英语专业-跨文化交际Part III - Chapter 5.ppt

1、Introduction: We can receive, store, manipulate, and generate symbols to represent our personalized realities. Four sections in this chapter: 5.1 The importance of Language 5.2 Language and Culture 5.3 Foreign Languages and Translation 5.4 Language Diversity in the United States,III: From Theory to

2、Practice Chapter Five - Language and Culture: Words and Meanings,Thought is the blossom; language the opening bud; action the fruit behind it,5.1 The importance of Language,Language is how we reach out to make contact with our surroundings. Words can exercise some control over the present; words als

3、o use to form images of the future. We use words to persuade, to exchange ideas, to express views, to seek information, and to express feelings. We can convey some aspects of ourselves nonverbally through facial expression, gestures, or touching.,5.1 The importance of Language,Its impossible to sepa

4、rate our use of language from our culture. Language is a set of symbols and the rules for combining those symbols that are used and understood by a large of community of people. When we study another language, we soon discover not only symbols and sounds, but there are rules such as phonology, gramm

5、ar, syntax, and intonation. Language have a major impact on the way individual perceives and conceptualized the world.,5.2 Language and Culture,Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that language is a guide to “social reality”. The hypothesis implies that language is not a simply a means of reporting experi

6、ence but, more important, its a way of defining experience. Language is a reflection of culture, and culture is a reflection of language.,5.2 Language and Culture,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and Meaning,Each words has different meanings, but a word can have different meanings. People have simil

7、ar meanings only to the extent that they have had or can anticipate similar experiences.,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,Spanish: Cherish the art of conversation and delight in verbal play Acknowledge the futures uncertainty by inferring probability Gendered nouns and pronou

8、ns represent the dominance of males in the Mexican culture Indirectness and face-saving,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,African: Make rich use of proverbs as a means of teaching and perpetuating culture as well as a powerful rhetorical device.,5.2 Language and Culture Cultur

9、e and the Use of Language,Pacific Rim Cultures: Use language cautiously because they favor moderate or suppressed expression of negative and confrontational messages. Indirect language that facilitates face-saving is important for these cultures. These high-context cultures expect their communicatio

10、n partners to be able to read between the lines and decode messages from a holistic, context-based perspective.,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,Thai: Difference classes use different pronouns, nouns, and verbs to represent rank and intimacy,5.2 Language and Culture Culture a

11、nd the Use of Language,Japanese: Minimum verbal communication Its necessary to have a heightened awareness of social relationships and to address others in the appropriate for their level in the hierarchy Indirectness and facing saving,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,Korean:

12、 Facing saving is crucial “Love” is not expressed as warmly nor as sweetly as in the U.S. Confucian ethics govern most interpersonal relationships,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,Chinese: Situation oriented Indirect approach to communication,5.2 Language and Culture Culture

13、and the Use of Language,Arabic: It can be persuasive to the point where the words used to describe events become more significant than the event themselves. Intonation patterns - a tendency toward over-assertion, repetition, exaggeration and organizational logic Deep love of language (others see as

14、exaggerated),5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Language,Greek: Use a variety of keys saying to express much of their culture reflect Greek morality and serve as generic forms of expression that convey much meaning in short phrases,5.2 Language and Culture Culture and the Use of Languag

15、e,English: Difference between the British and American: US : No dogs allowed England: We regret that in the interest of hygiene, dogs are not allowed on the premises US: Please keep hands off door England: Obstructing the door causes delay and can be dangerous,5.3 Language and Culture Foreign Langua

16、ges and Translation,Translators build bridges not only between languages but also between the difference of two cultures.,5.3 Language and Culture Foreign Languages and Translation,Translation could be difficult because: Words have more than one meaning Many words are culture-bound and have no direc

17、t equivalents Cultural orientations can render a direct translation nonsensical A culture may not have the background to perform correct translation,5.3 Language and Culture Foreign Languages and Translation,Problems of Translation and Equivalence Vocabulary or Lexical Equivalence Dictionary transla

18、tion rarely reflect common language usage Idiomatic and Slang Equivalence Idiomatic expressions are culture bound Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence Experiential-Cultural Equivalence Translator needs to consider shared experience,5.3 Language and Culture Foreign Languages and Translation,Problems o

19、f Translation and Equivalence Conceptual Equivalence Some concepts are culture specific and others culture-general Example: “I love you” in English, but in Spanish there are two verbs - te amo (nurturing love) and te quiero (I want you),5.3 Language and Culture Foreign Languages and Translation,Work

20、ing with a Translator An effective interpreter should have following qualities: Compatibility who is neither domineering nor timid. Ethic Compatibility who is, or very close to the ethic background Knowledge of Dialect Knowledge of the language field and its terminology,5.4 Language and Culture Lang

21、uage Diversity in the United States,Argot A private vocabulary relates to a co-cultural group (a group must have an argot if its considered a co-culture),5.4 Language and Culture Language Diversity in the United States,Functions of Argot Argot can function as a form of empowerment. Example: Nushu fo

22、r Chinese Women Argot helps in developing a sense of self-defense by providing a code that helps the co-culture survive in a hostile environment Argot express a co-cultures feeling of solidarity and cohesiveness Argot helps establish groups as real and viable social entities.,Example: Gangs in Ameri

23、ca Buster a sell out (a betrayer) Claim active zone for a gang Wannabe a person who pretends or wants be in a gang but not accepted Crippin to survive any way you can Drive-bys drive by shooting Flashing signs using hand signals Gang bangin gang activity,5.4 Language and Culture Language Diversity i

24、n the United States,Two characteristics of Argot: A great deal of overlap Argot changes,5.4 Language and Culture Language Diversity in the United States,Co-Cultures and Language Use African American the development of “Black English” Women - Communication is a primary way to establish and maintain r

25、elationships with others,5.4 Language and Culture Language Diversity in the United States,African Americans Shucking and Jiving the two terms evolved from the history of mistreatment by the dominant white culture (roots are located in fear, a respect of power, and the will to survive) - The talk and

26、 gestures are used to create a false impression Bad means the very best Charlie is a term for white man Get down means to engage in an activity with enthusiasm Woof means to joke around,5.4 Language and Culture Language Diversity in the United States,African Americans Rapping a fluent way of speakin

27、g that allows the speaker to express a unique personal style Narrative about a event Serve either an expressive or directive function; in expressive mode to project his or her personality onto the current social setting; in directive form persuasive and to manipulate and control others (such as impress an fema