从动物习语看中西文化差异 英语专业毕业论文

从动物习语看中西文化差异ABSTRACTLANGUAGEISACULTURALCARRIERCULTURELOADEDVOCABULARYPLAYSANIMPORTANTROLEINALANGUAGEDIFFERENTSOCIALBACKGROUNDSANDNATIONALCULTURESHAVEAGREATEFFECTONTHECULTURALCONNOTATIONSOFVOCABULARYANIMALSAREFRIENDSOFHUMANBEINGSLANGUAGESOFMOSTNATIONSCONTAINALOTOFWORDSDENOTINGANIMALS,ANDSODOCHINESEANDENGLISHALONGWITHTHEDEVELOPMENTANDPROGRESSOFHUMANSOCIETY,MANYANIMALSARETAMEDTOBECOMEDOMESTICANIMALSSERVINGPEOPLE,ANDMANYOTHERSHAVEBECOMEPEOPLESPETSSOANIMALSHAVEBECOMEPARTOFPEOPLESLIFEANIMALIDIOMSGRADUALLYHAVEGOTTHEIRESTABLISHEDCONNOTATIONSINALLLANGUAGESTHATIS,PEOPLEASSOCIATETHEIRFEELINGSANDEMOTIONS,EVENHAPPENINGSANDNATURALPHENOMENAWITHVARIOUSANIMALS,WHICHARETHOUGHTTOPRESENTDIFFERENTCHARACTERSLIKEPEOPLE,ORSERVEASSYMBOLSMANYANIMALSHAVEBECOMEAKINDOFSYMBOLINPEOPLESTHINKINGANDTHISSYMBOLISREFLECTEDINTHELANGUAGEHOWEVER,BECAUSEOFDIFFERENTHISTORYANDCULTURE,THECONNOTATIONSOFANIMALWORDSINONELANGUAGEDONOTNECESSARILYCOINCIDEWITHTHOSEINANOTHERBECAUSEOFDIFFERENTOUTLOOKOFLIFEANDCONCEPTOFBEAUTYINDIFFERENTCULTURESTHISDISSERTATIONATTEMPTSTOCOMPARETHESIMILARITIESANDDIFFERENCESOFANIMALIDIOMS,THECAUSESFORDIFFERENCESANDTHETRANSLATIONMETHODSOFDEALINGWITHCULTURALDIFFERENCESTHEREFORE,WECANNOTONLYBETTERMASTERANDUSETHEANIMALIDIOMSACCURATELY,BUTALSOUNDERSTANDTHEEASTERNANDWESTERNCULTURES,PROMOTINGTHECROSSCULTURALCOMMUNICATIONANDTRANSLATIONPRACTICECHAPTERONEISTHEINTRODUCTIONDEALINGWITHTHERELATIONSHIPBETWEENTHELANGUAGEANDCULTURECHAPTERTWOMAKESACOMPARISONOFSIMILARITIESANDDIFFERENCESINANIMALWORDSMEANINGSOFIDIOMSOWNINGTOTHEDIFFERENTSOCIALBACKGROUNDS,CUSTOMSANDRELIGIONS,DIFFERENCESAREBOUNDTOAPPEARINANIMALIDIOMSINBOTHLANGUAGESWHENTALKINGABOUTTHEDIFFERENCES,ICOMPARETHEANIMALTERMSINCHINESEANDENGLISHIDIOMSACCORDINGTOTHECONNOTATIVEMEANING,AFFECTIVEMEANINGANDREFLECTEDMEANINGIALSOTALKABOUTTHEMEANINGGAPINCHINESEANDINENGLISHCHAPTERTHREEFOCUSESONTHEANALYSISOFTHECAUSESFORTHEDIFFERENCESFROMTHEFOLLOWINGASPECTSINFLUENCEOFREGION,INFLUENCEOFCONVENTION,INFLUENCEOFRELIGION,INFLUENCEOFHISTORY,INFLUENCEOFFABLESANDMYTHOLOGIESANDINFLUENCEOFBORROWEDLANGUAGEANDFOREIGNLANGUAGECHAPTERFOURDEALSPRIMARILYWITHTHEMETHODSOFDEALINGWITHCULTURALDIFFERENCESFROMFIVETRANSLATIONMETHODSLITERALTRANSLATION,FREETRANSLATION,IMAGESHIFTTRANSLATION,LITERALTRANSLATIONPLUSANNOTATIONANDLITERALPLUSFREETRANSLATION【摘要】语言是文化的载体，作为文化载体的词汇在语言中扮演重要的角色。不同的社会背景和不同的民族文化对词汇的含义有很大的影响。动物是人类的朋友，包括英语和汉语在内的所有语言中都有很多表示动物的词汇。随着人类社会的进步，很多动物成人类的朋友，为人类服务，也有很多动物还成为人们的宠物。可见动物已经成为人们生活的一部分。动物词汇也逐渐形成特定的涵义，也就是说人们把他们的一些情感，甚至是发生的事件，自然现象都和动物联系起来，认为动物能够表现不同人的个性，或者是表示某些象征。许多动物已经在人们的思维中形成某种象征，并体现在语言当中。然而，由于不同的历史和文化，不同的人生观，以及不同文化的审美观，动物词汇的内涵意义会因为语言的不同而不同。本文就中英动物习语的异同的论述，引起中西文化差异的成因和翻译上如何处理文化差异的方法三点进行比较，使我们能够更加准确、更加形象地使用动物习语，也能更好地了解中西文化，促进跨文化交际，对习语的翻译实践也有一定的实际意义。第一部分是引言，主要处理语言与文化的关系；第二部分比较习语中动物词汇的异同。由于不同的社会背景，风俗习惯和宗教信仰，在中英语言中，不同点便自然而生。在谈到不同点时，根据内涵意义、情感意义和反映意义将习语中的动物词汇进行分析，同时也谈到中西文化中动物词汇的空缺；第三部分从地域性的影响、风俗习惯的影响、宗教信仰的影响、历史的影响、寓言神话的影响和借用语和外来语的影响来强调分析中西动物词汇文化差异的成因；第四部分从翻译方法上来处理中西文化差异，提出的翻译方法主要有直译、意译、形象转换法、直译加注释法和直译加意译法。1INTRODUCTION“LANGUAGEANDCULTURE,INTRINSICALLYDEPENDENTONEACHOTHER,HAVEEVOLVEDTOGETHERTHROUGHTHEHISTORY”1“ONTHEONEHAND,LANGUAGEASANINTEGRALPARTOFHUMANBEING,PERMEATESHISTHINKINGANDWAYOFVIEWINGTHEWORLD,LANGUAGEBOTHEXPRESSESANDEMBODIESCULTURALREALITYONTHEOTHER,LANGUAGE,ASAPRODUCTOFCULTURE,HELPSPERMEATETHECULTURE,ANDTHECHANGESINLANGUAGEUSESREFLECTTHECULTURALCHANGESINRETURN”2LANGUAGEISTHEBASEOFENTIRECULTURE,ANDITISONLYINLANGUAGETHATCULTURECANBEWELLPRESENTEDANDHANDEDDOWNFROMGENERATIONTOGENERATIONONTHEOTHERHAND,LANGUAGEISINFLUENCEDANDSHAPEDBYCULTUREITREFLECTSLANGUAGELANGUAGEREFLECTSCHARACTERISTICSOFCULTUREANDPREDICTSTHEDEVELOPINGORIENTATIONOFCULTUREINTHEBROADESTSENSE,LANGUAGEISTHESYMBOLICREPRESENTATIONOFAPEOPLETHEDEVELOPMENTOFLANGUAGEOFTENEMBODIESTHECHANGEOFCULTUREITCOMPRISESTHEIRHISTORICALANDCULTURALBACKGROUNDSASWELLASTHEIRAPPROACHTOLIFEANDTHEIRWAYSOFLIVINGANDTHINKINGTOUNDERSTANDALANGUAGE,ONEMUSTKNOWWELLABOUTITSCULTUREANDVISEVERSA2ACOMPARISONOFSIMILARITIESANDDIFFERENCESINMEANING21SIMILARITIESINMEANINGANIMALISMANSBESTFRIENDDIFFERENTANIMALSHAVEDIFFERENTNATURALINSTINCTSANDLIFESTYLESDURINGTHELONGTERMINTIMATECONTACTWITHTHEANIMALS,PEOPLEHAVETHEDEEPROOTEDUNDERSTANDINGSTOWARDSANIMALSANDBOTHTHECHINESEPEOPLEANDENGLISHPEOPLENEARLYHAVETHESAMEKNOWLEDGEOFANIMALSNATURALINSTINCTSANDWAYSOFLIFEFOREXAMPLE,ENGLISHPEOPLEWOULDSAY,“HEISASSLYASAFOXHESFOXY,ANDYOUREGOTTOWATCHHIM”ATTHESAMETIME,CHINESEPEOPLEWOULDUNDERSTANDTHEMEANINGOFTHESENTENCEASWELL,INCHINESE,“他像狐狸一样狡猾，他很狡猾，你得注意点”THISEXAMPLEINDICATESTHAT“FOX”CANBEUSEDTODESCRIBESOMEONEWHOISCUNNINGANDDECEITFULTHISEXAMPLESTATESTHATDIFFERENTLANGUAGESANDCULTURESENDOW“FOX”THESAMECULTURALASSOCIATIVEMEANINGTHEFOLLOWINGANIMALVEHICLESHAVETHESAMEASSOCIATIVEMEANINGSBOTHINENGLISHANDINCHINESEDONKEYCANBEREGARDEDASAKINDOFANIMALWITHDOPEYANDSTUBBORNTEMPERSOTHE“DONKEY驴”ISUSEDTOSHOWTHECHARACTERWITHOBSTINATEANDSTUPIDTEMPERBOTHINENGLISHANDINCHINESE,EG“ASSTUBBORNASADONKEY像驴一样固执的”BIRDSCANFLYTOANYPLACETHEYLIKETONOWONDERTHEYARETHEEMBODIMENTOFFREEDOMINBOTHENGLISHANDCHINESEFOREXAMPLE“BRINGTHECHILDDOWNTOMEFORAFORTNIGHTIHAVEAHUGEOLDGARDENWHEREHECANBEASFREEASABIRDANDPERFECTLYSAFE”PARROTISAKINDOFBIRDTHATCANIMITATEPEOPLESSOUNDENGLISHPEOPLEANDCHINESEPEOPLEUSE“PARROT鹦鹉”TOREFERTOTHOSEPEOPLEREPEATSOMEONEELSESWORDANDIDEASWITHOUTREALLYUNDERSTANDINGWHATYOUARESAYING,EG“HEDOESNTHAVEANIDEAOFHISOWNHEJUSTPARROTSWHATOTHERPEOPLESAY他没有自己的主张，常常鹦鹉学舌。”PIGORSWINEHASSUCHCHARACTERISTICSDIRTY,GREEDY,LAZY,SELFISHANDUGLY,FOREXAMPLE,“MAKEAPIGOFONESELF贪婪地狼吞虎咽到吃喝”“LIVELIKEAPIGINCLOVER生活奢侈”“HEHASBEENAPIGABOUTMONEY他对钱贪得无厌”22DIFFERENCESINMEANINGBECAUSEOFDIFFERENTCULTURAL,HISTORICALANDTRADITIONALBACKGROUND,ACTUALLY,ENGLISHPEOPLEANDCHINESEPEOPLEWOULDHAVEDIFFERENTASSOCIATIVEMEANINGSTOWARDSTHESAMEANIMALVEHICLE221SAMEVEHICLEWITHDIFFERENTMEANINGS“EVERYBODYKNOWSTHATWORDSREPRESENTMEANINGTHEPROBLEMISTHATTHEYMAYREPRESENTSEVERALTYPESOFMEANINGSIMULTANEOUSLY”3“ACCORDINGTOGEOFFERYLEECH1981923,MEANINGINTHEWIDERSENSEMAYEMBRACE1CONCEPTUALMEANINGORSENSE2CONNOTATIVEMEANING3SOCIALMEANING4AFFECTIVEMEANING5REFLECTEDMEANING6COLLOCATIVEMEANINGAND7THEMATICMEANING”4AMONGTHEM,“CONNOTATIVEMEANING,SOCIALMEANING,AFFECTIVEMEANING,REFLECTEDMEANING,ANDCOLLOCATIVEMEANINGCANBEBROUGHTTOGETHERUNDERTHEHEADINGASSOCIATIVEMEANING”5ISAMEVEHICLEWITHDIFFERENTCONNOTATIVEMEANINGS“CONNOTATIVEMEANINGISTHECOMMUNICATIVEVALUEANEXPRESSIONHASINADDITIONTOTHEPURELYCONCEPTUALMEANING”6“CONNOTATIONSOFWORDSVARYFROMCULTURETOCULTUREIFTHEYAREIGNORED,SERIOUSMISUNDERSTANDINGSCANOCCURINCROSSCULTURALCOMMUNICATIONTHECONNOTATIONSOFAGREATMANYENGLISHWORDSAREDIFFERENTFROMTHOSEOFTHEIRTRANSLATIONEQUIVALENTSINCHINESE”7SOMEOFTHESEENGLISHANIMALWORDSWILLBEDISCUSSEDINTHEFOLLOWINGPARAGRAPHSDOGISADISTINCTIVEEXAMPLEINTHETWOCULTURES“狗”ISVERYPEJORATIVEINMEANINGINCHINESETHISCANBEREADILYILLUSTRATEDBYTHECHINESEWORDSANDIDIOMATICEXPRESSIONSINWHICHITISANELEMENT“走狗”,“丧家狗”,“狗头军师”,“狗急跳墙”,“狗腿子”MANYOTHERSCANBEADDEDTOTHISLIST,BUTTHEYAREENOUGHTOEXEMPLIFYTHENEGATIVEATTITUDESOFTHECHINESEPEOPLETOWARDSTHESECREATURESINENGLISHCULTURE,HOWEVER,ADOGISAPET,WHICHCANEVENBECONSIDEREDAFAMILYMEMBERFOREXAMPLE,“THEREARETHREEFAITHFULFRIENDSANOLDWIFE,ANOLDDOGANDREADYMONEY人有三个忠实的朋友老妻、老狗和现金。”8ITISHARDFORENGLISHSPEAKERSTOUNDERSTANDWHY“走狗”ISAPEJORATIVETERMINCHINESETOTHEMADOGISLOVELYANDA“RUNNINGDOG”ISDOUBLYLOVELY“DOGAND狗CONVEYTHESAMECONCEPTUALMEANING,BUTTHEIRCONNOTATIONSAREQUITEDIFFERENTINENGLISHANDCHINESECULTURES”9INENGLISHCULTURE,OWLISSYMBOLIZEDOFWISDOM“ASWISEASANOWL”INDICATESTHATTHENATIVEENGLISHPEOPLEASSOCIATEWISDOMWITHTHISBIRDINCHILDRENSBOOKSANDCARTOONS,THEOWLIMPLIESCALMNESSANDSOLEMNFOREXAMPLE,“HEPEERSOWLISHLYATUSTHROUGHHISGLASSES他透过他的眼镜严肃而机智地打量着我们ATENANTOFFERINGFIVEBALESOFCOTTONWASTOLD,AFTERSOMEOWLEYEDFIGURING,THATTHISCOTTONEXACTLYBALANCEDHISDEBT一个佃农交了5包棉花，老板精明地一盘算，告诉他说这些棉花刚好抵上他所欠的债务。”10HOWEVER,THEREISASUPERSTITIOUSBELIEFTHATOWLISANUNLUCKYBIRDANDISTHESYMBOLOFTHEDISASTERANDDEATHAMONGTHECHINESEPEOPLESMINDS,ASTHECHINESESAYINGGOES,“猫头鹰进宅，好事不来（ANOWLVISITINGAHOMEPRETENDSMISFORTUNEINTHATHOUSE）”IISAMEVEHICLEWITHDIFFERENTAFFECTIVEMEANINGS“AFFECTIVEMEANINGISCOMMUNICATEDWHENTHEFEELINGORATTITUDESAREEXPRESSEDINLANGUAGEINOTHERCASES,AFFECTIVEMEANINGISCONVEYEDTHROUGHTHEMEDIATIONOFCONCEPTUAL,CONNOTATIVE,ORSTYLISTICMEANING”11LETSTAKETHEDRAGONFOREXAMPLEINCHINESE,ESPECIALLYINANCIENTTIME,PEOPLETHOUGHTDRAGONISAMYTHICALANIMALWITHGREATPOWERTOCHINESE,ADRAGONISSOMETHINGSACREDANDHASBEENREFERREDTOTHEANCESTOROFTHECHINESENATIONTHATSWHYTHECHINESEALLCALLTHEMSELVESDESCENDENTSOFTHEDRAGONANDCHINESEFEUDALEMPERORSWEREOFTENREFERREDTOSONSOFDRAGONS,WEARINGCLOTHESWITHDESIGNSOFDRAGONSCHINESEIDIOMSTHATINVOLVETHEWORD“龙”WITHGOODCONNOTATIONSAREASFOLLOWS“龙腾虎跃”,“龙生龙，风生风”,“龙风呈祥”,“生龙活虎”MANYCHINESEWOULDSAY“望子成龙”,BUTITSLITERALCORRESPONDENCEOFFORM“TOEXPECTONESSONTOBECOMEADRAGON”WOULDSOUNDPUZZLEDANDRIDICULOUSTOTHENATIVEENGLISHPEOPLEINWESTERNPEOPLESMINDS,THEDRAGONISALARGEIMAGINARYANIMALTHATHASWINGSANDALONGTAILANDCANBREATHEOUTFIRETOTHEWESTERNERS,THEDRAGONISOFTENASYMBOLOFEVIL,AFIERCEMONSTERTHATDESTROYSANDTHEREFOREMUSTBEDESTROYEDITORIGINATESFROMTHEBIBLESTORY,INWHICHTHESATAN,WHOFOUGHTAGAINSTTHEGOD,WASCALLEDTHEGREATDRAGONDRAGONINTHEWESTERNWORLDISACRUELANDVICIOUSCREATURESEVERALSTORIESOFSAINTSORHEROESDEALWITHSTRUGGLESAGAINSTTHEMONSTERS,WHICHINMOSTCASESARESLAININTHEEND“THEREISANEXAMPLEFROMTHECOLLINSCONBUILDENGLISHLANGUAGEDICTIONARY,IFYOUCALLAWOMANADRAGON,YOUMEANTHATSHEISFIERCEANDUNPLEASANT（如果把一个女人叫做DRAGON，是说她很凶，很令人讨厌。）”12INCHINESEPEOPLESEYE,“BAT”MEANS“AUSPICIOUS”FORTHELETTERS“蝠”AND“福”AREPUNINSOUNDSTOENGLISHPEOPLE,THEYAREVERYFRIGHTENEDBECAUSETHEBATISANNOYINGANDUGLYANDCONNECTEDWITHEVILANDDARKNESSTHEREFORE,INENGLISH,EXPRESSIONSWITH“BAT”HAVEDEROGATORYMEANINGS,EG“ASBLINDASABAT像蝙蝠一样瞎”“CRAZYASABAT像蝙蝠一样疯”THECHINESEPEOPLEGIVEPREFERENCETOTHEPETRELPETRELISABIRDTHATFLIESOVERTHEVASTOCEANWITHCOURAGETOBRAVETHESTORMSSOPETRELISASSOCIATEDINCHINAWITHBRAVINGHARDSHIPSANDORDEALANDCOURAGETHEPETRELEMERGESINMANYJUVENILEDIARIES,YOUTHFULFICTIONALWRITINGS,ANDAPPEARSASTHETRADEMARKFORANUMBEROFPRODUCTSHOWEVER,THEENGLISHPEOPLEDONOTLIKEPETREL,BECAUSETHEYTHINKPETRELISTHESYMBOLFORDISASTERS,FORWHENASTORMISARISING,PETRELWILLFLUSH,FLYINGLIKELIGHTENINGBETWEENBLACKCLOUDSANDTHESEASOTHEPETRELISCONSIDEREDASANOMENOFDISASTERINENGLISHFOREXAMPLE,“STORMPETREL”MEANSAPERSONREGARDEDASAHERALDOFTROUBLE,STRIFEORVIOLENCEORSOMEONEWHODELIGHTSINSUCHTROUBLE,ETC222DIFFERENTVEHICLESWITHSAMEREFLECTEDMEANING“REFLECTEDMEANINGARISESINWORDSOFMULTIPLECONCEPTUALMEANING,WHENONESENSEOFAWORDFORMSPARTOFOURRESPONSETOANOTHERSENSE”13“ITREVEALSTHEFACTTHATENGLISHANDCHINESESPEAKERSMAYVIEWTHESAMETHINGINDIFFERENTWAYS”14THISWILLBEILLUSTRATEDBYTHEFOLLOWINGEXAMPLESTOCHINESEPEOPLE,TIGERISABIGANDPOWERFULCARNIVOROUSANIMALTHATISCALLEDTHEKINGOFTHEBEASTS,SOTIGERISTHESYMBOLOFTHEBRAVERY,COURAGE,VIGOR,DECISIVENESSANDPOWER,EG“虎虎有生气,虎头虎脑，虎将”ETCINCONTRAST,ENGLISHPEOPLECONSIDERTHATTHEKINGOFTHEBEASTSISLION,ANDLIONISTHESYMBOLOFTHECOURAGE,FEROCITY,DIGNITYOFDOMINANCE,ASCANBESEENFROMSUCHEXPRESSIONS“REGALASALION狮子般庄严”“MAJESTICASALION像狮子一样雄伟”THELIONINENGLISHCULTUREENJOYSHIGHPRESTIGE“RICHARDI,KINGOFENGLANDINTHELATTERPARTOFTHE12THCENTURY,WASKNOWNASLIONHEARTEDFORHISCOURAGEANDCHIVALRY”15THEREISANEXPRESSION“TOBEBRAVEASALION”WHENSOMEONEISCALLEDALION,HEISREFERREDTOACELEBRITYORAFAMOUSPERSONTHEREFORE,THEREISANOTHERIDIOMLIKE“ALIONHUNTER”,WHICHMEANS“HOSTSORHOSTESSESWHOSEEKOUTCELEBRITIESWITHWHOMTOIMPRESSTHEIRGUESTS”ITSNOWONDER,THEN,THATTHEENGLISHHAVECHOSENTHELIONASTHEIRSYMBOLASINTHEEXPRESSION“THEBRITISHLION”THEWORDHASBEENUSEDTOFORMMANYENGLISHIDIOMSWITHSUCHCONNOTATIONSFORINSTANCE,“LIONSSHARE”MEANSTHELARGESTPART“THELIONSDEN”MEANSAPLACEOFGREATDANGER“TOMEETALIONINONESPATH”MEANSTOENCOUNTERADAUNTINGOBSTACLEETCTOMEAN“BOAST”,INCHINESE,PEOPLEWOULDSAY“吹牛”BUTINENGLISH,PEOPLEWOULDLIKETOUSE“TALKHORSE”INWESTERNCOUNTRIES,HORSESAREBEASTSOFBURDEN,WHILEOXENARERAISEDFORMILKANDBEEFHORSESHAVEMOREOPPORTUNITIESTODEMONSTRATETHEIRSTRENGTHTHANOXENTHATARESTRONGDOMESTICANIMALS,TOOSOEVENTHOUGH“STRONGASANOX”CANBEHEARDINENGLISH,“STRONGASAHORSE”ISUSEDMOREFREQUENTLYINCHINA,HOWEVER,OXENARETHEMAJORBEASTSOFBURDENINRURALAREASNOWONDERTHEREARESUCHIDIOMATICEXPRESSIONSAS“力大如牛”,“壮得如牛”INCHINESEBUTNOCHINESEWOULDSAY“力大如马”,“壮得像头马”TOREFERTO“URGENT”,CHINESEPEOPLEWOULDSAY“热锅上的蚂蚁”BUTTHEENGLISHPEOPLEWOULDPREFERTOSAY,“LIKEACATONHOTBRICKS热锅上的猫”TOMEANSOMEONEISWETTHROUGH,CHINESEPEOPLEWOULDSAY“像只落汤鸡”INENGLISH,PEOPLEWOULDSAY“LIKEADROWNEDRAT”CHINESEPEOPLEUSUALLYLIKETOUSE“鸡”ASAVEHICLE,SUCHAS“鸡皮疙瘩”,ANDENGLISHPEOPLEWOULDSAY“GOOSEPIMPLE”CHINESEPEOPLESAY“杀鸡取卵”,BUTENGLISHPEOPLEGIVESUCHIDIOM,“TOKILLTHEGOOSETHATLAYSTHEGOLDENEGG”223MEANINGGAPIGAPINCHINESEINENGLISHCULTURE,SOMEANIMALVEHICLESHAVERICHANDVARIEDCULTURALCONNOTATIONSITISKNOWNTHATBULLISJUSTANORDINARYANIMALINCHINAANDDOESNTHAVESPECIALCULTURALASSOCIATIVEMEANINGSTHECHINESEPEOPLEMAYGUESSTHELITERALMEANINGOFTHEIDIOM,“ABULLINACHINASHOP瓷器店里的公牛”BUTTHEYWOULDNOTHAVETHEIMAGETHATWOULDBEEVOKEDINTHEMINDSOFENGLISHSPEAKINGPEOPLEANANGRY,SNORTINGBULLCHARGINGINTOASHOPFILLEDWITHEXQUISITEFRAGILEPORCELAINCONSEQUENTLY,CHINESEWOULDBELESSAPPRECIATIVEOFTHEVIVIDNESSOFTHEEXPRESSION“ABULLINACHINASHOP”,WHICHMEANSAPERSONWHOISCLUMSYANDBUNGLINGANDCAUSESALOTOFTROUBLEINASITUATIONREQUIRINGTACTANDDELICACYBEAVERISAHARDWORKINGANIMALINNORTHAMERICA,BUTTHECHINESEPEOPLEKNOWLITTLEOFITABEAVERHASAUNIQUETECHNIQUEANDABILITYFORCREATIVITYITSCONSTANTACTIVITY,ITSHABITOFGNAWINGDOWNTREESANDBUILDINGCOMPLEX“HOMES”ANDITSSKILLANDINGENUITYINDOINGTHISHAVEEARNEDFORTHEANIMALTHENAMEEAGERBEAVERSOTHEIDIOM“EAGERBEAVER”INENGLISHMEANSSOMEONEWHOISTOOINDUSTRIOUSANDWORKSHARDERTHANTHEYSHOULDTHETERMSOMETIMESHASASLIGHTLYDEROGATORYCONNOTATIONHOWEVER,TOMOSTCHINESEPEOPLE,ABEAVERISONLYAKINDOFANIMALWITHOUTANYCULTURALCONNOTATIONSCATHASRICHCULTURALCONNOTATIONSINENGLISHCULTUREINTHEENGLISHMYTHOLOGY,CATCANEVENAFFECTTHECHANGEOFTHEWEATHER,ASTHESAYINGGOES,“TORAINCATSANDDOGS倾盆大雨”AND“THECATHASAGALEOFWINDINHERTAIL这猫尾巴里有一阵大风”“THEREISNOTHINGFORITBUTTOWAITANDSEEHOWTHECATJUMPS眼前只有静待，看看事情如何转变，英语中“猫怎样跳”指风向怎样变。INWESTERNCOUNTRIES,CATISAHOUSEHOLDPETUNDERTHEPARTICULARCULTURALBACKGROUND,THE“CAT”CANBEUSEDTOREFERTOMANYKINDSOFCHARACTER,FOREXAMPLE,1DONTLISTENTOHERGOSSIPSHEISACAT别听她搬弄是非，她是个心地恶毒的女人。2HEWASDOWNWITHFEVERANDWASSICKASACAT他发烧病倒，病情严重。3ICANNOTSTANDTHATMANHESASSLEEKASACAT我对那个人简直无法忍受，他花言巧语，油头滑舌。ITISDIFFICULTFORCHINESEPEOPLETOUNDERSTANDTHEABOVEEXAMPLESHOWEVER,THECHINESEPEOPLEUSE“CAT”ASMETAPHORSTOREFERTOPERSONSINDIFFERENTSENSESSUCHAS“馋猫”“夜猫子”IIGAPINENGLISHALLTHECHINESEPEOPLEKNOWTHE“CRANE”INCHINESESTANDSFORLONGEVITYSOCHINESEPARENTSNAMETHEIRCHILDAS“鹤年”OR“鹤龄”TOSHOWTHEIRHOPETHATTHECHILDWILLLIVETOARIPEOLDAGETHECRANEISOFTENPAIREDWITHTHEPINETREE,WHICHISASYMBOLFORSTURDINESSANDLONGLIFEBUTTOWESTERNMINDS,CRANEISTHOUGHTTOBEANUGLYBIRD,WHICHDOESNOTARISEANYSUCHASSOCIATION“TORTOISE”INCHINESEPEOPLESMINDSHASTWOMEANINGS,ONESYMBOLIZESLONGEVITYTHEOTHERMEANS“FOOLISHPEOPLE”HOWEVER,“TORTOISE”DOESNTHAVESUCHKINDASSOCIATIVECONNOTATIONSINENGLISHCULTURETHETORTOISEISJUSTASLOWMOVINGANDNOTVERYATTRACTIVECREATURE“鸳鸯”INCHINESEUSUALLYREFERSTOTHECOUPLE,BUTINENGLISH,THEMANDARINDUCKDOESNTHAVESUCHCULTURALCONNOTATIONS3CAUSESFORDIFFERENCESJUSTASDISCUSSEDABOVE,ANIMALWORDSHAVEDIFFERENTCULTURALCONNOTATIONSINENGLISHANDINCHINESEWHATARETHEMAINREASONSCAUSINGSUCHDIFFERENCESINCULTURALCONNOTATIONSENGLISHANDCHINESEANIMALWORDSCONVEYDIFFERENTCULTURALFEATURESANDMESSAGESOFTHEIROWNNATIONS,ANDREFLECTTHEIROWNCULTURETHEFOLLOWINGANALYSISMAYHELPUNDERSTANDCULTURALCONNOTATIONDIFFERENCESINANIMALWORDS31INFLUENCEOFREGIONCHINAISANAGRICULTURECULTIVATINGCOUNTRYFROMTHEINVENTIONOFTHEFARMING,THEAGRICULTURALCULTUREISONTHEDOMINANTROLEINCHINAOXISTHEMAINFARMINGTOOLINTHEAGRICULTURALHISTORYINCHINATHE“OX”ISTHESYMBOLOFPOWERANDHARDWORKINGINCHINESECULTUREFOREXAMPLE,“健壮如牛”,“牛劲”,“老黄牛”,“孺子牛”ETCBUTINBRITAIN,THEENGLISHPEOPLEALWAYSATTACHIMPORTANCETOTHELIVESTOCKHUSBANDRY,SOTHEHORSEPLAYSANIMPORTANTROLEINTHEWESTERNCULTUREHEREARETHEENGLISHIDIOMSASSOCIATEDWITHTHEHORSE,FOREXAMPLE,4WORKLIKEAHORSE辛苦地工作5EATLIKEAHORSE狼吞虎咽6LOCKTHESTABLEDOORAFTERTHEHORSEISSTOLEN亡羊补牢WHATISMOREBRITAINISASEAROUNDEDCOUNTRY,ANDTHEREISAVASTSEACOASTSOITSRESOURCESINFISHERYAREVERYRICHBECAUSEOFTHIS,THEREARESOMANYIDIOMSABOUTFISHERYSUCH“ABIGFISH大人物”“APOORFISH倒霉的家伙”“HAVEOTHERFISHTOFRY有另一见更重要的事要做”“MAKEFISHOFONEANDFLESHOFANOTHER偏爱一方；厚此薄彼”“NEVERAFTERTOTEACHFISHTOSWIM不要班门弄斧”“AWHALE聪明的人”32INFLUENCEOFCONVENTIONDUETODIFFERENTLIVINGCONVENTIONS,DIFFERENTNATIONSHAVEOBVIOUSCULTURALDIFFERENCESINCONCEPTOFVALUEANDAESTHETICSTANDARDSFORINSTANCE,INCHINESE,THEANIMALWORD“MAGPIE”ISCONSIDEREDASGOODLUCKBECAUSE“MAGPIE”INCHINESE,ISPRONOUNCED“喜鹊XIQUE”“喜XI”INCHINESEMEANSGOODANDHAPPYINCHINESETRADITION,THEREEXISTSUCHIDIOMSAS“喜鹊叫，好事到WHENMAGPIESARECALLING,ITMUSTHAVEGOODNEWS”HOWEVER,INSOMEPLACESINSCOTLAND,IFAMAGPIEFLIESNEARAWINDOW,ITISASYMBOLOFBADLUCKINASTATEOFENGLAND,IFSOMEONEHAPPENSTOMEETAMAGPIEHEHASTOSPITTHREETIMESTOAVOIDBADLUCKPEOPLEINTHEWESTHAVEALONGTRADITIONOFKEEPINGPETSOFTHEM,DOMESTICANIMALSSUCHASDOGSANDCATSAREDEARANDVALUEDCOMPANIONSHOWEVER,INCHINA“DOG”ISDISGUSTINGINPEOPLESEYESNATURALLYTHEYAREDIFFERENTIDIOMATICEXPRESSIONSTOWARD“DOG”INTHEUSEOFLANGUAGE,FORINSTANCE,INCHINESE,PEOPLEHAVESUCHDEROGATIVEEXPRESSIONSAS“狗腿子”,“狗崽子”NONETHELESS,ENGLISHPEOPLEHAVEFAVORABLEEXPRESSIONSASFOLLOWS“ATOPDOG最重要的人物”“ALUCKYDOG幸运儿”。33INFLUENCEOFRELIGIONRELIGION,THEMAINCOMPONENTOFHUMANCULTURE,REFLECTSDIFFERENTATTITUDESTOWARDSADMIRATIONANDTABOOOFEACHNATIONCHINESECULTUREISDEEPLYAFFECTEDBYTAOISM,BUDDHISMANDCONFUCIANISM,AMONGWHICHTHEEFFECTOFBUDDHISMISTHEMOSTINVETERATE,WHILEENGLISHCULTUREISGREATINFLUENCEDBYCHRISTIANITYTHEREISNOQUESTIONTHATCHINESEEXPRESSIONSREFLECTTHEINFLUENCEOFBUDDHISM,WHEREASENGLISHEXPRESSIONSARECLOSELYRELATEDTOCHRISTIANITYINCONTRAST,IDIOMSFROMBIBLEANDCHRISTIANITYAREABUNDANT,SUCHAS“THEGOLDCALF金牛犊THEADORATIONFORMONEY”“BEARDTHELION揪狮子的胡须”“ALIONINTHEPATH拦路虎”“CASTPEARLSBEFORESWINE”STEMSFROMMATTHEWINTHENEWTESTAMENT“ALITTLEBIRDTOLDME”ISFROMECCLESIASTESINTHEBIBLE“SEPARATETHESHEEPFROMTHEGOATS”ISFROMEXODUSINTHEBIBLE34INFLUENCEOFHISTORYDIFFERENTCOUNTRIESPOSSESSDIFFERENTHISTORYCULTURE,WHICHMAINLYCOMPRISESALLUSION,MYTHS,POEMS,ANCIENTBOOKSANDRECORDS,ETCAMONGTHEM,ALLUSIONISTHEMOSTIMPORTANTITREFLECTSTHENATIONALCHARACTERISTICTHECULTURALCONNOTATIONFROMHISTORYISTHEGEMSOFHUMANCULTURALHERITAGEITISWORTHLEARNINGHISTORYCULTUREKNOWLEDGEOFTHEHISTORICALBACKGROU