Cultural Differences in Chinese-English Proverbs

AbstractEnglish and Chinese proverbs, being treasures of two different languages, show differences resulting from cultural discrepancies. This essay illustrates and discusses the differences between English and Chinese proverbs from the point of differences in geographical environment， different religious beliefs，differences in custom, moral concepts, different tendency toward time deception, different patterns of thoughts and cultural values, so as to provide some implication for teaching English and Chinese languages and intercultural communication.Key words: Production and characteristics; English proverb; Chinese proverb; cultural differenceContentⅠ、Introduction (4)（一） What is the proverb (4)（二）Production of proverbs (4)II、Production and characteristics of proverbs (6)(一）Characteristics of proverbs (6)1. Metaphorical language (7)2. Integrate meaning (8)（二）Which are the differences between Chinese proverb and proverb in west countries (9)III、The Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Proverbs (12)（一）Differences in geographical environment (12)（二）Different Religious Beliefs (14)（三）Differences in Custom (16)（四）Moral Concepts (17)（五）Different Tendency Toward Time Derception (17)（六）Different Patterns of Thoughts and Cultural Values (18)IV、Conclusion (20)V、Refe rences (22)Cultural Differences in Chinese-English ProverbsI 、Introduction（一） What is the proverbThere is a Chinese proverb says ,“The most expensive the gold treasures are, the most expensive the language proverbs.” Proverbs are a treasure house of human language and a culture bright pearl. It uses a distinctive image description profound philosophy and gives a revelation."Modern Longman Dictionary" is defined as the proverb: One kind of familiar, expressing people's group sentence which has a distinct identity and a certain rhythm, as well as easy to remember.Proverbs plays a very important role in culture. Proverbs are the masses of working people verbally creation collectively. Although their words and sentences short little, after a few hundred or even thousands of times’ processing and literary polish, proverbs can vividly illustrate the truth of life. Proverbs’ vivid metaphor sometimes even more than poetry, and they can make one engraved in heart and never to forget.Proverb has a very long history. "Ancient Ballad • legend," said: "Rumors thrive, language begins ,but there is no writing. "In China, there are many proverbs in classical literature. For example, "The Book of Songs", "Spring and Autumn", "Warring States" and so on. English proverb first appeared in the 8th century Old English. After the Norman Conquest, English has absorbed a large number of French and Latin proverbs. Geoffrey. Chaucer(1340 -1 400) had written an entirely proverbs sonnet. The famous playwright Shakespeare Plays on proverbs in the use of more freely.（二）Production of proverbsIn the absence of the text before the proverb is a human encyclopedia. It involves every aspect of people's daily production and life. It is through proverbs that people can continue to pass from generation to generation of human civilization. After the formation of the text, proverb will be a more effective tool for recording and dissemination.Chinese proverb’s written on the earliest recorded is in the era of Xia and Shang in 3500 years ago. While the earliest records of proverb was found in English in the eighth century Old English.With the progress of mankind, the rapid development of society, the more necessary communicative expression needs more proverbs. Language particular vocabulary is changing constantly. Proverbs as a lexical material, which produces vocabulary developed to a certain stage of the product , are the product of an external objective conditions verbal communication with the internal contradictions unified subjective factors.External objective conditions refers to the community's survival needs the language. In ancient times, people use this form of proverbs obtained knowledge during the production and labor process, dissemination to the community, spreading them to future generations. The original proverb is mainly to impart knowledge of productive labor, and production of labor-related planetarium such as climate change and natural knowledge of plants and the animals.With the development of productive forces and social life became more complex, social division of labor is getting smaller. When a new word alone or add the word meanings, such as changing the use of the word means will difficult to meet the precise expression of ideas, social communication activities will require anotherway of vocabulary material . This is creating a vocabulary units which capacity is higher than the word to perfect the ideographic function of communication tool. However, the demand for social communication is only the external conditions to promote the proverb. The internal factors are the root cause of things change. Prompting proverbs generated internal adjustment of the internal functions of vocabulary, and its purpose is to adapt to the external communication needs of life. In general, the formation and development of common proverbs gone through three stages:Stage 1, Prototype stage. Prototype proverbs are originally like with other phrases which are combined temporary .in order to express affection to meet the needs, we choose a certain material combination with certain structures.Stage 2, Meaning expansion phase. With the expanding range of human cognition and cognitive capabilities, people often use the known and the specific conceptual framework in daily life to understand the unknown, and abstract concepts range. This intention’s achievement needs metaphorical thinking. In other words, the language needs economic principles.Stage 3, Mature stage. As proverbs itself in form and content different from the general freedom of phrase, this overall superiority had been repeatedly utilized. Over time, the phrase structure and meaning of the expression to be fixed, to become an inseparable whole. Proverb’s sentence function is equivalent to the overall use of a word, went on to become a special member of lexical material while being stored in the lexicon. Proverbs went on to become a special member of lexical material while being stored in the lexicon.II 、Production and characteristics of proverbs（一）Characteristics of proverbs1. Metaphorical languageCulture manifested through metaphor and stored in the memory of people. It affects people's behavior and cognition. The metaphor of cultural representation has been projected onto the cultural world. Metaphor is based on experience. At the same time as a metaphor of human thinking and cognitive tools, some of the ingredients in turn fed back into the cultural world. In this regard, metaphor is a constituent of culture, to a great extent reflect cultural content, such as beliefs, attitudes, behavior and so on. Metaphor metaphorical thinking of the external physical manifestations, but also on the way of thinking and people's understanding and use of metaphor impact.In Cognitive linguistics’ mind, language was born from the interaction of humans and the objective world.Meaning of word’s extension or expansion is the result of human metaphorical thinking. In the language of cultural information, the proverb is a form of language, as well as is an important carrier of cultural information. It records and expresses the human material culture and spiritual culture, and concentrated into the essence of language saved and handed down from generation to generation.Proverbs are prevalent in most of the world languages a special language phenomenon and expression. Most proverbs established on the basis of conceptual metaphors. They are conceptual metaphor for cognitive motivation. Proverbs are the product of human cognitive activity, and its formation mechanism is the conceptual structure of the map.Furthermore, English language expression of this particular person's body experience is justification. On the one hand, the source and target domains’ link in conceptual metaphor is established in people's intuitive movement of the objective world based on sensory experience. On the other hand, conceptual metaphor source domain concept is derived directly from the movement of people on the outside world of sensory experience.Therefore, in cognitive linguistics’ attitude, proverbs which based on one of the most direct physical experience are the most common idioms. The truth expressed by proverbs always stands out through linking the special circumstances of social life and more ordinary, common, specific concepts in life Proverbs has a variety of cultural backgrounds differences beyond some common characteristics. Among them, the most important thing is the use of proverbs are often built on its metaphorical meaning rather than on the basis of the literal sense. Use of proverbs reflect conceptual metaphor to understand the world in people's understanding of the role.Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon. It is not only a kind of human cognitive style, but also a complex cultural phenomenon. Language metaphor produced in metaphorical thinking process, and reflects the way of understanding the world of the brain. Specific ethnic and cultural background is to determine the metaphor generation, use and understand one important factor. Different nations have different cultures, and different cultures were rooted in different values being. Thus, from one side through metaphors reveal cognitive characteristics of the national culture.2. Integrate meaningThe integrate meaning of a proverb doesn’t mean the title meaning of every word which makes up this proverb. It means that to comprehend the meaning of every word, because most of proverbs are from national history or custom. They have their own integrate meaning. Especially, the meaning of some proverbs has little relation with the meaning of every word. So we must pay more attention to the integrate meaning when we translate a proverb. For examples: Put hands together ； To rain cats and dogs ； Good wine needs no bush；Good wine needs no cries.（二） which are the differences between Chinese proverb and proverb in west countries.(1) A common feature of English and Chinese ProverbsAlthough the common English and Chinese Proverbs have many manifestations, but fundamentally, it comes from the common human metaphorical thinking. Metaphorical Thinking formation and growth of the human body, the physical environment are closely related. Chinese and English two nations separated by thousands of miles, which one is a part of a farming culture and another one belongs to the ocean-based culture. However, because of all live on the same planet, they have the same body structure and sensory organs, and in the process of transformation of the natural world have accumulated roughly the same body experience. This allows two different cultural backgrounds countries have some of the same ethnic and cultural accumulation, thus forming a number of common understanding.Thus, although China and the UK national language have different used systems, based on common cognitive structures and similar body experience from different cultures, the two nations formed a cognitive experience in common. It is reflected in the language that is common cultural semantics.This kind of the same national recognition can reflect in the same of Metaphor, and figurative meaning of the proverbs. Consider the following examples correspondto each other saying: out of sight, out of mind、A rat crossing the street is chasedby all、 Big thunder, little rain、 Like father, like son.With “A rat crossing the street is chased by all” for example. In English folklore, rat often linked with the human soul. Mouse is the incarnation of Satan, and has superhuman magic, so it is often seen as an ominous thing. Rat in English can also refer to those who left the party, retreat participants, apostates, traitors, spies, strikebreakers, indecent woman and all despicable.In Chinese, the words associated with rat also bring derogatory. Rat are thieves and have particularly great skills. It is nocturnal, eating food. The phrase "rat stealing dog Pirates" is a feature of its portrayal. Rats are ugly, so it is "shifty-eyed." Rats look far, visual only close, it was "short-sighted" .When rats steal food, they always constantly in the hole, looked around with small eyes and erected ears."Timid" is its realistic portrayal.As can be seen above, the rat in the Chinese ethnic people's as well as in English peoples’ minds are n egative image. These rats are characterized by the role of metaphor and metonymy can be used under the symbol of human activity and characteristics. In the source domain, we can use the rat on behalf of its features, and also use the rat itself on behalf of its characteristics, which implies a scope or metonymic mapping feature. It is this common view on rat formed a Chinese and English national association and analog consistency.(2) Chinese and English proverbs’ personalityEvery nation has its historical heritage and national psychology deep structure. Everyone has their own country, their nationality as well as the local domain of the psychological heredity, and these genetic decide its ethos, ways of thinking and tendencies.On the one hand, language is the most effective tool of thinking. Thinking activities need to use language to carry out, and the results of thinking also requires language to express. Common physiological structure and living conditions cause different ethnic groups have common characteristics of thinking. On the other hand,since the difference in the survival of the nation's natural and social environment , in ways of thinking of all ethnic groups have different characteristics.Chinese and English are loading a lot of unique content such as national customs, traditions and cultural and historical aspects of literary classics and so on, and they have built on top of them unique cognitive style. They take their understanding of reality projected onto the respective languages, showing different characteristics and differences in language form and structure as well as on the mental representation.The main function is to explain proverbs affair, summed up the law. However, different ethnic proverbs are always dependent on the nation's social life, contact our nation's history, language, habits, living environment, religion and so on. Proverbs in different languages will reflect their own distinct culture. Such as Chinese and English proverbs expressing the same information, it will use a different way of analogy and imagination. See below correspond to each other in Chinese and English proverbs examples:Two dogs fight for a bone,and at hird runs away With it、Cry upwine and sell vinegar、 Money makes the more to go.With “Cry up wine and sell vinegar” for example. In Chinese, this proverb is derived out from the "first sale cow hanging horse". In Spring and Autumn Period , Jinggong is a foolish monarch. He likes the court woman wearing men's clothing. Some women in Qi began to imitate. This phenomenon is very popular at the time. Jinggong find this situation later, then he sent officials to stop, but the results have no effect. One day, Yan Ying who is the prime minister came to see Jing Gong. Jing Gong asked him “I sent out to prohibit officials to forbid disguising, but not prohibited, What is the reason?” Yan Ying answered that “You advocated disguising as a man in the palace, but prohibit such dress in the extrauterine, which as hanging signs head of cattle, in fact, is selling horsemeat. If you banned the phenomenon in the palace, then the woman in extrauterine will not dare to disguised as men .Thereafter , this proverb was used to describe false duplicity style, that is the name of doing good sign, in fact, selling bad stuff.In the eyes of Chinese people, sheep have gentle character, and its body is harmony, white cute. This perception in Chinese peoples’ eyes clearly reflected in thestructure of Chinese characters. "Beauty" in the structure of the word is derived from the word of "sheep". Sheep are the symbol of beauty and auspicious. By contrast, the dog in the Chinese people's cognition is more a derogatory term than a commendatory term. Dogs often compared to livestock intended for human or helpful causative evil accomplice. Thus, with the dog-related word or phrase almost pejorative. This proverb is praised sheep and devaluing the user through the traditional concept of a dog. And the result is to establish analogies and association based on the appearance of the sheep and dog’s similar features.The difference with the Chinese is that English take " wine " and " vinegar " as Metaphor. This may be because, in the UK, vinegar and wine are brewed. Their brewing process as well as color is similar, which makes the British association between vinegar and wine. Thereby forming a different cultural background of the Chinese nation and the associated cognitive characteristics.III 、The Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Proverbs（一）Differences in geographical environment.It is written in simple language to talk about the image of their own life experiences, describing natural phenomena, summed production practice, summed production experience. These languages mouth, tempered, become a welcomed and loved recite proverbs. These proverbs necessarily reflect the different characteristics of the natural environment, with a distinctive regional culture and ecological culture colors.Britain is an island, surrounded by the sea. People created hundreds of English proverbs in the long shipping fisheries life, reflecting their experiences and observations of life and the nature .For example:①There’s as good fish in the s ea as ever come out of it.②No fishing like fishing in the sea.③Who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock. China since ancient times is an agricultural country. People are inextricably linked with the land. People living by growing crops. Drawn are inseparable from the inland landscape. Chinese people's lives are closely linked with inland and the landscape. Therefore, there are many Chinese and rivers, land and agriculture-related proverbs. For example :①We reap what we sow .②Seeking day his back, as he could feel the earth seeking.③The waves pushed forward waves, the generation of people today for the ancients.④Reason can overwhelm Mountain Tai.Special climate environment also brings some related proverbs.In the UK climate is humid, weather changes quickly. Sunny on the island is less and the rain is very abundant , especially showers. Therefore, the British often take an umbrella to go out. As the UK weather the vagaries of the reasons so that the British are very concerned about the weather, but also like to talk about the weather.England produced a lot about the weather proverb:①April weather, rain and shine both together.②An English summer, three (or two)hot days and a thunder－storm.③A misty morning may have a fine day.China has vast territory, so the climate varies greatly in different regions.But in general, the majority of area in China belongs to temperate continental climate.There are clearly divition of wet and dry seasons a year in China, the four seasons was divided clearly too.infall is not so abundant than English. Therefore, China's working people develop agriculture on the basis of such a climate which has four distinct seasons, and in accordance with the changes of weather choice to carry out the spring, planting, harvest and other agricultural ac tivities. “Looking at the mercy of climate “ reflected obvious features in the Chinese land. Typical sayings such as:①A spring rain in a warm, a cold autumn rain.②Spring, like a child's face, one day to three variables.③Long after the sunny weather will be cloudy in the fog, prolonged rainy weather will be sunny the next rain.④Smoke sinking, and soon the rain came.（二）Different Religious BeliefsIn religious terms, the cultural differences between the east and west reflected in proverbs is also very obvious. Religion is an aspect of people's spiritual life, and has a certain extent for national culture. Studying Chinese and English Proverbs reflected in religious ideas and concepts that can help us gain a deeper understanding of language and culture of both peoples.In many Western countries, especially in Britain and America, people are Christian. Christianity is polytheism. Christian preaching is this: God is unique,supreme god, relationships are equal. Christianity recognizes only one God, and that God is Everything in the world, including the founder and master of mankind. When surprised , people often said "Oh, my god".People should obey God. God omniscient, omnipotent.Related proverbs such as:Heaven is above all、God is where he was、Truth is the daughter of God、Heaven’s vengeance is slow but pure、The tree that God plants no wind hurts it、God sends men cloth, according to their cold、Good helps those who help themselves.China has Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism three religious beliefs. China's Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are not the supreme god. And who can act as a large number of gods.Confucianism admit days and destiny, but the destiny of this day is just an abstract and mysterious force, no one dominates God.Buddhism recognizes the Buddha, but Buddhism is not the only supreme god, everyone hearts have Buddha nature, everyone has the opportunity to become a Buddha.Taoist acknowledged gods, but the gods are not the only high above the gods. The gods are human beings into practice, and the gods can descend adults. So these three religions are not the supreme master of the people of God.Related proverbs such as:Unexpected outbreak、Destiny can not be countered、Everything by life, the slightest help people、People competing for breath, Buddha fight a stick of incense、Man proposes，God disposes.In Christian doctrine, one can sin can be forgiven, to get eternal life, can enter heaven. This is the gift of God.Such as this proverb:There, but for the grace of God, go I.This proverb means that if there is no gift of God, and I will be in trouble. Misfortune will come into my head. Of course, those who suffer can not completely rely on the grace of God, but also rely on their own efforts to get rid of suffering to be successful.So there is this proverb in English:God help those who help themselves.Buddhism was introduced into China more than a thousand years of history. And different with Christianity, Buddhist has Goddess of mercy, they are also living beings, but more emphasis on doing what is good, paying attention to karma.Good shalt long, evil will die prematurely. Do not repair this body repair afterlife.Such as this proverb:Small and whom not to be evil, do good deeds, but not as small、Good and evil coming to an end eventually reported, only the fight to early and late.（三）Differences in CustomDifferent customs makes people use proverbs have different meaning. Differences also customary cultural differences between China and the United Kingdom is an important aspect. On the different things have different symbolic meaning. The most typical example is the attitude to "dog".Dogs in Chinese is a humble animal.Chinese words related with dogs mostly derogatory: "fox friends dog party," "cornered" "ungrateful" "henchman" and so on. English-speaking countries in the West, the dog is considered man's most loyal friend. English proverb about the dog most have compliment. For example:Every-dog has his day、Love me, love my dog.In addition, the dragon in the eyes of the Chinese people occupy a lofty position. Dragon is powerful, noble, a symbol of honor. It is super-powerful, endless variations. Such as :Fifteenth day of the dragon steaming, Paul was a good harvest year. February 2, dragon head, demons committed a worry.For thousands of years, the Chinese nation has always been known as the "Dragon." Sayings about dragons mostly contains compliment.While the dragon in a foreign language, derogatory. Such as "dragon" refers to the violent man, an austere man, evil woman and so on. Contains a "dragon" of Proverbs also more derogatory. Such as "dragon's teeth" (the root of fighting each other).（四）Moral ConceptsMoral concept, first of all, Chinese people attach great importance to face and honor. Honorary often linked with morality. A moral person would have a goodreputation, usually have a face. But there are moral people will lose face.Under the influence of tradition, the Chinese people not only attach importance to reputation, but also attach importance to face. The proverb: people has face, tree has bark, called no skin unpromising. Too much emphasis on honor will be too tired in life.Because of caring about the face, Chinese people are most afraid of the rumors that is not conducive to their own. Many proverbs express this attitude that Chinese people are afraid gossip.Western tradition moral values that reputation is very important. People should behave own behavior. But as long as they do not harm society and others, do not violate the law, it does not matter how others evaluate themselves. Therefore, when the English proverbs involving gossip does not feel afraid, but do not mind.Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.（五）Different Tendency Toward Time DerceptionRenaissance set the western free from the binding up of religious authority. With the expansion of commercial capital, the westerners tend to have their eyes on the future, not on the far or ideal future, but on the near future that can be realized soon. Due to this tendency, some westerners seldom look back upon things that have passed by. In their eyes, old ages and experience do not necessarily deserve their respect. On the contrary, old ages may bring about some negative or unpleasant associations. This can be reflected in some proverbs.The properer man, the worse luck; Experience is the mistress of fools; Experience keeps a dear school, but fools learn in no other. Due to their time perception, Americans hold that they should get prepared in advance and do things at their earliest convenience.Concerned with time perception, Chinese people are different from American people and they tend to have their eyes on the past. The past is much valued in Chinese culture. To some degree, this is due to the connected Chinese civilization that can be traced to the same origin. Chinese people, with a long history of 5 000 years, have rich experience. And people tend to look back to draw out experience from the past. This time perception has been all along influencing people's behavior and mode of thinking. They like to take the past as the measures to weigh up the gains and losses. Therefore, they have great respect for the old and the teachers. And they value experience, ages and qualifications that are correlated with the past.Many Chinese proverbs suggest that Chinese people's respect for the old.You live and learn a lessonSpare the rod, spoil the childOld tree has more roots and old people has more knowledge.Old spicy ginger big, but old people experience more.（六）Different Patterns of Thoughts and Cultural ValuesThanks to the cultural differences, people have found different patterns of thoughts and cultural values. They may have quite different or even opposite opinions of the same matter. For example, camels win a fame of “ship in deserts” and people living in deserts regard camels as good friends and helpful assistants. Owing to this intimate relation to camels, people there like to compare the eyes of a beautiful girl to “camel eyes”. If such a comparison is used to describe a girl living in China, she will probably get angry because she does not have the same kind of patterns of thought and cultural value. Therefore, English language and Chinese language may use。