语言学导论课程论文

外国语学院

语言学导论

课 程 论 文

课题名称： 英文题目

Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Idioms

中文题目

英汉习语中的语言文化差异

学生姓名： 褚宏川

学 号： 10131140134

专 业： 英语

班 级： 2010级1班

授课教师： 韩泽亭

2012年12月

外国语学院语言学导论课程论文

2 Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Idioms

Abstract: Language is the main carrier of culture. Idioms are the essence of a language, and

also the quintessence of a nation’s culture and wisdom. English and Chinese idioms carry

the different national cultural characteristics and cultural information. Among these idioms,

a large number of them are connected with geography，customs, historical allusion, and

religion.In order to understand these idioms clearly, this paper will analyze cultural

differences from four aspects of geography, customs, historical allusion, and religion.

摘要：语言是文化的主要载体。习语是语言的本质,也是一个国家文化和智慧的精髓。英汉习语携带不同的民族文化特色和文化信息。在这些习语中有很大一部分都与地理、风俗、历史典故、和宗教有关。为了更加清晰的理解这些习语,本文将从地理、风俗、历史典故、和宗教四个方面分析文化差异。

Key words：English and Chinese idioms，cultural comparison,cultural differences;

关键词：英汉习语;文化比较；文化差异

外国语学院语言学导论课程论文

3 I. Introduction

Idiom is a fixed group of words or a single word, or even a sentence with a special

meaning that cannot be guessed from the literal meaning of its components. “Language is

the carrier container of culture, and is strongly influenced and shaped by culture.” So in

order to learn English idioms, one cannot ignore the importance of the cultural meanings

they contain. As the essence of languages,idioms have two features: semantic unity and

structural stability. On its broad sense, idioms including set phrases, proverbs, sayings,

colloquialisms, allusions and so on are an important part of the language and culture.

Human’s life is closely related to geography, customs, historical allusion, and religion,

and there are an increasing number of English and Chinese idioms about them which are

concise, readable and vivid. And with the development of economy and science,

globalization is a more and more obvious phenomenon. The relationship between countries

is becoming closer and closer. In order to understand these idioms more clearly and make

the international communication more effectively, it is useful and necessary to compare

such idioms.

Ⅱ. Reasons causing cultural differences

Culture is an extremely complex concept and an enormous subject. Culture consists of

all the shared products of human society. This means not only material things such as cities,

organizations and schools, but also non-material things such as ideas, customs, family

patterns, languages.In short, culture refers to the entire way of a society, or the way of

people.

2.1 Different geography

Geographic environment is the foundation of humans’ existence and development, so

different geographic environments have different influences on the formation and

development of the nations’ culture . China is located in Eastern Asia, the west coast of

Pacific Ocean. China is always a country which agriculture plays an important role since

ancient time, so a large number of idioms related to agriculture have been in use.

e.g. (1)槁木死灰——withered wood or cold ashes

(2)骨瘦如柴——be lean as a rake

(3)脚踩两只船 —— sit on the fence

The UK is located in the Western Hemisphere. Living on an island, the English are

keen on sailing and traveling, the English language abounds in idioms connected with 外国语学院语言学导论课程论文

4 navigation .

e.g. (1) all at sea——不知所措

(2)in the same boat——同舟共济

(3)Never offer to teach fish to swim——不要班门弄斧

(4)as strong as a horse—— 力大如牛

(5)drink like a horse——牛饮

2.2 Different customs

Custom is a social phenomenon, which involves various aspects of social life. Social

custom is an important part of culture and it is also a critical difference between English

and Chinese culture. The differences are indicated from the idioms related to animals and

colors .In China, idioms related to dragon are usually positive while idioms related to dog

are often negative.

For example: “狐朋狗友”, “狗急跳墙”, “狗头”.Although in English, “dog” contains

derogatory connotation, such as: “go to the dogs”, “die like a dog”, “lead a dog’s life”, “a

sly dog”, “blush like a black dog”, “put on the dog”. However, English idioms are

opposite.

“Dragon” is a divine totem in the Chinese culture, and is greatly admired by the

Chinese people and they consider themselves as the descendants of the dragon. Dragon is

the symbol of all auspicious animals. For example: “望子成龙”, “龙腾虎跃”, “卧虎藏龙”, “龙盘虎踞”. In English the word “dragon” symbolizes evil. Such as: “the old

dragon”, “dragon’s teeth”.

Additionally, Chinese people take “owl” as a symbol of bad luck. But in the UK, there