalawarenessandculturalawarenessduringtheprocessofinterculturalcommunication.ItissuggestedthatweshouldattachimportancetothehistoryandcultureoftheEnglish-speakingcountries.Thereisnodoubtthatunderstandingofalanguageisaccompaniedbytheunderstandingofhistoryandcultureofthislanguageandtheconnotationscanbeaffectedbythehistoryandcultureofalanguage.Therefore,weshouldenrichourknowledgeofdifferenthistoriesandculturesasmuchaspossibleandmakecleartheculturaldifferencesbetweenEnglishandChinese.Allthesemethodswillbebeneficialtointerculturalcommunication.6.ConclusionThroughthecomparisonoftheconno