On the Sources and Influence of English Allusions.doc

On the Sources and Influence of English Allusions【摘 要】日常生活中，人们常常喜欢引用历史，传说，文学或宗教中的人物或事件，即典故。典故有着丰富的文化内涵和文化价值，是英语语言文化的重要组成部分。运用典故不仅可以使语言丰富多彩、生动清晰，而且使人们更易于沟通思想。英语中有大量的典故，但这些典故往往不易理解，也难于欣赏。因此我的论文将从典故的来源及其影响着手，重点分析典故的来源并运用一些典型的例子来说明其文化背景。同时也会分析英语典故对西方文化的影响，以便我们能够更好地理解与使用典故，提高跨文化交际能力。【关键词】英语典故；来源；语言影响；文化Abstract People like to quote the figures or events from the history, legends, literature or religion in their daily life, which are known as allusion. English allusion with cultural value and connotations is an important part of English language culture. Allusions not only make the language richer ,but also make the communication much more vivid and Ofen easier. There are a lot of allusions in English,but they are not always easy to understand, and without understanding there can be little appreciation. So my essay will focus on the sources and influence of English allusions. It pays much attention to the sources and supports them by typical examples to explain the cultural backgrounds . Meanwhile, my essay also analyses the influence of English allusions upon the western society so as to help us understand and use them appropriately and improve the ability in intercultural communication.Key Words English allusion；source；language influence; culture。1. IntroductionAs Xu Yulan said that allusion is an implied or indirect reference, especially, when used in literature is based on the knowledge or belief that their readers share with them a common historical, cultural and literary heritage, which enable the readers to identify the allusions and to understand their significance.( XuYulan 2003:1) Allusions share the following common features: short and brief, indirect and cryptic, vivid and forcible.( XuYulan 2003:7) They have succinct forms and profound meanings which makes themselves more concise and expressive. People like to use the indirect references to characters or events from culture: legends, literature, history, religion, and so on, to enrich their speech or writing, and then allusions came to being. The sources of English allusions are inexhaustible. We can find them not only from the newspapers, literature, but also in peoples daily conversations. Every aspect of human life is a source of allusions. Meanwhile, they affect the western culture greatly. As many allusions have proper figures and strong cultural features, people may have trouble in understanding the allusions properly without enough knowledge about other nations culture.The best way to understand allusions in other cultures is to study their sources and influence which would be rather helpful when we come across allusions in communication.2. The sources of English allusionsLanguage is a part of culture and plays a very important part in it. Allusion is a special kind of language and indicates the peculiar features of culture.They are based on all kinds of historical events, historical figures, folk tales or legends, classical works, myths, etc, which are either familiar to the majority of the people, or familiar to most educated people, such as playwrights, poets, musicians, and so on. Lets look at the sources of English allusions first. 2. 1 Allusions from myths, fables and folk tales2. 1. 1 Greco-Roman mythologyThe source of the English can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman civilization. So it is natural that the classical Greek and Roman mythic stories are the common and important source of allusions in English. The following are two examples. (1) Achilles heel (刘桂兰，王胜利 2008:136): a weak and vulnerable point. Achilles was the hero in Greek epic Iliad. According to the legend, Achilles mother held his feet and dipped him into the River Styx to make him invulnerable. The water washed every part of his body except the heel in his mothers hand, which became his fetal weakness. Finally he was killed by the prince of troy, Paris in the battle.E.g. Bill is a kind person, but his Achilles heel is that he gets angry easily.(2) A Pandoras box (陈楚娃 2007:325): a plentiful source of troubles or disaster. It derived from the Greek mythology. The story is that Pandora, the first woman who was punished and sent to the earth by the gods as a form of punishment, was forbidden to open the box sent by the gods. When she opened it at last out of curiosity, all the evils in the box flew out to trouble the earth with endless disaster, and only hope left inside when the box was closed. So the phrase often indicates something which may seem good, but which brings troubles at last.English culture had been affected greatly by Roman culture, especially the English language. So there are many English allusions in relation to Roman culture.2. 1. 2 The Fables of AesopThere are many English Allusions come from the Fables of Aesop.Let s look at the following examples.(3) Bell the cat (冯翠华 2003:238): to do something dangerous in order to save others or to step forward bravely to face the danger. It derived from the story named The Mice in Council in The Fables of Aesop. A swarm of mice gathered to discuss how to stand up to the cat. One mouse advised to hang a bell around the cats neck, which was approved by other mice. However, none mice would go to bell the cat. Finally the meeting ended without any results.(4)A dog in the manger (陈楚娃 2007:132): signifies a person who prevents others from enjoying something that is useless to himself. E.g. He is a dog in the manger.(5) cry wolf (林连祥 2004:13): is often used to indicate giving false alarms or to warn of danger where there is none. E.g. These politicians are crying wolf again2. 1. 3 Arabian Nights EntertainmentArabian Nights Entertainment is a well-known story album of Arab folk tales. The stories have been influencing the children from generation to generation. Lots of them have been cited in English to enrich the language. Allusions from this source are abundant. Here are two examples.(6) Open sesame (陈楚娃 2007:319): to code word to the treasure cave in the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Today it indicates the key to hidden treasure, success, knowledge, and so on.E.g.I hope this note will prove an “Open sesame” for you. (7) Aladdins Lamp (尚文真 2003:89): the treasure which could bring happiness and wealth. Because of the supernatural lamp, Aladdin could gain everything he wanted.E.g. He wants to get high mark without hard-working, but it is impossible to get Aladdins Lamp. This sentence means that the person like to gain something without pains.2.2 Allusions from literature2.2.1The Bible and Bible storiesReligion has played a very important role in the development of human history. Different nations have different religions. In western societies, the Christianity is the dominant religion. In English, enormous religious allusions chiefly originated from the Bible. In English large number of allusions came from the Bible. The stories, events, characters, animals and plants mentioned in the Bible are all quite familiar to most people as the common knowledge in the west. People like to quote them both in communication and writing frequently. As far as time is concerned, lots of allusions came into being and have become an important part of the English language. They influence peoples life and ideas greatly.a.Allusions from figuresThere are many famous figures in the Bible with their own characteristics. They have been cited again and again, and become fixed words or phrases to indicate a kind of men or behaviors with special connotations. The following are two examples.(8) Good Samaritan(陈楚娃 2007:193): the kind persons who often help others. It derived from the story told by Jesus. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Both a priest and a Levite were blind to him when they passed by. But when a Samaritan saw him, he helped him with pity. Now Good Samaritan is used to signify the person who spares no effort to help others.(9)Doubting Thomas(陈楚娃 2007:135): a doubting person who wont believe others easily. According to the Bible, Thomas was one of Jesus Christs 12 apostles. He didnt believe the resurrection of Jesus, unless he touched the mark of the nails in Jesus hands. A week later, Jesus came to make Thomas believe the resurrection of him and asked him not to doubt but believe. So the allusions are often to refer to the doubting people. b. Allusions from events(10) Cast the pearls before the swine(希腊罗马神话传说和圣经中的英语成语典故J. Reading and Writing（初中版）2005:23): to offer something valuable or beautiful to those who cant appreciate it or to give what is precious to those who are unable to understand its value.E.g. The teacher read them the poets, but it was casting pearls before swine.This sentence means that the listener cannot understand the poets at all.c. Allusions from animals(11) Separate the sheep from the goats(希腊罗马神话传说和圣经中的英语成语典故J. Reading and Writing（初中版）2005:23): to divide good or useful person from bad or useless; to separate the good from wicked. Here the sheep is compared to the kind, while the goat is compared to the bad.(12) A fly in the ointment (陈楚娃 2007:167): the disappointing thing. In the Bible “foolishness” was compared to “fly”, while “wisdom” to “ointment”.d. Allusions from plants(13) Fig leaves (陈楚娃 2007:17): the things to cover the private parts. Eve and Adam were tempted by the serpent to eat the fruit of Tree of Knowledge, and then they realized that they were naked and sewed fig leaves to cover.2.2.2 English and American literary worksThere are so many famous figures or sentences in the masterpieces by great writers like Shakespeare, Swift, Hardy, Mark Twain .The allusions from their works appear frequently in modern literary works or peoples daily communication, especially from Shakespeares plays.Shakespeare is one of the most outstanding playwrights in England. He had created many masterpieces, like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, which were appreciated by global readers. English speakers quote Shakespeare everyday without realizing that they are doing so. For examples: Hamlet, the famous hero in Shakespeares Hamlet, is often used to indicate the person who finds it difficult to decide and to act; Shylock, from Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, has become a symbol of the cold-blooded, greedy and money grabbing people; Meanwhile, the events in Shakespeares works are also the rich origin of allusions. We can see the example: Greek to someone(刘桂兰，王胜利 2008:136) means knowing nothing. It derived from Shakespeares famous tragedy Julius Caesar.2.2.3 Works of other writersIn addition to Shakespeares plays, there are also many allusions from works of other English and American writers or poets. Here are some examples.(14) Friday: the faithful servant, came from Robinson Crusoe, written by English famous novelist, Daniel Defoe.E.g.It is not easy to find a fridend in need like Friday. (15) Box and Cox (陈楚娃 2007:75): to share the same room in turn. Two men who didnt know each other worked in the same room. The landlady rent a room to them at the same time. The two men hadnt any chance to meet each other as one worked in daytime, while the other at night. Finally they knew the truth by chance.E.g. They shared a room in a Box and Cox arrangement.(16) A Frankenste(冯翠华 2003:248): usually a thing or monster that destroys its own creator; also a person who creates such a thing.2.3 Allusions from historical figures or events(17) Cross the Rubicon (陈楚娃 2007:111): take a critical and unchangeable step, derived from Julius Caesar and his armys crossing the River Rubicon, which separated his province Gaul from Italy in 49B.C.The event brought the civil war finally.(18) Watergate scandal(冯翠华 2003:252): relates the president Richard Nixon, who was the first president to be forced to resign in American history.Most of the English allusions originated from the social culture, such as folk tales or legends, myths, classical works, historical events or figures which were discussed above. “It is no exaggeration to say that allusions are something culturally loaded.” (XuYulan 2003:10)At the same time, it also exerts strong influence upon the society.3. The influence of English allusions3.1 Allusions and English vocabulary English vocabulary has abundant sources, while there are also quite a lot of words came from allusions. Many words and expressions have become a fixed part of English vocabulary and being cited again and again.Many places in western countries were named with the gods in the myths. For example, the capital city Athens, which is the capital of city of Greek now, derived from the god of wisdom, Athene, in the Greek mythology.In addition, most names of days of the week and months of the year, which were quite familiar to us are also originated from Greco-Roman myths. For instance, Wednesday came from Woden, the most powerful of gods in Anglo-Saxon mythology; Thursday derived from Thor, Norse god of thunder; Friday came from Freya, the god of music; Saturday came from Roman god of agriculture, Saturn; March originated from Mars, Roman god of war. And July came from Julius Caesar. As Julius Caesar was born in this month. Later the word July was used to named the seventh month of the year.3.2 Allusions and English vocabulary Allusion originates from culture. Meanwhile, it affects the culture greatly. It is widely used in literature, news reports, political comments, advertisement, etc. Not only the educated people like to quote them in their works to enhance the su