Explore_the_Cultural_Connotation___of_English_Idioms.doc

毕业论文(设计)To Explore the Cultural Connotation of English Idioms1. Introduction and the definition and features of idiom1. Introduction and the definition and features of idiom11.1 Introduction11.2 The definition and features of idiom22. The sources of English idioms and their cultural background32.1Originating from living environment42.1.1 Idioms from climate42.1.2 Idioms from navigation52.2 Originating from historical developments62.2.1 Idioms from history62.2.2 Idioms from wars82.3Originating from religion92.4 Originating from mythologies and allegories102.4.1 Idioms from Greek and Roman mythology112.4.2 Idioms from The Fables of Aesop112.5 Originating from literary works132.5.1 Idioms from William Shakespeares works132.5.2 Idioms from other famous writers works142.6 Originating from folk life152.6.1 Idioms from food162.6.2 Idioms from names172.6.3 Idioms from Horse Racing182.6.4 Idioms from playing cards192.6.5 Idioms from other folk practice and customs193. Conclusion20References211.1 IntroductionEnglish idioms are usually widely and commonly used all over the world. They contain brief structures and profound meanings, which are also a group of words with the meaning different from the literal one. Thanks to them, language is more colorful and more alive. It is believed that as a mirror of culture, language is strongly influenced and shaped by culture, and reflects culture. As an essential part of the language, undoubtedly idioms relate closely to their own culture and convey different cultural features and attitudes and messages of their own nation.English idioms tell people to praise justice, to fight against the bully, and guide people to get along well with each other. For example, Better die with honor than live with shame; Dont have cloak to make when it begins to rain. Moreover, English idioms summarize peoples knowledge in their daily life and they tell people what to do and how to do, which are just like an encyclopedia. From them, people can broaden their knowledge and outlook so as to avoid making mistakes. However, idioms are often difficult to understand and harder to use effectively. If one wants to have a better knowledge of English idioms and use them correctly, he should be familiar with the sources of them.1.2 The definition and features of idiomWhen opening Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English (2004:734), one can see such definition: “Idiom (n.): phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole.”Longman Dictionary of English Idioms (2002:754) explains it as: “a fixed group of words with a special different meaning from the separate words.”Semantic unity, which can be seen from the definition of the idiom, is one of the features of idioms.(Zhang Yunfei, 1987:292) Though the various words which make up the idiom have their respective literal meanings, in the idioms they have lost their individual identity, i.e. their meaning are not often recognizable in the meaning of the whole idiom. Likewise, the part of speech of each element is no longer important. Quite often an idiom functions as one word. (Zhang Yunfei, 1987:294)Beside semantic unity, many English idioms are characterized by structural invariability. Their form is often fixed. The words in idiomatic expressions cannot, as a rule, be deleted, added to, replaced by synonymous words, or put in a different order, without affecting or destroying the meaning.From the features mentioned above, we can find that the meaning of an idiom cannot be seen literarily and the meaning of it is not a complex of each word. If people learn idioms from every word of them, they can just get the meaning of each word, but they cannot comprehend the whole idiom. Therefore, people should not only know the structures of idioms but also the sources and the underlying culture of them.2. The sources of English idioms and their cultural backgroundThe sources of idioms are the places where the idioms came from and the time when they were used for the first time. (Zhuang Hecheng, 1998:9) From them, people know something about literary works, historical developments and folk life, etc.2.1Originating from living environmentCulture is inseparable from the particular living environment. In order to make use of and adapt to the living environment, people formed living habits, customs, culture, social structure and ideology. Different culture will be shaped in different living surroundings. Each kind of culture is specialized by the living areas, climate and surroundings.2.1.1 Idioms from climateEngland is located on the middle latitude of the western European Continent, which is temperate zone maritime climate. Influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, this island possesses humid aid and a large amount of evenly distributed rainfall, and does not have much variation in temperature throughout the day and the year.It is estimated that the annual precipitation of the whole United Kingdom is up to 1,016 millimeters, and that of British amounts to 854 millimeters. Thus we can find that rainfall is neither an annoyed trifle nor the guest of the season, but a common occurrence. Owing to this, when the English make arrangement to do something, they are always saying that come rain or shine. (Ping Hong & Zhang Guoyang, 2002: 62) They want to tell people that they must come in time whatever happens. Here rain or shine has the meaning of no matter what happens. Although people wish to come rain or shine, yet still many activities are postponed or delayed by the rainfall. Therefore, postpone or delay can also be called rain off in English.Not only does it often rain in England, but it rains heavily. Hence a proverb was produced: It never rains but it pours. This saying tells that misfortunes or else usually come in large number. As we know that Chinese people use the idiom 未雨绸缪 to describe saving for a time when one may need it, and the English people use the idiom: Prepare for a rainy day. However, every coin has two sides. Although rainfall will bring inconvenience, yet it also has its advantages. One of the sayings from rainfall is After rain comes fair weather. This saying tells people that triumph will keep in step with the difficulties. Thus, people should live in hope and never give up.2.1.2 Idioms from navigationEngland is an island, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Indented coastlines, numerous harbors and islands contribute to the development of navigation which produces a great number of idioms. Go by the board which originated from the shipping era means that the arrangements and plans come to nothing. (Zhuang Hecheng, 2002:52) Here, board refers to the side of a ship or boat. When sailing, the boat would come across fierce wind and storm which might break the mast. At this very moment, the captain must make the following decisions at once: to repair the mast as soon as possible which might have the chance to be alive, or else letting the mast go by the board which led to die. Afterwards, people use this idiom to describe that the arrangements and plans come to nothing.To take someone down a peg, one of the idioms also from navigation which means to make someone realize that they are not as important or as good at something as they think they are (Zhuang Hecheng, 2002:637). This idiom stemmed from a traditional custom. Hosting the bunting was a way to show respect to others. The higher the bunting was hoist, the greater the respect was shown. And the buntings up and down was adjusted by the peg. If the peg was taken down, the bunting could not be raised. Therefore, in order to make the conceit people humble, people will take down the peg.One more example, Nail ones colors to the mast. Colors in this idiom means buntings. In the old days, when sea warfare broke out, if one hauled down his colors, which showed he yielded to his opponent. In contrast, if one nailed his colors to the mast, which expressed he would fight to the finish and never surrender. Therefore, nail ones colors to the mast is used to say clearly and publicly which ideas or which people you support.Certainly, there are still many idioms from navigation. English people use to rock the boat to describe doing something that upsets the balance of a situation; and the proverb its an ill wind that blows nobody any good to express that few things are so bad that they do not offer some good to somebody.2.2 Originating from historical developmentsHistorical developments exert great effects on language. With the vicissitudes of the times, the old language is getting decline, but the new ones will be continued emerged. In the process of the language development, the historical culture left its main traces in idioms. Looking back on human history, we can find that national migration, subjugation, assimilation and the national wars perform significant influences on the historical culture, and idioms from them are the gems of human cultural heritage.2.2.1 Idioms from historyEngland has a history of more than one thousand years but much less important historical events than China.(Ping Hong & Zhang Guoyang, 1999:27) Although the English language has much less idioms from historical events than those of China, there are still some idioms from history.In AD 43, Claudius, the Roman Empire, commanded 40,000 troops to occupy England, which took him 3 years to conquer. 400-year-long rules influenced the English greatly, let alone the language. When we come to a new place, we must change our habits to suit the customs of the place or of the people we are living with. This is the meaning of when in Rome, do as the Romans do. There are still two proverbs related to Rome: one is all roads lead to Rome, the other is Rome was not built in a day.Lets have a look at the other great conquest. William, Duke of Normandy, France, landed his mighty army at Pevensy and defeated Saxon king Harolds soldiers near Hastings. After being the king of England, William opened doors to the continent and extended culture and commercial relations with France. These moves introduced Norman-France culture, language and architecture. The conquerors ruled England for a long period of time, and most of the governors used French as their formal language. Thus, English people accepted many French idioms. For example, take heart came from French prendre coeur which means feeling encouraged; stew in ones own juice, to worry because of something bad that has happened or one has made a mistake, which was from cuire dans son jus; Dont put the cart before the horse; Never put all ones eggs in one basket and so on. (Liu Baoquan & Hou Yanping, 2005:47)2.2.2 Idioms from warsWar is a usual thing in English-speaking countries, so it is reflected in some idioms. To meet ones waterloo was from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, which meant to be completely defeated; the idiom Dunkirk evacuation came from the Second World War and originally meant the retreat of the English-French troops forced by the German. Now the expression means to retreat in disorder. A story is told that, in 1936, Emilio Mola headed four columns to attack the capital-Madrid, while the fifth column was in the city. That is how the idiom the fifth column came into being, which expresses that a group of people who work secretly during a war to help the enemies of the country they live in. (Ping Hong & Zhang Guoyang, 1999:209)Similar example is Columbuss egg. In the famous story of Columbuss egg, the explorer, irritated at being told that his exploits were easy, challenged the guests at a banquet to balance an egg on its end. When all had failed, he succeeded by flattening one end by tapping it against the table, a trick that any would then have been able to repeat. Repetition is easier than innovation. And to ear crow which means to be forced to change what one has said, admit that one is wrong. The origin of to ear crow was that towards the end of war 1812, a British officer encountered an American hunter near the British line, gained control of his musket and thereby forced him to eat the crow he had just shot. The American complied, but when his musket returned, he forced the British officer to do the same. (Ping Hong & Zhang Guoyang, 1999:190)2.3Originating from religionAs a cultural phenomenon, religion, which is the manifestation of different cultures, is the vital part of human thought. It penetrates into every possible aspect of peoples life and is an important source for idioms.English people believe in Christianity, which is by far the most influential religion in the west. And the Bible, which included the Old Testament and the New Testament, is regarded as the scriptures. It is safe to say that Bible influences every aspect of its disciples life. (Ping Hong & Zhang Guoyang, 1999:110) Consequently, many sayings and sentences in Bible have been popularly accepted. They have been deeply rooted among people. These idioms are no longer only confined to religion and they have become proverbs which reflect English people religious faith such as Every man must carry his own crosses. (Yang Yaofang, 2002:174) This proverb is from Bible, Matthew. On the grounds of Matthew, the main idea is like this: “As the soldiers went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon, they compelled this man to carry Jesus cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots then they sat down there and kept watching over him. Over his head they put the charge against, which read, this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” From this, we can learn that cross means sufferings. The proverb tends to tell us that everyone should put up with misery in daily life and undertake the lifes burdens.One doesnt live only by bread.(Yang Yaofang, 2002:382) It is from Bible, Deuteronomy, the general idea is: “Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandment. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with Manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” From this, we can know that material is not the only thing that indispensable to men. Spirit is also very important. If one only searches for material, he will be considered as an animal, for the most distinctive characteristic between men and animals is that men have the pursuit of spirit but animals have not.Let not thy left hand knows what thy right hand doeth. (Wang Shuting &Wang Jianmin, 1999:191) According to the doctrines of the Bible, all human beings are brothers and sisters, and they should help each other. So when we give hands to others, never keep the memory that we have helped them. Another example, if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Wang Shuting & Wang Jianmin, 1999:168) It implies that if one has little knowledge, it is difficult for him to teach others some useful things. Even if he tried to help others, he would do nothing good to them.2.4 Originating from mythologies and allegoriesDifferent ethic groups posses their own mythologies so that mythologies are characterized by their nationalism. Mythology is the soil from which the national culture develops. Language is deeply influenced by the mythologies and allegories, so does idioms.2.4.1 Idioms from Greek and Roman mythologyWesterners are heirs to Greco-Roman civilization. Many ideas now prevailing in western countries can be traced back to the thinkers in ancient Greece and Roman. Greek and Roman mythologies are well known in the west and have beard on a strong influence upon peoples lives in western countries. It is natural that it becomes a common source of English idioms. (Wang Zhenya, 1999)The devil too has Achilles heel. (Wang Dechun, Yang Suying & Huang Yueyuan, 2003:57) According to the Homer, we can know: Achilles was a Greek hero. Every part of his body was sword proof except his heel, so his heel was his fatal defeat. This saying tells us that even the devil has his weakness. No man is absolutely powerful. There is a similar example. Not even Hercules could contend against two. (Wang Dechun, Yang Suying & Huang Yueyuan, 2003:50) Hercules, a son of Zeus, was a hero in Roman mythologies. He had incredible force, which helped him gain twelve heroic achievements. Although he was powerful enough, he could not defeat a large number of enemies on his own. So the proverb tells us that mans energy is limited no matter how powerful he is. Another example Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus grows cold. (Wang Zhenya, 2004:139) Ceres is Roman goddess of gain and agriculture, Bacchus is the Greek god of wine; Venus is the goddess of beauty and love. From this, we can know that Ceres and Bacchus stand for basic necessity of life. So the proverb tends to express that love cannot be sweet without material support.2.4.2 Idioms from The Fables of AesopMany English idioms from The Fables of Aesop are very concise and humorous, and they reflect the essence and the true meaning of life. It is very easy for people to understand and put them into practice. Many of them are passed down till today.The camel going to seek horns lost his ears. (Wang Dechun, Yang Suying&Huang Yueyuan, 2003:55) The general idea of the allusion is a cow showed off h