论中英亲属称谓的异同.doc

渭南师范学院本科毕业论文题 目： 论中英亲属称谓的异同 学院名称： 外国语学院 专业班级： 英语专业08级英本4班 毕业年份： 2012年6月 姓 名： 叶 雨 露 学 号 080241090 指导教师： 陶 正 娜 职 称： 副 教 授 渭南师范学院教务处 制The Cultural Differences and similarities between Chinese and English Kinship TermsByYang HaiyingA Thesis Presented to School of Foreign Languages ofWeinan Normal Universityas Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsfor the Degree ofBachelor of ArtsMay 17, 2012 Class: Class 4 of 2008Advisor: Guo Zhengxia论中英亲属称谓的异同摘要: 语言和文化有着很密切的关系，所以，如果人们要学好一门语言，那么了解其文化是非常重要的。你理解语言的文化传统、习俗、生活方式以及生活细节越多，你就越能正确地理解并准确地使用这种语言。称谓语是民族传统文化和历史积淀的反映,不同的称谓语分别体现不同的民族文化。事实上，文化塑造并影响着语言，同时，语言又反映着文化。本文主要有三个部分，第一部分主要从相同的功能和相似的分类来阐述中英亲属称谓的相同点。第二部分主要从旁系关系和直系关系，血亲关系和姻亲关系，父系关系和母系关系，性别，长幼关系和辈分顺序，派生的亲属称谓六个方面来阐述中英亲属关系称谓的不同。第三部分主要从家庭结构，历史背景，来源等等，来分析中英亲属称谓不同的原因。关键字：亲属称谓；中英文亲属称谓的对比；文化差异The Cultural Differences and similarities between Chinese and English Kinship TermsAbstract: Language and culture have very close relationship. It is very necessary and important to learn a kind of language well and know the culture well, The more understanding of the languages culture, traditions, customs, lifestyles as well as details of life, the more you can correctly understand and accurately use the language. Kinship terms are reflections of traditional ethnic culture and historical accumulation and different addressing terms respectively embody different ethnic cultures. In fact, language is influenced and shaped by culture, at the same time, language reflects the culture. In this paper, there are three main parts. The first part describes the similarities between English and Chinese kinship terms from two aspects: same functions and similar categories. The second part describes the differences between English and Chinese kinship terms from six aspects: between collateral relations and lineal relations, between blood relation and affined relations, between elder-younger relations and seniority order, between paternal and maternal kinship terms, between gender kinship terms, and derivatives. The third part, from family structures, historical background, sources and other reasons, explains the reasons of the cultural differences between English and Chinese kinship terms.Key words: Kinship terms; Contrast between English and Chinese kinship terms; Cultural differencesTable of ContentsI. Introduction1II. Comparison between English and Chinese Kinship Term Systems1A. Similarities of English and Chinese kinship terms21. The Same Functions22. Similar Categories2B. Differences between English and Chinese kinship terms31. Between collateral relations and lineal relations.32. Between blood relation and affined relations.53. Between paternal and maternal kinship terms64. Gender kinship terms.75. Elder-younger relations and seniority order76. Derivatives of kinship terms8III. The reasons of the cultural difference between English and Chinese kinship terms9A. Different family structures9B. Different historical background10C. Different source11D. Other reasons11IV. Conclusion12iiiI. Introduction13Language is not only a kind of cultural expression, but also the bridge of communication and kinship terms are indispensable to communication. Kinship term system is a very important part of language expression. Therefore, the kinship terms should be paid more attention. It is impossible to learn English well if you do not understand the British and American cultural background knowledge, especially, the kinship terms. So the different kinship terms between English and Chinese are importance in studying English. And this paper mainly talks about the differences and the similarities between English and Chinese kinship terms, including the reasons of forming these differences.Kinship terms, according to E.R.Leach, are category words by means of which an individual is taught to recognize the significant groupings in the social structure into which he is born(1958, P.143). Nowadays, Kinship terms belong to social language and they are used widely in daily communicative life. Therefore, the comparative study of kinship terms in Chinese and English is to understand better different cultural implication and make sure that communication is going on well. So, if we want to learn English, we must pay more attention to kinship terms. In this paper, there are 3 main parts, the first part describes the similarities between English and Chinese kinship term from 2 aspects: same functions and similar categories. The second part describes the differences between English and Chinese kinship terms from 6 aspects: between collateral relations and lineal relations, between blood relation and affined relations, between elder-younger relations and seniority, between paternal and maternal kinship terms, between gender kinship terms, and derivatives. The third part, according to family structures, historical background, sources and other reason to explain the reason of the cultural difference between English and Chinese kinship terms.II. Comparison between English and Chinese Kinship Term SystemsThere are both similarities and differences between English and Chinese kinship terms; there are not so many limits. They have some similarities in the kinship terms functions and categories. At the same time, because English and Chinese languages have defined their own set of kinship terms and the roles they serve in the society. There are a lot of differences between English and Chinese kinship terms. English kinship terms are less complicated than Chinese kinship terns. In Chinese, kinship terms are oriented by generation, age, paternal and maternal relationships and in-law relationships. But in England, the way people address others are very random. Then, we will talk the similarities and differences between English and Chinese kinship terms. A. Similarities of English and Chinese kinship termsPeople from different countries have different cultures, but there are many similarities in cultures. Kinship terms must have some similarities in different countries too. Its necessary to realize the similarities of the kinship terms. It may promote people to get along well with each other. So, the analysis of them is quite important.1. The Same Functions English and Chinese kinship term have many important social functions. Generally, no matter English kinship or Chinese kinship terms, they have a basic functions, linking function. according to the linking function of human communication, communication is used to establish relationships between the individual and the environment, and that people use symbols to create a desired image to facilitate this linking to the environment. Thus, the individual is consubstantial with society. 2. Similar Categories No matter English kinship terms or Chinese kinship terms, they can be divided into two parts：the kinship terms and the social terms. Kinship system is not only a universal feature of languages, but also a result of the importance in social organization. Social term means the usage of all kinship term strategies and regulations between different social groups and social organizations in their communication according to their social positions and social roles. B. Differences between English and Chinese kinship termsEnglish and Chinese kinship terms stem from two different civilization traditions that have their own evolving history. It is not strange that there are many differences between the two. It is very important to understand these differences, only in this way can avoid many problems in intercultural communications. And then , there 5 key points will be followed. 1. Between collateral relations and lineal relations.In Chinese kinship terms, there is some difference between collateral relations and lineal relations, but in English kinship terms, there is little difference. First, please look at the following 2 tables; they will help us to understand the differences between collateral relations and lineal relations. Table 1 Lineal relationsRelationChinese TermsEnglish Termspaternal grandfather maternal grandfatherzu fu（祖父）wai zu fu（外祖父）grandfatherpaternal grandfather maternal grandfatherzu mu（祖母）wai zu mu（外祖母）grandmotherfatherfu qin（父亲）fathermothermu qin（母亲）motherelder brotheryounger brotherge ge（哥哥）di di （弟弟）brotherelder sisteryounger sisterjie jie（姐姐）mei mei（妹妹）sisterson er zi（儿子）sondaughternv er（女儿）daughtersons sondaughters sonsun zi（孙子）wai sun（外孙）grandsonsons daughterdaughters daughtersun nv（孙女）wai sun nv（外孙女） granddaughterThe above table talks about the lineal relations kinship terms, from table 1, we can see that the English language pays little attention to consanguinity and affinity relations in its kinship terms. But the Chinese language considers that these are important. And in China, there is another relation, who is collateral relations; therefore, the following table is to talk about it.Table 2 Collateral relationsRelationsChinese TermsEnglish Termsfathers elder brotherfathers younger brothermothers brotherbo fu（伯父）shu fu（叔父）jiu fu（舅父）unclefathers sistermothers sistergu mu（姑妈）yi mu（姨妈）auntfathers brothers sonfathers sisters sonmothers brothers sonmothers sisters sonfathers brothers daughterfathers sisters daughtermothers brothers daughtermothers sisters daughtertang ge/di（堂哥弟）gu biao ge/di（姑表哥弟）jiu biao ge/di（舅表哥弟）yi biao ge/di（姨表哥弟）tang jie/mei（堂姐妹）gu biao jie/mei（姑表姐妹）jiu biao jie/mei（舅表姐妹）yi biao jie/mei（姨表姐妹）cousinBrothers sonSisters sonWifes siblings sonzhi zi（侄子）wai sheng（外甥）biao zhi（表侄）nephewbrothers daughtersisters daughterwifes siblings daughterzhi nv（侄女）wai sheng nv（外甥女）biao zhi nv（表侄女）nieceThe above box talks about collateral relations. From the table, we know that many differences between Chinese and English in collateral relations. For example, when a boy says this is my uncle. In fact, we cant get the information only from the word those words, but in Chinese, we can know much information, such as sex, birth order and so on.2. Between blood relation and affined relations.About the blood relation and relations by marriage, these people are called relations with blood; and those are called relation by marriage. In Chinese, their kinship terms are different and are very clear. In paternal clan, bo fu, shu fu, jiu fu, gu mu, and yi mu belong to blood relation; Gu fu, yi fu, bo mu, shen mu, and jiu mu, belong to relations by marriage. At the same time, it reflects that Chinese have strong clan relative sense.But in English, there is no classification between blood relation and relations by marriage. There being an example is the kinship term uncle. According to Ullmann (1962), the English word uncle comes via French from the Latin avunculus, which meant only one kind of uncle, namely, the mothers brother, whereas the fathers brother was called patruus. Since the latter word fell into disuse, the descendants of avunculus have come to stand for both kinds of uncle, so that the range of the Latin term has been doubled (p. 228).In the OXFORD ADVANCED LEARNERS English-Chinese Dictionary, the word, uncle, is explained: 1. the brother of ones father; 2. the brother of ones mother; 3. the husband of ones aunt (p.1915). And the same, aunt is explained: 1. a sister of ones mother; 2. a sister of ones father; 3. the wife of ones uncle (p.95). So, based on the above examples, uncle includes parents brothers and parents sisters husbands, for example, gu fu, shu fu, jiu fu, gu zhang and yi zhang; aunt means parents sisters and parents brothers wives, such as gu mu, yi mu, bo mu, shen mu and jiu mu.Of course, English does not ignore relations by marriage, in English, there often has a suffix in-laws followed by some kinship terms of blood relation, for instance, brother-in-laws ,this word means jie fu, mei fu, husbands jie fu , husbands mei fu, nei xiong, nei di, da bo zi and xiao shu zi. There is a table to show the affined relations: Table 3 Affined relationsRelationChinese TermEnglish Termwifes/husbands fatheryue fu /gong gong（岳父公公）father-in-lawwifes/husbands motheryue mu/po po（岳母婆婆）mother-in-lawfathers sisters husbandmothers sisters husbandgu fu（姑父）yi fu（姨夫）unclefathers elder brothers wifefathers younger brothers wifemothers brothers wifebo mu（伯母）shen mu（婶母）jiu mu（舅母）auntwife/husbandqi zi/zhang fu（妻子丈夫）wife/husbandelder sisters husbandyounger sisters husbandhusbandselder/younger brotherwifes brotherjie fu（姐夫）mei fu（妹夫）da bo/xiao shu（大伯小叔）da/xiao jiu zi（大小舅子）brother-in-lawelder brothers wifeyounger brothers wifewifes elder/younger sisterbrothers wifesao zi（嫂子）di xi（弟媳）da/xiao yi zi（大小姨子）zhou li（妯娌）sister-in-lawsons wifeer xi（儿媳）daughter-in-lawdaughter husbandnv xu（女婿）son-in-lawThe above box talks about affined relations, just like the second box, in English, just several kinship terms can express more in Chinese.3. Between paternal and maternal kinship termsIn contrast to English kinship terms, the Chinese kinship system is more complicated. There are many differences in paternal and maternal kinship terms.Chinese kinship emphasizes paternal kinship, while English is not. Chinese people attach much importance to consanguineous relations rather than affined relations which connotes by kinship terms apparently. The difference between close and distant is taken seriously in Chinese culture. Paternal lineages are more close than maternal ones. Usually, paternal lineages is labeled tang, such as tang ge/ di, fathers brothers son, while maternal lineages is labe1edbiao，such as biao gedi (mothers brothers son). In Chinese kinship system, affined relations, i.e. in-laws, 0uses of your siblings) have their own specific titles, such as fathers elder brothers wife is called bo mu, younger sisters husband is called meifu, and so on. In English, maternal and paternal lineages, consanguineous and affined relations are not distinguished so distinctly. We even can not distinguish an uncle whether is ones fathers brother or ones mothers brother4. Gender kinship terms.The gender of the relative is distinguished in Chinese culture, while not in English. In Chinese culture，the gender of the relative is distinguished distinctly. For example, title for fathers brothers son is strictly distinguished from that for fathers brothers daughter. English kinship system may ignore the sex distinctionFor example，all male and female children of a persons fathermothers brothersister can be called cousin. It may refer to the mothers brothers son, mothers brothers daughter, mothers sisters son, mothers sisters daughter, fathers brothers son, fathers brothers daughter, fathers sisters son, fathers sisters daughter, and so on. Meticulous Chinese kinship system has its roots deep in Chinese culture. It is the product of an agricultural society, a family-centered economy, and a hierarchical family system. Likewise，English kinship system also origins from its own culture. Simple nuclear family, independence of individuals, friendship extended to nonkinship all these factors result in the straightforward English kinship system5. Elder-younger relations and seniority order Traditional Chinese society is organized in vertical structure, and has always advocated family and lives for generations under one roof. Chinese culture lays stress on ”superior controls junior” , in the family, people should respect for seniority, the descendant is not allowed to call the elderly by name, and seniority is extremely important to the level of scale. Therefore, in kinship terms words, the same seniority in the family distinguishes from ge ge and di di, jie jie and mei mei, bo fu and shu fu, bo mu and shen mu. In the different seniority, as to the higher seniority, they can call others who are lower seniority with their full names, including the last name. However, oppositely, the lower seniority can not call the higher seniority with name, it will shows that they are not polite. The kind of idea has rooted in Chinese mind. These older peoples kinship terms are sacred title.However, in English, there is no difference in seniority, and the higher seniority is not important, the descendant and the elderly relate as friends, the descendant is allowed to call the elderly by name. In the western culture, old age is not advantaged. So, in English, we can know that “brother” includes the elder and the younger one, “sister” applied to elder sister and younger sister are both feasible. and there are many word like that, such as, uncle and aunt. Besides, in western country, people usually call families with names or even nick names. For example, in Family Album, U.S.A, the daughter-in-law Marilyn calls her father-in-law Philip with name.(Episode 6,Act ).So, in their mind, it will show that they are much closer. The following dialog is taken from Family Album, U.S.A:1Ellen：Where are you going，Philip?Philip：Remember，the Michigan football game?And Michigan needs a touchdownEllen：Did you forget something?Robbie：Dad，your famous apple piePhilip：Just let me see the score，EllenMarilyn：Go ahead，PhilipWe should all take a little breakbefore dessert2Ellen：Robbie，would you bring the dessert platesAnd，Marilyn，would you pour coffee，pleaseMarilyn：Sure，Ellen6. Derivatives of kinship termsChinese