英语专业毕业论文英语习语.doc

大连民族学院 2009 届英语专业本科毕业论文 I 摘要摘要 习语是各国文化的精髓 反映各国的风俗习惯 习语通常包括成语 俗语 格言 歇后语 谚 语 俚语 行话等 其表现形式音节优美 音律协调 或含蓄幽默 或严肃典雅 言简意赅 形象 生动 妙趣横生 给人一种美的享受 习语是语言的精华 它带有浓厚的民族色彩和鲜明的文化内 涵 因此对英语读者和汉语读者来说 做到彻底精确地理解蕴含深刻文化内涵的习语的翻译是相对 比较困难的 本文首先从定义 习语的分类 习语英汉的特点方面分析了英汉习语的相似点与不同点 然后 从最能体现中西文化差异的习语着手 论述习语在文化的各个层次上所反映的中西文化差异 并采 纳大量生动有趣的例子作为论据进行适当的分析 整篇论文最大限度地传递习语中的文化信息 体 现中西文化的不同的价值观念 关键词关键词 习语 特点 文化差异同 起源 相同 不同 Comparative study on the characteristics between English and Chinese idioms II ABSTRACT Idioms are the essence of culture in every country which mirrors many national unique fashions It usually includes proverb saying slang jargon and so on Its forms of expression are beautiful in syllable and harmonious in rhythm Some are implicit or humorous some are serious and elegant some are concise vivid and interesting which are gratifying man s aesthetic sense Idioms are also the essence of a language which have strong national colors and distinctive cultural connotations So it is difficult for both English and Chinese readers to understand the idiom translation thoroughly and exactly This thesis first analyzes the similarity and differences of English and Chinese idioms from the aspect of definitions classification and characteristics and so on Then it probes into the causes of the differences in English and Chinese idioms from the aspects of different living circumstances different cognitions of things different religions and beliefs and different historical allusions and myths etc All the significance of this paper is to convey the idioms cultural information as much as possible which is very useful for the language learning So it is a very important and complicated thing for us to understand and use these idioms correctly Therefore in this paper we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of Chinese and Western cultures in various levels with many lively important and interesting examples of idioms The whole essay ultimate is to reveal culture in cross cultural communication and embody the different culture values Key words idioms characteristics cultural difference origins differences similarities 大连民族学院 2009 届英语专业本科毕业论文 III CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1 2 Definitions of idioms 1 2 1 Some English Dictionaries 2 2 2 The explanation of idioms 2 3 Classification of idioms 3 4 Characteristics 4 4 1 The mass of people is the creator of idioms of both languages 4 4 2 The idioms on farming and sea 4 4 3 The different living surroundings and customs 5 4 4 Customs Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms 6 4 5 The origin of idioms 7 4 6 Both have regional or geographical Characteristics 11 4 7 Both have different figures of speech 11 4 8 The fix or variability characteristics of idioms 13 4 9 The characteristics of image symbol in Chinese and English idioms 13 5 Conclusion 15 Reference 16 Acknowledgements 17 大连民族学院 2009 届英语专业本科毕业论文 1 Comparative study on the characteristics between English and Chinese idioms 1 Introduction Idioms are the essence of a language which are always philosophical and eternal According to Oxford Advantaged Learner s English Chinese Dictionary an idiom is a phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit In the broad sense idioms may include set phrases proverbs sayings epigrams slang expressions colloquialisms quotations two part allegorical sayings of which the first part always stated is descriptive while the second part sometimes unstated carries the message chiefly in Chinese While in Chinese idioms are called as 熟语 including 短语 成语 usually consisting of four words 俗语 谚语 格言 箴言 名言 quotation or recorded utterance 警句 隽语 俚语 粗话 行话 歇后语 including pun 习语 etc However the thesis will discuss English and Chinese idioms in a narrow sense and only set phrases and proverbs will be under discussion English idioms and Chinese idioms are gems of the two languages as well as the crystallization of the two national cultures Most of idioms are of vivid images which are appropriately used to compare to other things consequently they often contain distinctive national and local colors Some idioms have quite clear meanings some are implicit and profound which could cause a great deal of association while others may include several meanings which depend on the context to define its real indication Having left their deep and unique stamps on the language idioms can best express the historical process cultural tradition and customs of the people The present article adopting a contrastive approach attempts to put forward the distinctive characteristics of both English and Chinese idioms namely metaphorical language integrate meaning fixed collocation and euphonious sound And then it tries to make an analysis of their cultural discrepancies in terms of geography culture custom and religious belief Idioms are a mirror of a people They comprise the historical and cultural background as well as the approach to life and the ways of the people No translator language learner or language teacher can afford to ignore idioms if a natural use of the target language is an aim Therefore with the more frequent communication between the English people and the Chinese people there is a great demand for more research in English idioms 2 Definitions of idioms It is difficult to give a clear definition to idioms First people are often confused with their scope content and form Second experts have different opinions about how to divide idioms from narrow sense and general sense What kind of language expression really belongs to idioms Different experts have different opinions and definitions to idioms Some people consider idioms as quintessence of a language Comparative study on the characteristics between English and Chinese idioms 2 Others regard them as treasury of a language These statements in certain degree reflect the idioms characteristics but can t be regarded as idioms definition All of these causes bring difficulty to define a idiom Maybe owing to those causes the word idiom even hasn t been collected in such authorities reference books as Modern Chinese Dictionary and Chain 辞海 2 1 Some English Dictionaries Longman Active English Chinese Dictionary 1990 defines an idiom as a phrase which means something different from the meanings of the separate words The concise Oxford Dictionary 2000 gives such a definition as a group of words established by usage and having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words Longman Dictionary of contemporary English 1998 gives the definitive a phrase which means something different from them meanings of the separate words from which it is formed Webster s New World Dictionary of the American language 2nd college edition 1972 gives this definition an accepted phrase construction or expression contrary to the patterns of the language having a meaning different from the language or having a different from the literal 2 2 The explanation of idioms An idiom is a term or phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions and the arrangement of its parts but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use In linguistics idioms are widely assumed to be figures of speech that contradict the principle of compositionality however this has shown to be a subject of debate It may be better to refer to idioms as John Seed does words collocated together happen to become fossilized becoming fixed over time 1 This collocation words commonly used in a group changes the definition of each of the words that exist As an expression the word group becomes a team so to speak That is the collocated words develop a specialized meaning as a whole and an idiom is born e g He really threw me a curve when on our first date he asked if I could pay for the dinner Note in some cultures when a man and a woman are courting each other the male is traditionally the one who takes up the bill or pays the bill however times change and in many modern societies a lot of couples go Dutch yet another idiom In the English expression to kick the bucket for example a listener knowing only the meaning of kick and bucket would be unable to deduce the expression s actual meaning which is to die Although it can refer literally to the act of striking a specific bucket with a foot native speakers rarely use it that way It cannot be directly translated to other languages for example the same expression in Polish is kop w calendars to kick the calendar with the calendar being as detached from its usual meaning as the bucket in the English phrase is The same expression in Dutch is hat lode legend to lay the piece of lead which is entirely different from the English expression too Other expressions include break a leg and fit as a fiddle It is estimated that William Shakespeare coined over 9 000 idioms still in use today According to the entire above mentioned idiom is a phrase or a group of words approved by people and has unique form Its meaning is different from the literal In general sense the scope of English and Chinese idioms includes sayings proverbs idiomatic phrases slang a two part allegorical and allusion and so on 大连民族学院 2009 届英语专业本科毕业论文 3 3 Classification of idioms The Each nation has its own language among which idiom is the essence and treasure and has strong cultural characteristics Because of idiom s advantages having a long history and a profound moral and strong expression Idioms often have strong national color and local color Generally idioms could be divided into four aspects set phrases proverbs common sayings and a two part allegorical saying Just as its scope English and Chinese idioms come from different fields including people s thoughts about objective world human being themselves philosophy and the life experience and so on about people s thoughts about objective world and social law There are such idioms as As brooks make rivers rivers run to sea All rivers run into sea 犹如小溪汇成江河 江河奔向大海 大江总东去 时代总向前 And from the following idioms you can know People s judgment on one s manner and action The greatest talkers are the least doers Great braggarts are little doers 最伟大的空谈家是最渺小的实干家 语言的巨人 行动的矮子 First think then speak Look before you leap 先思而后言 深思熟虑而后行 People s experience about society and life Life is a comedy to him who thinks and a tragedy to him who feels Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass 对于明哲善思的人来说 人生是个喜剧 对于多愁善感的人来说 人生是 个悲剧 生活无目的 犹如航海无罗盘 Citizen s altitude towards national affairs Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country 国家兴亡 匹夫有责 As to English it includes for example Idiomatic phrases such as to have one s head in clouds the man in the streets proverbs such as many men many minds No man is born wise or learned Common sayings to charge someone an arm and a leg going banana Allusion such as much cry and little word skeleton in the cupboard Slang slang off Chinese idioms generally include set phrase especially the four word set phrases 气贯长虹 国泰民安 proverbs 好事不出门 坏事传千里 common saying 天下无难事 只怕有心人 a two part allegorical saying 肉包子打狗 有去无回 In short as a part of language idioms include set phrase common sayings proverbs idiomatic phrase slang a two part allegorical saying and allusion etc English idioms mostly consist of set phrase and idiomatic phrase proverbs common sayings allusion and slang Chinese idioms mostly include set phrases and Chinese set phrase chiefly have four words Also include proverbs common sayings allusion Comparative study on the characteristics between English and Chinese idioms 4 and a two part allegorical saying 4 Characteristics Idiom is the sediments of culture and the vital component part of a culture and a language which is deeply influenced and limited by a culture Idiom the essence of a language is the carrier of a culture Both English and Chinese have their own characteristics and also they have similar characteristics These characteristics thoroughly embody the culture there are several comparative characteristics as following 4 1 The mass of people is the creator of idioms of both languages Most of English and Chinese idioms are created by the masses Starling had said that if one wants to study a language one should establish a link between this language and the people who create and use this language and their cultural history Most of English and Chinese idioms are created by the masses Folk common saying is the main source of idioms such as 百闻不如一见 It is better to see once than hear a hundred times 人不知 鬼不觉 not know by man or perceived by ghosts 成人之美 help one accomplish something good Many English and Chinese idioms created by people during their working and farming are the true to life portrayal of common people s life Peasants produce idioms about farm work while sailors create idioms about sailing and life on sea Idioms towards sports and hunting are created by athletes and hunters and so on These kinds of idioms have close relation with people s everyday life They are active vivid expressive and graphic There are great amount of those idioms in English and Chinese They are one of the most important components for idioms 4 2 The idioms on farming and sea The idioms on farming in Chinese are more than those in English China is a typical agricultural nation with a large population of farmers who live on the land farming is the root of our nation Every dynasty in ancient China took it seriously As a result many idioms are related to farming Their desire for good weather for crops praying for good harvest and looking forward to happiness and health are all reflections through language For example 留得青山再 不怕没柴烧 A man who fights and runs away will come and fight another day 斩草不除根 逢春发又生 Cut weeds and dig up the roots stamp out the source of the trouble or they will grow again 种瓜得瓜 种豆得豆 Plant melons and you will get melons Sow beans and you will get beans The idioms on sailing in Chinese are less than those in English Though China is also located to the sea and it has long coastline sailing had seen remaining at an undeveloped stage idioms deriving from sailing are few China has adopted close door policy for long and put sea ban into practice so idioms deriving from sailing in Chinese are less than those of English while the Great Britain is an island nation with advanced fisheries As a result there are many English idioms about navigation such as To keep one s head above water 奋力图存 使免于负债 大连民族学院 2009 届英语专业本科毕业论文 5 To know the ropes 内行 懂得秘诀 To be over head and ears in debt 深陷债务中 All at sea 不知所措 A cold fish 冷漠的人 In low water 不如意 These idioms are closely bound up to farmers everyday life But because of lack of education the amount of four words idioms spoken by farmers are limited in Chinese while proverbs used by farmers are enormous These proverbs are fruits of their labor and intelligence experience No other country can have such variety of proverbs deriving from farming as China Besides In china people often praise a man for his good ability in a small village as 小庙里的大菩 萨 but English people praise that man as a big fish in a small pond The Chinese set phrase 疾风知劲草 sturdy grass withstands high winds means that strength of character is tested in a crisis and adversity is the measure of a man There have more similar idiom like this good pilot is not known when the sea is calm and the water is fair 天气晴朗和大海平静时看不出好水 手 The Chinese idiom 未雨绸缪 to plough mulberry field and repair the house before it rains implies that people should make enough preparation before something changes bad The similar English idioms is while it is fine weather mend your sail 修帆趁天晴 To sum up as England is an island country English people are fond of sea They established a dose connection between their life struggle and sea So you could get many idioms related to sea from their talking 4 3 The different living surroundings and customs The living surroundings and customs are different so each nation reflects the subject differently Both idioms of Chinese and English are obviously different Different expression but they have the same meaning The Chinese translate the idiom 一箭双雕 as to shoot two hawks with one arrow but the English say to kill two birds with one stone Viewing from a different angle such different expression toward one same idiom reflects the habit difference of each nation The westerners are deeply interested in watching horse racing Therefore many set phrases derive from this sport For example people use a dark horse to metaphor the unexpected winner and use button the wrong horse or back the wrong horse to describe the man who made a false judge men or got a wrong choice consequently Idioms the carrier of culture and information are the important part of a language Generality and particularity coexist in different cultures Cultural generality reflects cultural similarity and cultural particularity reflects cultural Varity It is the cultural particularity tat causes English and Chinese idioms having strong national and cultural characteristics Some idioms are apparently in harmony but actually at Comparative study on the characteristics between English and Chinese idioms 6 variance Idioms deriving from different living surroundings have striking national and cultural color Since ancient times Chinese have lived off the land The agricultural population in China holds the most part of whole population Peasants accumulate a wealth of experience from farm work which far too many idioms full of agricultural culture rise there from such as 瓜田李下 in a melon path or under a plum tree 瓜熟蒂落 when a melon is ripe it falls off its stem things are settled once conditions are ripe and so on While England is a island country which fishery and navigation historically has a booming development As a result many idioms derive from sailing and fishing such as struggle not against the stream pull not against the wind a cold fish and so on 4 4 Customs Differences between English and Chinese on Idioms Different idioms origina