A Comparison of the Connotation between English and Chinese Animal Words英汉动物词汇的文化内涵对比Word文件下载.docx

1、 English and Chinese; Connotations; Comparison英汉动物词汇的文化内涵对比摘要在英汉两种文化中有许许多多与动物相关的词汇。同一动物词汇在英汉语言中可能具有相同或者不同的文化内涵，不同的动物词汇在英汉语言中可能会有相似的文化内涵。另外，动物词汇在英汉语言中存在语义空缺现象。本文旨在从这几个方面对比和分析英汉动物的文化内涵，并从宗教、历史、地理环境、审美取向的角度探讨英汉动物词汇的文化内涵存在差异的原因。此外，本文分析了动物词汇的文化内涵对跨文化交流的影响。然后，本文为跨文化交流提出了一些建议。最后，得出结论：语言是文化的载体，不同民族的语言呈现出丰富多

2、彩的文化特性。在跨文化交流过程中，我们应该更加重视英汉动物词汇的文化内涵差异，尽可能丰富我们在不同文化领域的知识。在全球化的时代，中西文化交流日益频繁。通过本文，人们能够进一步了解英汉动物词汇的文化差异，顺利进行跨文化交流。关键字：动物词汇；英语和汉语；文化内涵；对比ContentsA Comparison of the Connotation between English and Chinese Animal Words1. IntroductionThe intimate relationship with animals makes human beings have complex

3、emotions, such as fondness, sympathy, disgust and horror, etc. Humans often place their feelings on animals and use animals to express feelings as well. Many animal words and phrases are endowed with connotations in English and Chinese. Therefore, learning about the different connotations of English

4、 and Chinese animal words can help English learners to correctly understand this language. Animal words have the same, different or similar connotations in English and Chinese. In most cases, although both English and Chinese have the same referential meanings of animal words, the connotations of th

5、ese animal words are different （Shang Qi, 2006）. This is caused by religion, history, geographical environment and aesthetic orientation. This paper starts with the comparison of English and Chinese animal words. Afterwards, this paper discusses the causes of discrepancy in connotations between Engl

6、ish and Chinese animal words. In the end, this paper discusses the influences of cultural connotations of animal words on intercultural communication.2. Connotations of English and Chinese Animal Words2.1 Connotation of animal words in Chinese and EnglishThe same animal words may have the same or di

7、fferent cultural connotations in English and Chinese. In addition, different animal words may have similar cultural connotations in English and Chinese.2.1.1 Animal words with the same connotationsLiving in a similar ecological environment, people may have a same imagination about animals. Therefore

8、, animal words will be endowed with the same cultural connotation. In Chinese and in English, the fox is cunning; the ass is stupid; the lamb is docile; the wolf is always hungry; the rabbit can run rapidly; the bee is busy; the snake is crafty; the hen is associated with woman. For example, when we

9、 say “he is a fox”, Chinese people and Native English speakers will realize that he is cunning. To the native English speakers and Chinese people, “pig” stands for dirtiness, laziness and stupidity. Therefore, there are some sayings like “as fat as a pig”, “eat like a pig”, “make a pig of oneself”,

10、etc. In Chinese culture and English culture, “bee” always gives us the impression of an extremely hard worker. We can use “as busy as a bee” to describe someone who is diligent. A “parrot” （a type of tropical bird with hooked beak and brightly colored feathers） can be trained to imitate human voice.

11、 In Chinese culture and English culture, it is used to describe someone who repeats the words or actions of others without understanding the meaning. In Chinese culture and English culture, “ass” is always used to describe a stupid person. The saying “make an ass of ass of oneself” means that one be

12、haves stupidly and ridiculously. In Chinese culture and English culture, “dove” is a symbol of peace. To the native English speaker and Chinese people, “sheep” is one kind of docile animal. When it comes to the sheep, people will have a gentle and meek image in mind. Therefore, “sheep” is always use

13、d to describe a gentle and meek character.2.1.2 Animal words with different connotationsIn Chinese culture and English culture, different cultural backgrounds can result in different connotations.In Chinese culture, “dragon” is a kind of mythic animal which has scales, claws and legs and which can f

14、ly in the sky, swim in the sea and create cloud and rain. “Dragon” is something sacred and is used to represent the ancestor of Chinese nation. This is why the Chinese people call themselves descendants of dragon. In ancient China, “dragon” was a symbol of imperial power. Ancient emperors called the

15、mselves as “真龙天子” （the son of dragon）. Their clothes were embroidered with dragon and were called as “龙袍” （dragon robe）; their chairs were called as “龙椅” （dragon throne）; their posterities were called as “龙种” （dragon children）. In China, we may often hear that Chinese parents expect their son become

16、 a “dragon” （expect ones child can have a bright future） （Luo Aifeng, 2006）. However, the liberal translation sounds ridiculous to native English speakers, because they think dragon is an evil monster which can spit fire and has three to nine heads. In English culture, “dragon” is always used to des

17、cribe fierceness especially for women. For example, “she is a dragon, youd better keep away from her” （she is a bad-tempered person）.Chinese nation and English nation share a same habit of raising dogs. In Chinese culture, “dog” is a derogatory animal word and is endowed with ugly things. For exampl

18、e, “act like a snob” （狗眼看人低）, “mistake a good man for a bad one” （狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心）, “a filthy mouth can not utter decent language” （狗嘴里吐不出象牙）. However, “dog” symbolizes friendship, sincerity and loyalty in English culture. For example, “love me, love my dog”, “every dog has his day” （every person will s

19、ome day succeed of become fortunate）, “to let sleeping dog lie” （to make no trouble or not to disturb people）, “a lucky dog” （a lucky man）, “a jolly dog” （a happy person）, “a clever dog” （a clever man）, “a top dog” （a person has advantages in doing some things）, “not have a dogs chance” （have no cha

20、nce）, “a good dog deserves a good bone” （a man who makes a contribution should be rewarded） and “like a dog with two tails” （very happy）.In Chinese culture, owl, the animal which always shouts and cries at night, is considered to be an animal which will bring unluckiness and misfortune. In English c

21、ulture, “owl” is regarded as the symbol of wisdom. If one says you are owlish, it means that you are clever and strict. “As wise as an owl” indicates that the native English speakers associate wisdom with owl. Another example can be provided, “he peered owlishly at us through his glasses”.In Chinese

22、 traditional culture, “bat” is a symbol of happiness, because “蝠” and “福” are homonyms. And red bat is a sign of luckiness, because “红蝠” and “洪福” are also homonyms. In some cases, Chinese people combine “bat” and “deer” together in order to get “蝠鹿”, which has the same pronunciation with “福禄”. And i

23、t means happiness and good fortune （蒋磊, 2000）. However, the Westerners are afraid of bat. They dislike bat, because it is often related with ugly and evil image. Therefore, English idioms about bat are always derogatory, for example, “as blind as a bat” （have eyes but see nothing）; “crazy as a bat”

24、（abnormal）.“Peacock” is a male bird with long blue and green tail feathers, which are like a fan when the tail feathers are spread out. However, as the aesthetic orientations of Chinese culture and English culture are different, “peacock” represents different images and has a totally different cultu

25、ral connotation. Native English speakers hold that the peacock is proud and vain when it is walking with tail feathers spread out. Therefore, it gives them the impression of vanity and arrogance. Such as “as proud as a peacock”, “play the peacock”, “as vain as a peacock”, etc. However, in Chinese tr

26、aditional culture, the peacock is the symbol of beauty.In Chinese culture, “magpie” is a welcome bird. “Magpie” is a bird which can bring good luck to you. “Magpie” is always connected with good luck, happiness, etc. and is used to show that something good is going to happen. However, native English

27、 speakers hold that magpie is a kind of disgusting bird and pay more attention to noises made by this black and white bird. Therefore, in English culture, “magpie” is used to describe someone who always chatters interminably. For example, she is a magpie of a woman; she kept muttering like a magpie. In addition, the Westerners usually use “magpie” to compare to the condition of chaos or a great mass, such as “a magpie collection”, “to magpie together”, etc. （Chen Wenbo, 1982）“Whale” is a kind of large animal. The Westerners pay their att