Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Proverbs 浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异 22页

本科毕业论文CulturalDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbs浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异作者：院系：外语系年级：2007级专业班级：英语师范学号：指导教师：答辩日期：2011年4月9日 浅谈中西方谚语的文化差异摘要：谚语是语言文化的瑰宝，它以其深刻、简练的语言浓缩了各民族的历史文化，反映了劳动人民的生活实践经验。透过谚语的窗口来窥探中西方文化中的风俗习惯、宗教文化及思维方式的差异，令人更深刻的感悟到谚语传递的文化蕴含。本文着重通过从谚语折射出的生存环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰和道德观念四个方面来探讨中西方文化的差异。通过对中西方谚语的对比研究折射出的文化差异，展现中西方文化差异带来的异域风情。关键词：谚语；中西方；文化差异CulturalDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsAbstract:Proverbsareatreasureoflanguageculture,withitsprofoundandconciselanguagecondensinghistoryandcultureofvariousnationalities.Mostreflectthepracticalexperienceofworkingpeople’slife.Throughtheproverbialwindowtospythedifferencesofsocialcustoms,habitsreligion,andwaysofthinkinginwestandeast,peoplecometoperceivemoreprofoundculturalimplicationpassedonbyproverbs.Thisarticlefocusesonthelivingenvironment,customs,religiousbeliefsandmoralconceptsthesefouraspectsreflectedbytheproverbstoexploredifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseculture.ThispaperaimstodemonstratenotonlythecomplementaritiesofwesternandChineseculture,butalsotheexoticdifferencesofwesternandChineseculturethroughthecomparativestudyofEnglishandChineseproverbs.Keywords:proverbs;westandeast;culturaldifferences ContentsIntroduction1PartITheDefinition,FunctionsandFeaturesofProverb21.1Thedefinitionofproverb21.2Thefunctionsofproverb21.2.1Thephaticcommunication21.2.2Cultivationofmindandformationofbehavior31.2.3Perceptionoftheweather31.2.4Summaryofthelifeexperience41.3Thefeaturesofproverb41.3.1Theuseofrhetoricaltechnique41.3.2Theparticularsyntacticstructure5PartIITheClassificationsofProverb72.1Proverbsofweather72.2Proverbsofagriculture72.3Proverbsofsocialcommunication72.4Proverbsofstudy82.5Proverbsofethic82.6Proverbsofanimals8PartIIICulturalDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbs93.1Differentwaysoflife93.1.1Englishproverbsaboutsailingandfishing10 3.1.2Chineseproverbsaboutagriculturaldevelopment103.2Differentcustoms3.2.1Differentculturesofanimals113.2.2Differentconceptsofsocialcommunication123.3Differentreligiousbeliefs123.3.1BeliefofChristianinthewesterncountries133.3.2BeliefsofBuddhism,Taoism,ConfucianisminChina133.4Differentmoralconcepts143.4.1Differentvaluesofthepublicreputation143.4.2Differentconceptoffilialpiety153.4.3Differentstatusofwomen15Conclusion17Bibliography18 IntroductionProverbisconsideredasaprecioustreasurebothinchinaandwesterncountries.Itisusedtoexpresspeople’sthoughtsandideasincondensedphrasesanditiseasyforpeopletounderstandthemeaningoftheproverbs.Becauseitissummarizedbythelifeandworkingexperienceastheygrowupandsodotheyfeelliketakingadvantageofusingtheproverbstoconveytheirexperienceandemotions.Atthesametime,theproverbisakindofidiomaticphraseandithassomethingincommonwiththeallegory,allusion.Theflexibilityintheuseofrhetoricaldevicesmakestheproverbsmorerefined,clearandaccurate,whichexpressthefullemotions.ThepaperconcentratesontheculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternproverbs.Throughpresentingthedifferencesembodiedbytheproverbs,wecanpreciselyperceivethedifferentcultureofChinaandwesterncounties.Andproverbsarethevaluableportaltospytheessenceoftheculturebothinchinaandwesterncountries,meanwhilepeoplecandeeplygettoknowmoreaboutthehistoryandlifepatternsindifferentcountries.Ononehand,wecantaketheirexperienceasamirrortoguideourbehaviorsandontheotherhandwecantosomeextendsummarizeourflawsanddefectspotsinordertoattainourfuturegoals.Firstly,thispaperwillbrieflytalkaboutthedefinition,classificationsandfeaturesoftheproverbs.Secondlyitwillfocusonthefunctionsoftheproverbs.Inthischapter,bystatingthefunctionsitalsopavesthewaytorevealtheexperienceandlifepatternsoftheancestors.Thirdly,itwillgettothelastonebutnottheleastonetheculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternproverbs.Thisisthemostimportantchapter,whichelaboratesthegeography,religiousbelief,conceptsandcustomstoembodytheculturaldifferences.Throughthecontrast,wecangetclosetoperceivetheculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterncountries.1 PartITheDefinition,ClassificationsandFeaturesofProverb1.1ThedefinitionofproverbProverbisakindofsayings.Itprevailsinthecommunitywithconcisewords.Mostproverbsreflectthepracticalexperienceofworkingpeople"slifeandaregenerallypasseddownorally.(Available:http://baike.baidu.com/view/23790.htm，2010)Itismostlyspokeninthecolloquialformofphrasesorrhymeseasytounderstand.Andproverbsaretosomeextentsimilartoidioms,twisters,commonsayings,andaphorism.1.2ThefunctionsofproverbThefunctionsofproverbsarethattheyexpresssomerulesofconductandquiteoftenconveysomeadviceorcounsel.Inotherwords,mostproverbspossessphilosophicdepthorinstructivefunction.Forthousandsofyearstheyhavebeeninstructingandinspiringpeople,sotheyhavebeenregardedastheguidelineofpeople’sthoughtsanddeeds,whichmeanspeoplearethinkingordoingthingsbyfollowingthedirectionoftheirproverbseitherconsciouslyorunconsciously.Proverbshavebecomeimportantsourcesofinspirationjustbecausetheycontaintruth,wisdom,counsel,ruleofconduct,etc.Followingwillmentiontwofunctionsofproverbs.1.2.1ThephaticcommunicationThephaticfunctionofproverbisthemostbasicfunctionoflanguage.Peopleusethephaticproverbstocreateanatmosphereofgreetingormaintainsocialcontactratherthanexchangeofinformation.Itistoeasetheatmosphereoftheconversation,atthesametimegetthetalkerssatisfiedpsychologically.18 1.2.2CultivationofmindandformationofbehaviorSomeproverbsareintendedtopersuadeandteachpeople.Topersuadeistopraisejustice,tofightagainstthebully.Toteachistoguidepeopletoadoptacorrectattitudetowardslife,totakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwithothers.Forexample,betterdiewithhonorthanlivewithshame;don’thavecloaktomakewhenitbeginstorain.Suchproverbssoundveryfirmandresoluteandtheycanstrengthenpeopleconvictionandawakenpeopleconsciousnessoflifeorbettertheirthinkingmethods.Theyareveryhelpfulforpeopletomakedistinctionbetweenrightandwrong,tobeclearaboutwhattoloveandwhattohate.Becausetheyaregoodforpeople’sself-cultivationandtheycancallfordeepthought,manypeopletaketheseproverbsastheirlifemotto.Someotherproverbsrevealandcriticizethedarksideoftheagesorsociety.Theyattackthedirtypracticesofthesocietysoastoremindpeopletokeepconsciousandmaintainsharpwarning.Forexample,thefoxchangeshisskin,butnothishabit;aleopardcannotchangeitsspots.Peopletendtorecitesuchproverbswhentheyaredisclosingtheevilinthesocietyorwhentheyareremindingotherstokeepalert.1.2.3PerceptionoftheweatherTheproverbsconcerningweatherrefertoalonghistory,vastregions,andrichcontent.Manyofthemcanbeusedtomakelong,mediumandshort-termweatherforecasts.Ourancestorshaveaccumulatedrichexperienceinthestrugglewiththenatureoftheobservedchangesintheweather.Asearlyasthreethousandyearsago,theYinRuinsinOracle,therearemanyaccountofweather.Weatherproverbsaretheaccumulatedknowledgeofthenaturalexperiencegeneratedintheproductionofworkingpeoplelivinginlong-termpractice,whichonesideistheuseofnatural,anothersideisthestrugglewithnature.Andafteryearsofpracticeinthetestandtemper,proverbsaresummarizedintoconciseness,pleasanttolistento,easytounderstand,easytoremember,andwidelycirculateamongthemasses.18 1.2.4SummaryofthelifeexperienceManyproverbssummarizeknowledgeofpeople’sdailylifesuchasthebestwinecomesoutofanoldvessel;Softfiremakessweetmalt.Aspeople’sdailylifeiscomplicatedandextremelytrifling,suchproverbsarenumerous.Theysummarizepeople’sknowledgeintheirlifeandtheytellpeoplewhattodoandhowtodoit.Theyarejustlikeanencyclopediatoguidepeople’sdailylife.Fromthem,peoplemaybroadentheirknowledgeandoutlooksoastoavoidmakingmistakes.Someproverbsofthistypeareconcernedwithaparticularfield,likefarmerproverbsandmeteorologicalproverbs.Peasantsofdifferentages,intheiroveryears’work,practiceandprovethefarmingexperienceandproductiverules.Fromgenerationtogeneration,theysumuptheirexperienceandthefarmingrulesintosomevivid,conciseandlivelysentences.Thesesentencesarefarmerproverbsandtheyarepracticedandtestifiedyearafteryearandtheyhavebeenprovedtrueandaccurate.Theyreflectthepeasants’farmingexperienceandagriculturallawandshowtheworkingpeople’swisdom.Farmerproverbsareapreciousandvaluablepartofagriculturaldata.Peasantsofdifferentageshavesomeofthemasguideintheirfarming.Andmeteorologicalproverbs,whichsummarizethefundamentalmeteorologicalknowledgeofgenerations,arealsoabighelpinpeoplelife.Forexample,AprilshowersbringforthMayflowers;AcoldMayandawindymakesafullbarnandafinny;DryAugustandwarmdoesharvestnoharm;Afairdayinwinteristhemotherofastorm;Amistymorningmayhaveafineday;Cloudymorningsturntoclearevenings（http://vip.du8.com/books/sep4ubr.shtml，2011）.1.3ThefeaturesofproverbThelong-termuseofproverbisofgreatvalue.Theflexibilityintheuseofrhetoricaldevicesmakestheproverbsmorerefined,clearandaccurate,whichexpressthefullemotions.Ingeneral,proverbsconventionallyusetherhetoricaldevicessuchascontrast,metaphors,personification,allusion,inversion,parallelismandrhymeetc.1.3.1Theuseofrhetoricaltechnique18 1.3.1.1ContrastExtensiveuseofantonymsintheproverbsreflectstheparadoxexistingintheobjectivethings.Suchasacuteandslow,trueandfalse,survivalanddeathandsoon,whichIntendstohighlightthesemantic,andstrengthenexpression.Forexample,Beswifttohear,beslowtospeak.(敏于听，而缓与言)；Unitedwestand,dividedwefall.(团结则存，分裂则亡).1.3.1.2AnalogyAnalogyistorelatewhatwanttoexplainwithotherthingssimilarinmoodandsensethroughrichassociations,inordertoexpressitsintention.Forexample,Booksareshipsthatpassthoughthevastseaoftime(时光好比汪洋,书籍好比航船).1.3.1.3PersonificationgimmicksPersonificationgimmickstocomparetheinanimateobjectsoranimalstohumanbeings,whichendowthemtheSpiritualityandincreasethesenseofvividandexpressiveforce.Forexample,Anuncutgemdoesn’tsparkle(玉不琢，不成器).1.3.1.4AllusionManyproverbsderivedfromahistoricaleventorfamoussayings.Forexample,Theon-lookersseethebestgame(当局者迷，旁观者清).1.3.2Theparticularsyntacticstructure1.3.2.1InvertedsentencesBecausethelanguageitself,ortheneedsofhighlightingtheproverbs,theinvertedsentencesareusedsometimes.Forexample,Nothingventure,nothinggain(不入虎穴焉得虎子).1.3.2.2EllipticalsentenceProverbspayattentiontoconcise,refinedsentences.Usingtheellipticalsentencemakestheproverbconciseandreadfluently.Forexample,Oneboyisaboy,twoboyshalfboy,threeboysnoboys.(一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝).18 1.3.2.3AntithesisTheequalwordnumber,thesamestructure,andthesymmetricalphrasesorsentencesinmeaningwhichexpresstworelativeorclosemeaningForexample,A bird is known by its note and a man by his talk.（听音识鸟，闻言识人）1.3.2.4RepetitionTherepeatedwordorideahasareinforcingeffect.Withtherepetitionofthesamewordinclosesuccession,wemaynoticethatthemainpointofthesentencebecomesclear.Itcanalsobeusedtoexpressstrongemotionandgiveusanaestheticfeelingandasenseoflogicalprogressionofideas.Forexample,Soundinbody,soundinmind.(有健康的身体才有健康的精神)18 PartIITheClassificationsofProverbProverbsarethefixedstatementprevailedorallyprevailingamongpeople.Theappropriateusesofproverbenablethelanguagetobelivelyandenhancetheexpressivenessofthearticle.Startingfromthecontent,theproverbcanberoughlydividedintothefollowingsevencategories.2.1ProverbsofweatherThisisgeneratedfromthelong-termproductionpractice,experiencelearnedfrommeteorologicalobservation.Soweatherproverbisavaluableculturalwealth.Butintheolddays,weatherproverbsareonlyconsideredasthecountryslang.Whilenowadaysintheeraofscientificfarming,theweatherforecasthasgonedeeplyintotheruralparts.For朗读显示对应的拉丁字符的拼音 字典-查看字典详细内容FdFexample,蚂蚁搬家蛇过道,明日必有大雨到；雷公先唱歌，有雨也不大；有雨山戴帽，无雨云拦腰（温端政，2004：174）;Redcloudsintheeast,rainthenextday.2.2ProverbsofagricultureItisfarmingexperiencesummedupintheproductionpractice.Thebraveandhardworkingpeople,naturallygiftedcontinuecreatingalargenumberofweatherproverbsinthelongtermofagriculturelaboralongwiththeagricultureproverbs.Itinspiresthepeopletocreatealargeamountofmaterialwealth,anditwillbefurtherpromotedandtheirspecificcolloquialproverbsareasfollows:庄稼一枝花,全靠肥当家（温端政，2004：153）,thereisnofertilizerintheancient;Manureisusedtoirrigatethesoil.Sothecropsgrowingwellnecessarilyrelyonthemanure(http://vip.du8.com/books/sep4ubr.shtml,2011)2.3Proverbsofsocialcommunication18 Theseproverbsimplicatehowtobehaveinthesocialdailylife,whichpraisetheintelligentpeople"sworldlypersonality,andbelittlethoseselfishvillains.MeanwhiletheyrevealtheuglyphenomenonofinterpersonalcommunicationintheancientTibetantribes.Forexample,黑暗使太阳更明亮，夜晚使星星更光明，诬蔑使英雄更荣耀，诽谤使勇士更显明（汪福祥，2001：68）;Icannotbeyourfriendandyourflatterertoo.2.4ProverbsofstudyIt’smainlyaboutthesummaryoflearningexperience,whichmotivatingpeopletostrenuouslystudy.Forexample,afallintoapit,againinyourwit,whichmeansthatundergoingasetback,increasestheexperience.Liveandlearn,learningisforideaandstabilitywhenatyouth;Learningisforcomplementandthesupplementemptysoulwhenatthemiddleage;learningisakindofmood,tasteslowlyanddelightsyou;博学使人谦逊，无知使人骄傲.2.5ProverbsofethicTermsofethicalproverbsmainlyteachespeopletobekind,united,andinharmonyinfamily.Condemnthehypocrisyandcastigatetheevils.Forexample,父亲心中想儿子，儿心冷若水中石;Frugalityisthemotherofliberality.2.6ProverbsofanimalsTherearemanyproverbsaboutanimals,theelementofanimalsaddedinEnglishandChineseproverbsmakestheproverbsevenmoreclosetothelifeofpeople,andalsomakesamorevividimageoftheproverb.HoweverzodiacinEnglishandChineseproverbsisquitedifferentinexpressionandunderstanding.SuchasdoganddragonhavequitedifferentmeaningsinEnglishandChineseproverbs.Forexample,落地凤凰不如鸡;Abirdinthehandisworthtwointhebush.18 PartIIICulturalDifferencebetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsProverbsareoriginatedfromlifeexperienceandcultureandtheyaresummarizedinseveraltypes.Accordingtotheclassification,wecanvividlyperceivethedifferentculturereflectedbyproverbsandwecanfindoutthatdifferentnationsindifferenthistoricalprocessesgavebirthtotheuniquecharacteristicculture.Overall,themainlineofAnglo-Americanisthedoctrineofindividualism,whileChineseculturebelievescollectivismasthemainline.Inaddition,theAnglo-Americancultureisdeeplyinfluencedbyreligion,andConfucianisminChineseculturehasleftdeepscars.China"slongfeudalobviouslyhaveagreatinfluenceonChineseculture.Proverbsandcultureareinseparable.Languageisinfluencedbyourcultureandreflectstheculture.Proverbsaretheessenceoflanguage;itscontentsarebrilliant,deepinmeaning,andhaveabroadappealtothemasses.AsBaconsaid"Proverbsaregeniusandtheembodimentsofwitandspirit.”Proverbisthesummaryofthedailylifethroughoutthewholenation,aswellasthesummaryofworkexperience.Italsoreflectsacountryanditsrichculturalconnotations.Asalanguage,theuniquecharmofproverbliesinitsmysteriousessenceofthenationalculture,whichnotonlyreflectsacommonnationalculturebutalsoreflectstheirpersonality.Moreoverproverbsreflecttheculturaldifferencesthroughthelivingenvironment,customs,religiousbeliefsandmoralvaluesandotherfactors,whichgiveusatotalprospectofthedifferentcultureinthewestandChina.3.1DifferentwaysoflifeGeographydeterminesthewayoflife.Chinesepeopleliveinsemi-enclosedcontinentalgeography,wheretheclimatemild.Itsownself-sufficientpeasanteconomycanmeettheneedsofpeople"slife,sopeoplebelievethattheharvestcannotdowithoutthenaturalgifts,andpayattentiontotheunityofheavenandhumanity.WhileGreeceisthebirthplaceofWesternculture,wherethegeographicalenvironmentisOpenOcean,peopleneedtodolong-termstrugglewiththeharshnature.SopeopleintheWestdevelopascientifictraditionofconqueringthenatureandexploringthenature.Theopengeographicalenvironmentenablesmorecontactswiththeoutsideworld,resultinginthedevelopedindustryandcommerce.18 Proverbsarecloselyrelatedwithpeople"sworkandlife,whiletheproverbsareproducedthoughdifferentgeographicalenvironmentsastheLaborproductionactivities.Theproverbnotonlyshowsthedifferentlifeofthepeople"slaborproductivityindifferentregions,butalsorevealstheuniquegeographicalenvironmentatthetime,andgeographicalenvironmentconstrainsandimpactstheirlifestyle.3.1.1EnglishproverbsaboutsailingandfishingEuropeisonthevergeAtlanticOceanofhigh-latitude.DuetoboardontheAtlanticside,theterrainistooflatandlow-lying,andmoreclosetotheArctic.ThecoldairdownfromthepolescanwipeoutmostofEurope,whichisverybadforthedevelopmentofrequiredagriculturalcivilization.UnderthenaturalgeographyenvironmentinwhichtheWestvigorouslydevelopsthemaritimeindustrythroughthemaritimetransport,seafishingandmaritimetrade,whichopensupasearoutetopromoteeconomicdevelopment.Britainisanisland,iswelldevelopedinthehistoryofseafaring.Therefore,whenwetakethecostofmoneywithoutconstrainsasametaphor,theEnglishexpressionisspendmoneylikewater,whiletheChineseare挥金如土.Therearealsosomeproverbswhichusetheshiptoexpressawarning.Forexample,asmallleakwillsinkagreatship.WhiletheChineseproverb,小洞勿补，大洞吃苦;Thereisanalogythatonlyintheseveretestcanshowwhoisthestrong,theEnglishproverbisasmoothseanevermadeaskillfulmariner,whiletheChineseproverbis疾风劲草.3.1.2ChineseproverbsaboutagriculturaldevelopmentChinaisamonsoonclimate,whichissuitableforagriculturalproduction.Thelargenumberofmountainsandlandsdetermineschinatobeanagriculturalsociety.Howeverthemarinetransportationisnotwell-developed.Peoplecannotlivewithoutland.Therefore,thereexistalotofproverbsrelatedwithagriculturalproduction.Theproverbsreflectthebravenessandhard-workingoftheworkingpeople.Thelong-termlaborintheproductiongeneratesalargeamountofagriculturalproverbs,whichisastrongimpetustoagriculturalproductions.Forexample,种瓜得瓜种豆得豆（汪福祥，2001：122），whichmeanswhatyouplantwilldecidewhatyouharvest.Itisametaphorthatwhatyoudowilldecidetheresults18 youget.Howmucheffortyouhavepaid,theequalresultwillcometoyou.Geographicalenvironmentalsoaffecttheproperties.InChina,afteraspringrain,thebambooshootsspringtotheground,whichindicatestheproliferationofnewthings.3.2DifferentcustomsCustomsistheLong-establishedcombinationofunderstanding,habitandtradition.Thesameobjectivethingsanddifferentcustomsgiverisetodifferentassociationswhichhavedifferentconnotations.ChinaandBritainisfarfromeachother,thebehaviorsandtraditionsvaryalot.Theunderstandingofsamethingsandthepsychologyoflikesanddislikesarequitedifferent,whicharereflectedandinheritedinthelanguage.Andtosomeextent,itreproducesthemoodofthenation"sinterest.3.2.1DifferentculturesofanimalsParticularlyinEnglishandChineseproverbs,bothusetheproverbtodescribethedifferentpeople.However,anumberofpeoplefromdifferentcountriesholddifferentemotiontowardsanimals,evensomeholdtheopposite.TheworddogisInparticulartotalkabout.Foralongtime,Chinahasfloodedwiththedisgustingfeelingstodogs.AlthoughthestatusofdogsinfamilynowinChinaisconstantlyimproved,people’sthinkingtowardsdogsisstillnotcompletelychanged.ThisistheaccumulatedcrystalsofChinesecultureduringthousandsofyears.Proverbsarefullofdissatisfactionwithdogs.Forexample,狗拿耗子，多管闲事；狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心；WhileTheBritishpeoplearedoglovers,theyconsiderdogsasloyalfriendsofmankind,ratherthansimplyanimals.Therefore,therearemanyEnglishproverbs,representedbythedog.Forexample,everydoghashisday;youarealuckydogandsoon.DragonintheeyesoftheChinesepeopleoccupiesaloftyposition,proverbsabout"dragon"areatalargequantity,andcontainacompliment.Forexample,龙马精神；龙眉凤目.Inaforeignlanguage,thereareafewproverbstopraisethedragonwithderogatory."Dragon"meansaviolentperson,ahardman,astrictguardianofferocious,orviciousoldwoman.Forexample,thedragon’steeththismeanstherootoffightingeachother;ortheolddragonwhichmeanstheevil.18 3.2.2DifferentconceptsofsocialcommunicationIntraditionalChineseculture,especiallyinConfucianism,theself-interestcomparedwiththeinterestsofnation,collectivity,familyandfriendsisasmallinterest.Self-interestistomeetotherinterests,spontaneouslymeettheinterestsofitsownkind,andeveninordertopromotethenationalandcollectiveinterestswhilesacrificethepersonalinterest.Inthisculture,thefriendshipismoreimportantthanpersonalinterestswhichareregardedastheimportantmoralconcept.Thegentlemenarewillingtodoanythingtheycantohelptheirfriendsoutoftrouble.Therefore,thereexistsuchproverbsas海内存知己，天涯若比邻,itcanbedescribedthatgoodfriendswillnotbealienatedfromthedistance.人生得一知己足矣，斯世当以同怀视之,Amongthehardships,thedeepinthesoulbondsfirmlytogether,helpeachother.Taketheconfidantasone’sownbrothersandlovethemasloveone.Whileinwesternsociety,personalinterestsarealwaysmoreimportantthananyotherinterest,friendsaresecondary,eveninconvenient.IntheEnglishproverbsfriendsseeminglyhavethenegativemeaningsaswellassomenegativeproverbstodescribethefriends.Whiletheyaresayingthat,amanwithoutafriendisonlyhalfaman;friendshipsmultiplyjoysanddividegrieves.Howeverwhentheconflictsbetweenthefriendsandthepersonalinterestsarise,therearesomenewstatement.Forexample,loveyourfriend,butlookafteryourself;Friendsarethievesoftime.Itisobviousthatfromthepositiveandnegativeperspectiveontheprosandconsoffriends,thereisadialecticalflavor.Inwesternmoralsystems,personal,andselfisalwaysthefirst.Westernconceptoffriendshipundertheimpactofintheworshipofmoneyandtheutilitarianism,friendshipisasynonymformutualbenefit,coveredwithathicklayerofutilitarian.Hethathasafullpurseneverwantsafriend;hungerknowsnofriend.3.3DifferentreligiousbeliefsReligiousbeliefisanimportantaspectofpeople"smentalactivity,whichhasamajorimpactonthenationalculture.Asnationsinhistory,geography,politics,economicaspectshavetheirowncharacteristics,resultinginauniquenationalculture.ThesimilaritiesanddifferencesinEthnicalcultureareoftenreflectedinthenationallanguage,especiallyreflectedintheculturalsignificanceoftheproverbs.SostudyingthedifferentChineseandEnglishreligiousthoughtandideasinproverbscanhelpusgainadeeperunderstandingthediversityofwesternandChineselanguageculture.18 3.3.1BeliefofChristianinthewesterncountriesChristianityisthemonotheisticreligion,withtheBibleoftheOldandNewTestaments,whichisinthebeliefoftheoriginalsinofhumanandbelieveJesusistheSonofGodcrucifiedtocleansethehumanoriginalsinandthesavethehumanity.ChristianityoriginatesinJudaism,andiscalledtheworld’sthreemajorreligionstogetherwiththeBuddhismandIslam.ThereisonlyoneChristianchurchintheearliest,butinthehistoricalprocessofChristianity,itdifferentiatesintomanyfactions,mainlythreefactionsCatholic,Orthodox,andProtestant,andsomeothersmallerfactions.Christianityispolytheism.ChristianityrecognizesonlyoneGodandregardsgodasthewholeworld,includingthefounderandmasterofthehuman.PeopleabsolutelyobeyGod.Godisomniscientandomnipotent.Forexample,heavenisaboveall;truthisthedaughterofGod;thetreethatGodplantsnowindhurtsit;TheLordiscrownedsupremegodbytheChristianity,inasenseitsuggestsChristiansbelieveinreligiouspiety.Everyoneisequalandtheobsessionofhierarchyisstrict.Christianviewsthatonlythepeoplehavefaithingodenjoyingtheequalrightsandobligations.Faithmakesallpeopleequal.ThisequalityunderthecoverofEmmanueltheologyhastwomeanings.SomanyEnglishproverbsreflecttheequalrelationship.Forexample,weareallAdam’sChildren;humanbloodisallofacolor.Undertheconceptofequality,thepeopleinEnglish-speakingcountriessurlywilldefytheimperialpower.Forexample,akingwithoutteamingisbutacrownedass;acatmaylookataking（.http://www.21gwy.com/lunwen/xfwh/a/5904/785904.html，2011）3.3.2BeliefsofBuddhism,Taoism,ConfucianisminChinaBuddhismoriginatedinIndiaandwasintroducedintoChinaduringtheHanandTangDynasties.Buddhistsbelievethatallthingsarebornforfateintheworld.ThereisnoessentialdifferencebetweenlivingbeingsandtheBuddha.HumanhastheBuddhanature,butthepersistentlydelusionalbarrierpreventsitappear.OnlypeopleabandontheevilfromthegoodcantheyhavethefruitionofBuddhahoodandbeimmortal.Forexample,theChineseproverb放下屠刀，立地成佛。Buddhistsalsobelievethatinhumanlife,wealthandfameareworldlypossessions.TaoismisChina"snativereligion;itretainsmanyoldnationalreligionsinitsreligious18 activitiesandreligiousinstrument.Taoismispolytheism,betweenGodandpeopletherearenoabsoluteboundaries.Taoistsobeytheprinciplesinharmonywithnatureandthesimpledialecticalthinkingofyinandyangcomplementetc.Forexample,福兮祸所伏，祸兮福所倚。ConfucianismwascreatedbyConfuciusandformedinthetimesofthepre-Qinerathinkers.Confucianismistotellpeoplewhatisvirtueandhumannature,howtowakevirtues.Itisimportanttousethemethodsofvirtues,includingloyalty,filialpiety,benevolenceandrighteousnessetc.Confucianismstressessocialhierarchyandbelievesthathumansocietyisacollectionoflevels.Confucianismisinthehopeofbuildingthecommunityintoakindofpatriarchalcommunity.Andeveryonemustupholdacertainspecificationandplayagoodroleintheirsocialroles.Forexample,天下兴亡匹夫有责;家不可一日无主，国不可一日无君。Confucianism,BuddhismandTaoisminChinaarenotthesupremegod;however,theinterpersonalrelationshipishierarchical.EachplaystheirSocialroleandcannotbeoffside.WhileunderthisHierarchicallevel,itprovidesthepossibilitytocreateidolsandidolatry.Forexample,小鬼斗不过阎王，胳膊扭不过大腿；官大一级压死人，宰相家人七品官；官向官，民向民，和尚向的是出家人（陈文伯，2005：105）。3.4DifferentmoralconceptsMoralityexistsineveryculture,isaforceofnationalcohesionandthecoreofdevelopment.inWesterncountriestheChristianmoralityisthebasicmoralcore,whileinChinatheConfucianmoralsystemworks.However,theChinesehavelowrequirementsofcredit,cheatinghasbecomealmostagenerallyacceptedmeansforsurvival,whilethewesternpeoplevaluethecreditmorethananythingelse.3.4.1DifferentvaluesofthepublicreputationChinesepeopleattachgreatimportancetofaceandhonor.Thereputationisoftenlinkedwiththeethical.Amoralpersonwillhaveagoodreputation.Butthemoralpeoplewilllosefacetoo.Chinesepeopleareinfluencedbythetraditionalconcepts;theynotonlyvaluereputationbutalsotheface.Forexample,人有脸，树有皮，没脸没皮没出息。Becausecareaboutthefaceproblems,whatChinesepeoplearemostafraidofisrumorspernicioustotheirown.18 ManyChineseproverbsexpressthementalityoffearofgossip,suchas谣言可以杀人，防人之口甚于防川；水浮不起石子，人担不起闲话（陈文伯，2005：87）。Thewesterntraditionalmoralconceptconsidersthereputationtobeveryimportantandpeopleshouldbehavetheirownbehaviors.Butaslongastheydonotharmsocietyandotherpeople,itisnotagainstthelaw.Whatothers"judgmentsarenotimportant?Therefore,whentheEnglishproverbsarerelatedwiththegossip,itisnotafraidtomentionaboutit.Forexample,Sticksandstonesmaybreakmybones,butwordswillneverhurtme;hardwordsbreaknobones.3.4.2DifferentconceptoffilialpietyChinesetraditionalconceptisthatsupportingtheparentsisthechildren’smostbasicobligationwhichisbasedontheconceptofpeople"sgratitude.Everyoneisbornbytheparents,andgrowsupunderthemeticulouscareoftheirparents.Theobjectivefactisthatthecreationandmaintenanceoflifegeneratesthesenseofgratitude.Thatistosayoneshouldmakeeveryefforttosupporthisparentsashisparentsgrowold.Itincludeslisteningtotheirparents,bewiththeparents,respectforparents,fosterparentsandold,inheritingtheparentsandsoon.TherearemanyproverbsinChineseshowingthecontentsoffilialpiety.Forexample,父母在，不远游;千里烧香，不如在家敬爹娘；不孝有三，无后为；养儿防老，积谷防饥。Inthewesternmoralityofcapitalism,althoughitalsorequiresthechildrentorespecttheirparents,theemphasisonfollowingtheadviceoftheparentsisnotreinforced.Meanwhileitneverconsidersthecouplewithoutchildrenasanunfilialoffense.SomeproverbsinEnglishexpresstheoppositeidea.Forexample,childrensuckmotherwhentheyareyoung,andfatherwhentheyareold.Itisoppositetotheconceptoffosteringtomakeguaranteeforthelife;Childrenwhentheyarelittlemakeparentsfools,whentheyaregreatmakethemmad.ItgoesagainsttheChinesefilialpiety(http://vip.du8.com/books/sep4ubr.shtml,2011).3.4.3DifferentstatusofwomenInChinesefeudalsociety,thewomensuffermoreoppression.Awomanwasnotonlysubjecttoherfather,butalsotothehusband.Evenshehadtobeobedienttothechildwhenherhusbanddied.Theyarenotabletotakethesameeducationasmen.Thelowstatus,whichdidn’tallowedthemaccessingsocialnetworkingsites.Wifemustkeepchastity,faithfulness,18 evenifherhusbandisdeadandshecannotremarry.Thereisnorighttolove,andfeelingsarecompletelyignored.Manyproverbsreflectdiscriminationagainstwomen.Forexample,唯女子与小人难养也；女人头发长，见识短；好马不吃回头草，好女不嫁二夫君。Inwesterncapitalistsociety,althoughmenaredominant,thestatusofwomenishigherthanthatinthefeudalsocietyofChina.SomeProverbsinEnglishevenemphasizetheimportanceofthewifetoherhusband.Forexample,Hethatwouldthrivemustaskhiswife;Hewhodoesnothonorhiswife,dishonorhimself;agoodwifeisagoodprize;avirtuouswomanisacrowntoherhusband.Theseproverbspraisethegoodroleofwifetoherhusbandandrevealthewife"shighstatusinthefamily.MeanwhiletheymakeasharpcontrastwiththelowstatusofwomenintheChinesefeudalsociety.18 ConclusionTheproverbisaproductofsociety,whichisthecrystallizationofhumanhistoryandculture.Itembodiesthesocialconsciousnessofanationfromgenerationtogeneration,aswellwithhistory,culture,customsandotherareasallfeaturesofhumansociety.Indifferentculturesandculturaltraditions,thewayofthinking,values,codesofconductandwayoflifeareconsiderablydifferent.Theproverb,thecarrierofculture,vocabularyandculturalinformationisconcentratedandanimportantpartoflanguage,whichreflectstheculturaldevelopmentandchange,butalsoadirectreflectionoftheculturaldifferences.Wecanseethatproverbhasalonghistory;themajorityofthemarefromthefolk.ButtheproverbisjustachanneltounderstandtheculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculture.Tostrengthenthecomparisonofculturaldifferences,wecanmakefulluseofavarietyofmeanstoabsorbandexperiencetheexoticculturebycollectingsomeitemsandpicturesofEnglish-speakingcountries.Onlyinthiswaycanweunderstandtheforeignart,historyandcustoms.朗读显示对应的拉丁字符的拼音 字典-查看字典详细内容Itbringstogetherthewisdomofthepublic,anditbecomesabundantafteracontinuouslong-termaccumulation.Differentethnicculturesarereflectedintheirownlanguages.Proverbsareinextricablylinkedwiththegeographicalenvironment,customs,religiousbeliefsandmoralvaluesofthespecificnational.whenwearestudyingtheproverbs;weshouldmakesenseoftheconnotationofthecultureandunderstandtheirdifferences.Duetothatwecanspytheculturaldifferencesthroughtheproverbsandcometorealizethefeastandculturalimpactwhichtheculturaldifferencesbringtous.18 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