从动物习语看中西文化差异 英语专业毕业论文

核准通过，归档资料。未经允许，请勿外传从动物习语看中西文化差异ABSTRACTLANGUAGEISACULTURALCARRIERCULTURELOADEDVOCABULARYPLAYSANIMPORTANTROLEINALANGUAGEDIFFERENTSOCIALBACKGROUNDSANDNATIONALCULTURESHAVEAGREATEFFECTONTHECULTURALCONNOTATIONSOFVOCABULARYANIMALSAREFRIENDSOFHUMANBEINGSLANGUAGESOFMOSTNATIONSCONTAINALOTOFWORDSDENOTINGANIMALS,ANDSODOCHINESEANDENGLISHALONGWITHTHEDEVELOPMENTANDPROGRESSOFHUMANSOCIETY,MANYANIMALSARETAMEDTOBECOMEDOMESTICANIMALSSERVINGPEOPLE,ANDMANYOTHERSHAVEBECOMEPEOPLESPETSSOANIMALSHAVEBECOMEPARTOFPEOPLESLIFEANIMALIDIOMSGRADUALLYHAVEGOTTHEIRESTABLISHEDCONNOTATIONSINALLLANGUAGESTHATIS,PEOPLEASSOCIATETHEIRFEELINGSANDEMOTIONS,EVENHAPPENINGSANDNATURALPHENOMENAWITHVARIOUSANIMALS,WHICHARETHOUGHTTOPRESENTDIFFERENTCHARACTERSLIKEPEOPLE,ORSERVEASSYMBOLSMANYANIMALSHAVEBECOMEAKINDOFSYMBOLINPEOPLESTHINKINGANDTHISSYMBOLISREFLECTEDINTHELANGUAGEHOWEVER,BECAUSEOFDIFFERENTHISTORYANDCULTURE,THECONNOTATIONSOFANIMALWORDSINONELANGUAGEDONOTNECESSARILYCOINCIDEWITHTHOSEINANOTHERBECAUSEOFDIFFERENTOUTLOOKOFLIFEANDCONCEPTOFBEAUTYIN9JWKFFWVGTYMJGITREFLECTSLANGUAGELANGUAGEREFLECTSCHARACTERISTICSOFCULTUREANDPREDICTSTHEDEVELOPINGORIENTATIONOFCULTUREINTHEBROADESTSENSE,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,ALLUSIONISTHEMOSTIMPORTANTITREFLECTSTHENATIONALCHARACTERISTICTHECULTURALCONNOTATIONFROMHISTORYISTHEGEMSOFHUMANCULTURALHERITAGEITISWORTHLEARNINGHISTORYCULTUREKNOWLEDGEOFTHEHISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFENGLISHANDCHINESEMAYHELPCOMPREHENDWHATTHECULTURALCONNOTATIONMEANSASWEKNOW,ENGLANDISGOVERNEDBYTHEPOPEANDTHEKINGFORALONGTIME,SOINENGLISH,THEREARESOMANYIDIOMSTOEXPRESSTHEIROUTRAGE,DISDAINANDAVERSENESSSUCHAS“THEKINGANDPOPE,THELIONANDWOLF国王教皇，狮子豺狼”；“KINGSANDBEARSOFTENWORRYTHEIRKEEPERS伴君如伴虎”“LOCUSTYEARS”COMESFROMEXODUS,CH10INTHEBIBLE,WHICHMEANS“不景气的年代，灾难深重的岁月”“BALAAMSASS巴兰的驴子”MEANS“平时沉默驯服，突然开口抗议的人”FROMNUMBER,CH22“WORSHIPTHEGOLDENCALF”MEANS“拜金牛犊，崇拜金钱”“ONESEWELAMB最珍爱之物”FROMMATTHEW,CH23AND“SHEEPANDGOAT好人与坏人”FROMMATTHEWCH25INTHEBIBLE“THEDOVEOFPEACE和平鸽”ISFROMTHEOLDTESTAMENT“THEUGLYDUCKLING丑小鸭”ISFROMHANANDERSONSTALES“亡羊补牢ITISNOTTOOLATETOMENDTHEFOLDEVENAFTERSOMEOFTHESHEEPHAVEBEENLOST”AND“狐假虎威ASASSINLIONSSKIN”AREFROMINTRIGUESOFTHEWARRINGSTATES战国策“老马识途”ISFROMFANFEIZI韩非子“兔死狗烹”ISFROMRECORDSOFTHEHISTORIAN史记THECHINESEHISTORYISLONGERTHANTHEENGLISH,SOTHECHINESELANGUAGEISRICHINSUCHIDIOMSWITHANIMALWORDS35INFLUENCEOFFABLESANDMYTHOLOGIESIDIOMSAREUSUALLYCLOSELYRELATEDTODISTINCTIVECULTURALFABLESANDMYTHOLOGIESTHEENGLISHIDIOMSBELONGTOTHISKINDMAINLYCOMEFROMTHEAESOPSFABLES,ASTHEFOLLOWINGANIMALIDIOMS“ADOGINTHEMANGER占马槽之狗/占着茅坑不拉屎”MEANSSOMEONEWHODOESNOTWANTOTHERSTOUSEORENJOYSOMETHINGEVENTHOUGHTHEYTHEMSELVESDONOTNEEDORWANTIT“TOCRYWOLF在不需要援助时求援”MEANSTOKEEPASKINGFORHELPTHATYOUDONOTREALLYNEED,WITHTHERESULTTHATWHENYOUDONEEDPEOPLEDONOTBELIEVEYOUMOSTOFSUCHCHINESEIDIOMSAREFROMCHINESEHISTORICALLITERATUREANDANCIENTFABLESANDFAIRYTALESTHEYAREVIVIDWITHPROFOUNDMEANINGSFOREXAMPLE,7“守株待兔”MEANS“TOSTANDBYATREESTUMPWAITINGFORAHAREWAITFORGAINSWITHOUTPAINS”8“画蛇添足”MEANS“TODRAWASNAKEANDADDFEETTOITTORUINTHEEFFECTBYADDINGSOMETHING”9“井底之蛙”MEANS“AFROGINAWELLAPERSONWITHAVERYLIMITEDOUTLOOKANDEXPERIENCE”10“精卫填海”MEANS“THEMYTHICALBIRDJINGWEITRYINGTOFILLUPTHESEAWITHPEBBLESDOGGEDDETERMINATIONTOACHIEVEONESPURPOSE”36INFLUENCEOFBORROWEDLANGUAGEANDFOREIGNLANGUAGETHEENGLISHPEOPLEBRINGINMANYIDIOMSFROMOTHERLANGUAGES,EG“WHITEELEPHANT”COMESFROMTHAILAND“PAPERTIGER”COMESFROMCHINA“CATSPAW”AND“FISHINTROUBLEDWATERS”COMEFROMFRANCETHECHINESELANGUAGEALSOASSIMILATESSOMEIDIOMSFROMOTHERLANGUAGES,FOREXAMPLE,“象牙之塔替罪羊掉鳄语眼泪丑小鸭ETC”164METHODSOFDEALINGWITHCULTURALDIFFERENCESTRANSLATIONISTHEMETHODOFDEALINGWITHCULTURALDIFFERENCESTHEFAMOUSAMERICANTRANSLATORNIDASAID“TRANSLATINGCONSISTSINREPRODUCINGINTHERECEPTORLANGUAGETHECLOSESTNATURALEQUIVALENTOFTHESOURCELANGUAGEMESSAGE,FIRSTINTERMSOFMEANINGANDSECONDLYINTERMSOFSTYLE”17THEREAREFIVETRANSLATIONMETHODSEMPLOYEDINTHEFOLLOWINGPARAGRAPHSTODEALWITHTHECULTURALDIFFER