on chlture comparison in idiom

On Culture Comparison in Idioms

Liu Yang

Abstract: This paper is a brief introduction of on cultural comparison in idioms.

Generally speaking, the final target is to promote students' competence to apply

English accurately, fluently in communicate with foreigner. However, because of the

lack of knowledge of cultural background, many college students cannot do a very

good job in inter-cultural communication. So we must study the cultural differences

between different countries, especially between Eastern and Western countries.

Language is the most important way for inter-cultural communication. Idioms, an

important portion of language, are the quintessence of culture. In daily life, when we

communicate with some foreigners, we often run into some idioms with sharp cultural

features, so it is very essential and meaningful for us to grasp and apply these idioms

correctly. So, in this paper, we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of

Western and Chinese cultures in some aspects with many lively and interesting

examples of idioms.

Key words: idioms; cultural background; resource; cultural character

I. Introduction

Every language has its own character, and the character takes root from the

culture. Some people said, idioms are essence of human’s language. So, when we talk

about the language, we must take idioms for granted. When we explore the idioms,

we will naturally put idioms into different cultural. In Webster’s New International

Dictionary, there are three explanation items about the idiom. I think the third one

illustrate the distinct feature of idiom. That is idiom is a style or form of artistic

expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or medium or

instrument. So we can see that idiom is of artistic feature, which is to say that idiom is

the most beautiful, most refined part of language. Besides, idioms stem from the

development of human’s civilization and the accumulation of the wisdom. Hence,

exploration of the idiom is the best way for us to explore the language, to touch

ancestors’ wisdom and to dance in the historical stage. And also, we should make it

clear that idioms of different countries have different characteristics. If we want have

a good exploration about the idioms, we must make good preparation in two points.

One is that we must study the idioms of different countries’. And another point is that

we must connect the idioms with cultural background. We all know that every

language stems from specific cultural background, and also contains different cultural

content. So from the two points above that I mentioned, which is to say that through

compare the different country’s background culture, we will have clearer mind about

the idiom and also the language. Conversely, exploring idioms of different country,

we will also have a better and deeper comprehension about different countries’

cultural background information. In other words, language is real flesh-and-blood.

II. Idioms reflect different living circumstance

A. Geographical environment

Every kind of language is closely related with geography environment that one

country is located in. In process of one kind of culture taking shape, The geography

environment includes climate, position, landform and so on. Geography

characteristics often have great affect on human’s custom, psychological

characteristics and civilization. This kind of influence is deeply. Referring to idioms,

they are a part of language, and also a portion of civilization. So with influence of

geography condition, the people who lives in different natural environment forms

unique culture naturally.

England is an island country. In order to survive, people there had to fight with

harsh climate. In the process of fighting with the harsh oceanic climate and

conquering the ocean, there naturally forms a lot of idioms related to ocean and the

Britain people have the great passion and special felling for the water. For example, a

drop in the sea “沧海一粟”；plane sailing “一帆风顺”；all at sea “不知所措”；between the devil and deep sea “进退两难”while it is fine weather mend your sail

“未雨绸缪”

In history, the seafaring of England dominated the world at a time. The seagirt

position is a natural geographic advantage created prosperous fishing industry. So, a

large number of idioms that is related to fish came into being. For example, big fish

“大亨”；cold fish “无感情的人”； dull fish “枯燥无味的人”；poor fish “愚蠢的人”；shy fish“羞怯的人”； make fish of one and flesh of another“厚此薄彼，偏爱一方”；like a fish out of water “比喻处在陌生的环境中感到不自在”；drink

like a fish“比喻酒喝得很多”；have other fish to fry “比喻另有重要的事去做”to