英汉相同动物词汇的跨文化研究

期末论文ACross-culturalStudyofIdenticalAnimalWordsinChineseandEnglish姓名：ToryABSTRACTInthelongcourseofthedevelopmentofhumanhistory,animalsusuallykeepacloserelationwithhumanbeingsandinfluencehumanexistenceanddevelopmentdeeply.Thecloserelationresultsinhumancomplexfeelingsoffondness,sympathy,antipathy,orfear.Also,peopleoftenuseanimalstoexpresstheirfeelings.TherearesomanyvocabularieswithrelationtoanimalsinbothEnglishandChinesecultures,andthoseEnglishandEnglishandChinesewordsmakeupagreatpartoftheirownrespectivesystemoflanguage.However,wecannotmaketheignorancethatlanguagehasbekeepingtheclosestrelationshipwithculture.Words,whichhasbeenplayingaroleofcornerstoneinlanguage,areextensivelyrelatedwithculture.Wordsreflectthespecialsocialculture,anddifferentsocialbackgroundsandculturaldifferencesleadtotheconnotativedifferencesofwordsinEnglishandChinese.Forexample,differentculturalbackgroundsandwaysofthinkingresultinthedifferentconnotationsofanimalwords.Eventhoughtherearetwoidenticalanimalwords,theycansharequitedifferentconnotationsinthetwocultures.Onthecontrary,twodifferentanimalwordscanalsosharesimilarculturalconnotations.Therefore,itisverynecessaryandindispensableforEnglishlearnerstohavesuchaprofoundstudyonanimalwordsinfluencedbyculture.Thethesismakesacomparativeanalysis,focusingondifferencesofidenticalanimalwordssharingdifferentconnotationsinthetwocultures;Fromthecomparison,wecanclearlyfindthehistoricalandculturaldifferencesofanimalwordsinthetwocultures.KeyWords:animalwords,culturalconnotations,culturaldifferences,comparativeanalysis摘要在人类历史发展的漫长进程中，动物一直与人类保持着密切联系，并对人类的生存与发展产生深刻的影响。这种亲密无间的关系使得人们对动物产生了喜爱或同情或厌恶或恐惧的错综复杂的情感，人们也常借动物来寄托和表达人们的情感，所以在英汉两种语言中就会出现许许多多与动物词汇相关的词汇也就不足为奇。然而，不可忽视的是，语言与文化息息相关，而作为中基石作用的词汇他们都同本国的文化精密相连。词汇反映了特定的社会文化，不同的社会背景和文化差异造成了词汇在文化内涵上的差异。比如说，由于英汉民族思维方式和文化背景不同，同一动物词语所承载的意义也就会出现差异，而即便是不同的英汉动物词语，也极有可能表达相同的内涵，所以对于打上深深的文化烙印的动物词汇的探究是极其必要而不可或缺的。而本文正是使用比较分析法，分析汉英文化中相同动物词汇所引起的不同联想意义。通过比较，人们可以更清楚地感受到英汉文化在动物词语上留下的历史文化差异。关键词：动物词汇、文化内涵、文化差异、比较分析CONTENTSTOC\o"1-3"\h\u29180ChapterOneIntroduction 1126901.1AnimalWordsinGeneral 1263311.2CulturalConnotationofAnimalWords 121901.3ResearchValueandResearchApproach 117854ChapterTwoTheComparativeStudyoftheIdentical12931EnglishandChineseAnimalWords 375902.1SomeAnimalWordswithCommendatoryMeaninginEnglish,butwithDerogatoryMeaninginChinese 3114182.1.1Dog 383462.1.2Bear 583462.1.3Owl 5276982.2SomeAnimalWordswithCommendatoryMeaninginChinese,butwithDerogatoryMeaninginEnglish 5133252.2.1Dragon 6144032.2.2Phoenix 6177262.2.3Magpie 727272.2.4Bat 72510ChapterThreeFactorsInfluencingDifferentCulturalConnotations 984223.1GeographicalInfluenceinAnimalWords 9219893.2CustomaryInfluenceinAnimalWords 9246403.3TheInfluenceofHistory 10155153.4TheInfluenceofReligionandWorldView 103834ChapterFourConclusion 155243REFERENCES 16ChapterOneIntroductionLanguageandculturearecloselyrelatedandtheformerisindispensabletothelatter.Alanguageissaidtobethecarrierofitsculture.Theircloserelationshipcanwellbeillustratedbycross-linguisticcomparisonofanimalwordsinrespecttoculturalconnotation.1.1AnimalWordsinGeneralAnimalsarefriendsofhumanbeings.Languagesofallnationscontainalotofwordsdenotinganimals,andsodoChineseandEnglish.Alongwiththedevelopmentandprocessofhumansociety,manyanimalsaretamedtobecomedomesticanimalsservingpeople,andmanyothershavebecomepeople'spetanimals.So,animalshavebecomepartofpeople'slife,assciencedevelops,peoplelearnmoreandmoreaboutanimals.Manyanimalshavebecomeakindofsymbolisminpeople'sthinking,andthissymbolismisreflectedinthelanguage.Sayinglike'ascunningasafox'appearinmanylanguages.However,thesesayingsdonotnecessarilycoincidefromonelanguagetoanotherbecauseofdifferentoutlookoflifeandconceptionofbeautyindifferentcultures.1.2CulturalConnotationofAnimalWordsTheculturalconnotationreferstothegeneralmeaningincludingconnotativemeaningandculturalmeaningcarriedindifferentculturalcircumstances.Itincludesthemeaningaddedandtheamplifiedmeaningunderspecialsocialandculturalbackgrounds,andalsoincludestheemotionsandattitudesofsomeparticularculturalcolony.1.3ResearchValueandResearchApproachLearningalanguageisinseparablefromlearningitsculture.ItcanbeseenfrommanyEnglishbooksthattheassociationsofmostanimalexpressionsdifferfromthoseofChinese.Thewordbat,inWesternculture,oftencarriesanegativemeaning,suchas"asblindasabat".InChina,however,batisasymbolluckiness,happiness,andwell-beingwiththesamepronunciationastheword"福",referstorichnessandprosperity.Thisisareflectionofcultures.Atpresent,itisreportedthatinChinamanyEnglishteachersandscholarshavediscussedthedifferencesofculturalconnotationsofanimalexpressionsbetweenEnglishandChinese.TanWenhui(谭文辉,2001)focusesontheculturalmeaningofanimalwordscomingfromthecognitivemechanismofhumanbeings.Meanwhile,someotherscholarsputmoreemphasisonthedifferencesonculturalconnotationsofanimalwords.BaoHongming(包虹明,2002)paysmoreattentiontotranslationsofanimalwordsandtheirculturalconnotations.ThisideaisalsoindicatedbyWangYing(王瑛,2002)andLiJunwenandYandXiaojun(李君文,杨晓军,2000).Thisthesiswillfocusontherelationshipbetweenculturalconnotationsofanimalwordsandinterculturalcommunication.ChapterTwoTheComparativeStudyoftheIdenticalEnglishandChineseAnimalWordsItcanbeseenfrommanyEnglishbooks,thattheEnglishspeaking-peoplehavedifferentassociationofmostanimalsfromChina.Thisisareflectionofculture.Therefore,similaritiesanddissimilaritiesintheconnotationofanimalwordsinthetwolanguagesshouldbeentakenintoconsiderationincross-culturalcommunication.2.1SomeAnimalWordswithCommendatoryMeaninginEnglish,butwithDerogatoryMeaninginChineseBecauseofdifferentculturalbackgrounds,naturally,EnglishpeopleandChinesepeoplewouldhavedifferentassociationsofthesameanimalwordsandgivemoredifferentculturalconnotationstothesameanimalwords.2.1.1DogAccordingtotheirfeeling,associationsandcustomsunderdifferentculturalbackgrounds,peopleshowtheirlikesanddislikesinusinganimalwords.Someanimalwords,likedogs,arewelcomeinEnglishbutdisgustedintheother.InChinese,dogsaregenerallyconnectedwithunpleasantness.Phraseswithdogsareusedasdisparagingterms,justlookatthesewords:走狗,狐朋狗友,丧家犬（狗）,狗仗人势,狗东西,狗腿子,狗眼看人低……Anddogsareusuallyconnectedwithvariousbadhumanactions:“狗嘴里吐不出象牙来”isusedtodescribeabadpersonthatcannotspeakgoodwords;“狗急跳墙”issayingaboutabadmanwhoislandedinapredicamentbutstilltryingtoputupalast-ditchstruggle;and“挂羊头，卖狗肉”meanstodoevildeedsinthenameofjustice.Therelationshipbetweenhumanbeinganddogismastersandtheirservants,ifthemastersucceedinhiscareeronce,itwillbe“兔死狗烹”(cookthedogafterkillingthehare).Whatistobepointedoutisthat,dogsinancienttimeswerenotalwaysdespisedbyhumanbeing.AfterthefoundingofHandynasty,itwasnotashamedthatLiuBang(刘邦,thefirstLordofHandynastyinChinesehistory)calledhisfoundingmilitaryofficers“忠狗”whichmeansinfinitelyloyalsubordinates.Whilewiththedevelopingofhistory,peopleaddallsortsofevilintentionstodogs,wecan’tbutsayitisdogthatbeascapegoatforhumanbeing.Inaword，intraditionalChineseculture，dogsarekeptbecausetheyareuseful,butnotbecausetheymakegoodcompanions.Generally,theyareconsideredanecessaryevil,tobetoleratedbutnotloved.Itiswell-knownthatEnglishlikedogs.Justtakealookatthelinesofdogfoodinthesupermarketandthespecializeddoghousesanddogbooks.Eventherearelotsofsumptuousmagazinesthatcostseveraltensdollarswrittentoexplainhowtofeeddogs.WhenmothersinChinaarereadingabout“howtoraiseyourbaby”,westernpeoplemaystudyabout“howtokeephealthyofyourdoggie”.InEnglishpeoplecallsdogas:Man’sbestfriend.Theword“dog”inmostsituationsisingoodsenseinEnglish,usedtodescribeapersonwhodeservesthedeservingpity.Suchas“helpadogoverastile”(帮助人度过难关),“aluckydog”(幸运儿),“anolddog”(老手/上了岁数的人),“loveme,lovemydog”(爱屋及乌),“everydoghashisday”(凡人皆有得意日),thesestatementsobviouslyreflecttheculturalmindsofpeoplewhospeaksEnglish,theytreatdogasaprettycompanion,man’sbestfriend.Whatismore,theyevencallsomefoodwith“dog”,suchasthepopular“hotdog”(hotsausageinasoftroll)and“adoginablanket”(grapesorpuddinginacake).InEnglisharmy,itisunimaginablethatsoldierscallbiscuitandcheese“dogandmaggot”.Aftermealintherestaurant,theremnantoffoodwillbebroughthomeina“doggiebag”,itisnotsharedwithdogsbuteatafterheatedthenextday.ItfollowsthatdogsinWestareheldahighposition.Inwesternculture,dogmeansfaithful,reliableandhard-working,forexamplethephrase“asfaithfulasadog”isusedtodescribeaperson’sfaith;“dog-tired”meansthatapersonistiredasadog;“dogsleep”referstobestartledoutofsleepfrequently;“dog-earedbooks”isabookwithitsmarginstuckedupand“dogwatch”referstonightduties.InChinese“老狗”isacurse,whileinEnglishan“olddog”referstoaoldmanoranexperiencedperson(correspondsto“oldhand”),thatissimilartotheChinese“老人言”inthesaying“不听老人言，吃亏在眼前”and“老马”inthephrase“老马识途”.A“gaydog”meansahappyperson,anda“topdog”standsforawinner.InChinese“狗”isalowlyanimalcontainingthemeaning“vile”or“disgusting”.Phraseswith“dog”arealwaysinderogatorysense,suchas“狗东西”,“狗胆包天”,“狗急跳墙”,“狼心狗肺”,“鸡呜狗盗”,“狐群狗党”,“狗血喷头”,“狗屁不通”andsoon.ItissaidthatanEnglishmanoncemadeawrongunderstandingofhisChinesefriend’s“小犬定于下月初七成亲”(mysonduestomarryon7thnextmonth)intheletter,heconsidered“小犬”asa“littledog”andsentachainwhichismadeofbrassasapresent.Itisajestaboutdogsbecauseoftheculturaldifferences.

YetEnglish-speakingpeopledonotalwaysspeakofdogsendearingly，suchas“Youdog!”,“Sonofabitch!”“TheysayEnglishisgoingtodogs”,buttheseswearingwordsdonotimpairdog’sposition.Mostof“dogwords”areusedingoodcausesorneutralones.InEnglandandAmericandogsarestillpeople'sgoodfriends.InGreekandRomanmythology,owlalwaysstaysbythegoddessofwitness.Itisinvitedtomakeaverdictonargumentsbetweenanimals,especiallyonemergentoccasions.Therefore,inEnglish,owlisabirdstandingforwitness.Suchas“aswiseasanowl”Owlishreferstoclever,shrewd.Forexample,Patrickpeeredowlishlyatusthroughhisglasses.However,inChinese,owlisthoughtasasymbolofomenbecauseitalwaysfliesaroundgraveyardatnight,sendingoutsadvoice.Intheoldlegend,itissaidthatsomeonewoulddieiftheowlrestonhishouse.Owlisrelatedtobadluck,death.Therearemanyexpressionsshowingpeople’sviewtowardsowl,suchas“夜猫子进宅,无事不来”,“夜猫子抖翅,大小有点事”,“夜猫子进屋,全家都哭”,etc.2.1.2Bear ToChinesepeopleandEnglishpeople,"bear"hasquitedifferentassociations.InEnglish,peopleuse"bear'torefertothosepersonshavingspecialability,forexample,"heisabearatmathematics(他是个数学天才)".However,toChinesepeople,bearmeans"cowardlyandtimid".2.1.3OwlInEnglish,owlimplieswisdomandcalmness,"aswiseasanowl(像猫头鹰一样聪明)"indicatesthatEnglishspeakingpeopleassociatewisdomwiththisbird.Inchildren'sbooksandcartoons,theowlisusuallysolemnandwise.Indisputeamongbirdsandbeats,itistheowlthattheygoforadvice.Sometimes,thebirdisconsideredasimpracticalandfoolish.Butingeneral,theowlstandsforwisdom.However,thereisasuperstitiousbeliefthatthisbirdisasignofbadluckandthesymbolofsinisterthingsamongChinesepeople.SocomesthecommonChinesesaying,"猫头鹰进宅，好事不来（anowlmisfortuneinthathouse)".Themeresightofanowlorthesoundofthecreature'shootingmightcausepeopletodrawbackinfear.2.2SomeAnimalWordswithCommendatoryMeaninginChinese,butwithDerogatoryMeaninginEnglish2.2.1DragonThedragoninEnglishand“龙”inChinesearebothimaginaryanimalsbuthaveverydifferentconnotations.ToChinese“龙”issomethingsacredandhasbeenreferredtoastheancestoroftheChinesenation.ThatiswhytheChinesecallthemselves“龙的传人”(descendantsofthedragon)andChinesefeudalemperorswereoftenreferredtoas“真龙天子”,wearing“龙袍”，livinginpalacesdecoratedwiththedragon.“龙王”（thedragonking）isapowerfulgodinChineselegendarywhichrulestheseasandotherwaterbodiesandisinchargeofraining.ManyChinesewould“望子成龙”，butitsliteraltranslation“toexpectone’ssontobecomeadragon”wouldsoundridiculoustotheEnglishspeakingpeople,becauseintheirmindthedragonissomeevilmonsterwhichcanspitfireandpossessesthreetonineheads.ThereareveryfewEnglishidiomswiththeword“dragon”except“blinddragon”and“fightlikeadragon”.Outofsuchconsideration,“亚洲四小龙”isproperlyturnedinto“thefourtigersofAsia”.2.2.2PhoenixPhoenixiscalled“凤”or“凤凰”inChinese.InthemindofChinese,phoenix,whichisclubbywithitsfeathersmulticolored,isamiraculousbirdbeyondmundanity.Askingofbirds,itisalwaysfollowedbytheotherbirds,soinChinesethereisasaying“百鸟朝风”.ItjustcorrespondstotherelationshipofLordandhisministers,thereforephoenixsymbolizesthepower,whichisthesameastheChinesedragon.Afterwards,“phoenix”(凤)graduallybecameaspecialbywordforempressinfeudaltimes.Itsappearancebetokensapeacefulperiod;,andthereisalsothesaying“龙风呈祥”.However,itstillcannotmatchwiththepositionoftheChinesedragonwhichisthesymboloftheking.Inwesternmyths,phoenixisamagicalbird,whichissaidlivinginArabianDesertwithalonglifeabout500or600years.Beforedeath,itbuildsanestforitsown,singsadirge,flapsitswingstotakefiretoburnitself,theninashestherecomesanewbornphoenixwhichissobeautifulanditwon’tdieagain.Therefore,phoenixhasameaningofrebirthorrevival.InEnglishphoenixreferstoperfectionsandexcellentpersons.

2.2.3MagpieWhatisaboutthebirdcalledthe"magpie"?InChina,amagpieisasymbolofgoodluck.Ifamagpiesingsinatreebesideshouses,peoplewouldthinksomehappythingswouldhappen.However,evensuchaluckybirdcannotgetanyreferencefrompeopleinwesterncountries.Onthecontrary,theyusuallygetsomeunfairnames.InsomeplacesinScotland,ifamagpiefliesnearawindow,itisasymbolofbadluck.InastateofEngland,ifsomeonehappenstomeetamagpiehehastospitthreetimestoavoidbadluck.Ifwesaytraditionalculturehasbeenoutofdate,weshouldnotdoubtabouttheitemsundertheword"magpie".TheeOxfordReferenceDictionary(1956)offersusthreeexplanations:(1)Akindofcrowwithblackadwhiteplumageandalongtail,reputedtocollectobjects.Ifweshouldtranslatetheexplanationas"喜鹊",itwoulddegradeourculture;(2)Arandomcollector;(3)Achatterer.Alltheseexplanationshavenothingtodowithgoodluck.2.2.4BatInchina,batisasymbolofluckness,happiness,andwell-beingwithsharingthesamepronunciationastheword"福”，“洪福齐天',referstotherichnessandprosperity.Somepicturesordesignscombiningwithdeerenjoyspopularitybecause"福鹿"ispronouced'福禄”,whichsymbolizesluckness,happiness,richness,andstatus.However,toEnglishpeople,talkingabout"bat",theyarevery"frightened.Abatisveryannoying,whichmeans"uglyandevil".Therefore,inEnglish,expressionswith'bat'havederogatorymeanings,e.g.,suchas"asblindasabat(有眼无珠）","crazybat(发疯)","heisabitbatty(他有点反常r)".Anyway,batisugly,ferce,andblood-suckingcreatureinwesterner'smind.ChapterThreeFactorsInfluencingDifferentCulturalConnotationsAsweallknow,languageispartofthecultureofapeopleandthechiefwaybywhichmembersofasocietycommunicate."Alanguage,therefore,isbothapartofcultureandamediumthroughwhichtheotherpartsofcultureareexpressed"(Lado,1958).Astoanimalwords,cultureexertsanimportantinfluenceonthem.Culturalconnotationsarefullyreflectedinanimalwords.Inaddition,connotativemeaningisindeterminateandopen-ended,becauseconnotationsarerelativelyunstable.Theyvaryaccordingtocultural,historicalperiod,andtheexperienceoftheindividual.3.1GeographicalInfluenceinAnimalWordsGeographicalculturereferstothecultureformedbythearea,naturalconditionandgeographicalenvironment.ThegeographicalculturesoftheChineseandEnglishnationsareofgreatimportanceanddifference,whichhaveobvioulymanifestationsintheirindividualproverbs.ItisthecasethatEnglishandChinesepeopleliveinanabsolutelydifferentnaturalenvironmentandtheirsocialdevelopentsarealsodifferent.TheChinesepeoplebelongtoanagrariansocietythatplacesagriculturalproductionatthetopofthenationalagenda.HencethereisasurprisingnumberoffarmingidiomsandidiomsewithanimalimagesaccumulatedintheirproductiveChinesepeasantsfromgenerationtogeneration.E.g.Fuelisnotsoldinaforest,norfishonalake.(林中不卖材，湖上不卖鱼)TakingapanoramicviewofEnglishhistoryandanalyzingEnglishwords,wewillfindoutthat"islandculture".Britainisanislandcountrywhichhasalonghistoryofnavigation.ThelifeandlaboroftheEnglisharecloselyconcernedwithoceans.Englandisanislandcountryandsurroundedbythesea,wherelifeiscloselyrelatedtosailingandfishing.Peoplegetmostchancestounderstandseaanimalsandnaturallyhaveprofoundassociationwiththem,suchasfish:"drinklikeafish;abigfish;acoolfish;apoorfish".3.2CustomaryInfluenceinAnimalWordsCustomarycultureisthecultureofanation'scustomsandconventionswhichexistindailysociallifeandcommunicativeactivities.Linguistsholdthatlanguageisacceptedthroughcommonpractice.ManywordsandprasesbothinChineseandEnglishcomefromcolloquialspeechindailylifeandcustomsofdifferentnations.Forinstance,inChinese,theanimalword"magpie"isconsideredasgoodluckbecause"magpie"inChineseispronunced"喜鹊（XiQue)","喜”inChinesemeansgoodandhappy.PeopleintheWesthavehadalongtraditionofkeepingpets.Ofthem,domesticanimalssuchasdogsandcatsaredearandvaluedcompaions.Peoplehavefavorableexpressionsasfollows:"atopdog(最重要的人物)","aluckydog(幸运儿)".3.3TheInfluenceofHistoryTheculturalconnotationfromhistoryisthegemsofhumanculturalheritage.Itisworthlearninghistoryculture.KnowledgeofthehistoricalbackgroundofEnglishandChinesemayhelpcomprehendwhattheculturalconnotationmeans.Asweknow,EnglandisgovernedbythePopeandtheKingforalongtimesoinEnglish,therearesomanyidiomstoexpresstheiroutrage,disdainandaversenesssuchas"thekingandthepope,thelionandwolf".Chinaisanancientcountrywith5000yearsculturaltradition.InancientChina,theKingisregardedasadragon,andtheQueenisconsideredasaphoenix,sotherearemanyidiomssuchas"望子成龙","龙飞凤舞","龙凤呈祥".3.4TheInfluenceofReligionandWorldViewChinesecultureisdeeplyaffectedbyTaoism,BuddhismandConfucianism,amongwhichtheeffectofBuddhismisthemostinveterate,whileEnglishcultureisgreatlyinfluencedbyChristianity.ThereisnoquestionthatChineseexpressionsreflecttheinfluenceofBuddhism,whereasEnglishexpressionsreflecttheinfluenceofChristianity.AlargenumberofidiomsderivedfromdifferentreligionsinChinaandtheyhadanimmenseinfluenceonpeopleinfeudalsociety.Forexample,"thelocalgodcatchinggrasshoppers"(土地爷捕蚂蚱——慌了神).TheEnglishnationhaslongbelievedChristianityanditsholybook,theBible,hashadaprofoundandtremendousinfluenceonthesocialthoughtsandcultureEnglishsociety.PeoplequotesomuchfromtheBiblethatmanyidiomsentertheirdailylife.Forexample,itissaidthatSatan,theDevil,oftenappearasanimageofablackcat.E.g.Don'tletablackcatcrossyourpath.不要让霉运降临到你头上。ChapterFourConclusionWordsarealmostneverfoundinisolation.Theynearlyalwayshavepartnerstogetherfrommeaningsincertainrestrictedways.Thisthesismakesacontrastiveanalysisofculturalconnot