跨文化交际Unit 4课件

1、Unit 4Language and Culture Pun: amusing use of a word or phrase that has two meanings, or of a word with the same sound but different meanings Things like puns defy translation across languages. Warm Up “Why time flies?” “Because somebody wants to kill it.” “你有什么了不起，能把我吃了！” “不能,我是回民！” 外甥打灯笼照(舅)旧 as

2、before; as usual; as of old 狗撵鸭子呱呱叫 very goodMore examples 恋爱“三草”原则: 女：你说你很寂寞，为什么不去找你以前的女朋友而来追我呢？ 男：好马不吃回头草！(A good horse will never turn round to graze on an old pasture.) 女：你们班上也有女孩呀！我们俩相隔这么远，为何来追我呢？ 男：兔子不吃窝边草！(A rabbit doesnt nibble the grass near its own hole.) 女：那你现在为什么又要抛弃我呢？你这个混蛋！ 男：天涯何处无芳草！(

3、There are plenty of fish in the sea.) More examples I am sorry. I am sorry, too. I am sorry three. What are you sorry for (four)? I am sorry five.More examples Language = neutral codes and grammatical rules? We make cultural choices when we select words, form sentences and send a message. All langua

4、ges have social questions and information questions. social questions - a lubricant to move the conversation forward information questions - asking for information Words in themselves do not carry the meaning. The meaning comes out of the context, the cultural usage.Reading IHow Is Language Related

5、to Culture Language reflects the environment in which we live. (snow, wine) Language reflects cultural values. (time) In ICC or translation: do dictionaries always help? We translate concepts from a foreign language and culture with words that fits our priorities. e.g.: dog Identical words with rath

6、er different meanings: administration, manager/director, force majeure (不可抗力)Reading IHow Is Language Related to Culture打落水狗, 斗鸡走狗, 狗恶酒酸, 狗吠不惊, 狗急跳墙, 狗头军师, 狗血喷头, 狗眼看人, 狗仗人势, 狗嘴里吐不出象牙, 挂羊头、卖狗肉, 关门打狗, 狐朋狗友, 鸡鸣狗吠, 嫁鸡随鸡、嫁狗随狗, 狼心狗肺, 鼠窃狗盗, 偷鸡摸狗, 指鸡骂狗, 猪卑狗险, 狗皮膏药, 狗走狐淫, 丧家之狗, 狗行狼心, 狗胆包天, 关门打狗 Reading IHow

7、Is Language Related to Culture- Watchdog (舆论监督)- Love me, love my dog. (爱屋及乌) - Every dog has his day. (凡人皆有得意日) - Be faithful as a dog- I am too old a dog to learn new tricks. (行家里手) - He is top dog in the office. (头儿) Language lives, and it changes over time. Words and phrases that are used common

8、ly at one time may be discontinued or their meaning may change overtime. “gay” purity of a language A language, if spoken in different parts of the globe, ultimately develop differently. “Englishes”Reading IHow Is Language Related to Culture Communication across cultures and languages is difficult a

9、nd full of hurdles and pitfalls. Even if two people from different cultures can speak a common language, they may misinterpret the cultural signals. The result is confusion and misunderstanding. Reading IHow Is Language Related to Culture壮如牛as strong as a horse犟牛as stubborn as a mule蠢猪as stupid as a

10、 goose拦路虎a lion in the path河东狮old gray mare母夜叉an absolute dragon落汤鸡a drowned rat胆小如鼠chicken-hearted一丘之貉birds of the same featherConnotations of animal words“Language-and-culture” Language and culture are clearly fused; one reflects the other. Language is a product of culture, but it also plays a dis

11、tinct role. Language is a window to the culture. Reading IILanguage-and-Culture, Two Sides of the Same Coin Language and cultural products Language and cultural practices Language and cultural perspectives Language and cultural communities Language and persons“Language-and-culture”in the five dimens

12、ions of culture Version 1: the literal translation strategy faithful to the original but easy to confuse the readers in the target language Version 2: the liberal translation strategy attempting to convey the original meaning as precisely as possible but losing the original poetic flavor (the rhetoric device pun is not reproduced)Case Study 14 lick somebodys boots: sit at somebodys feet. have a big mouth a piece of cake carry coals to Newcastle at si