透过中西谚语的对比分析中西文化异同【开题报告+文献综述+毕业论文】 26页

毕业论文开题报告英语从英汉谚语差异对比中西方文化一、选题的背景、意义谚语是一个国家人民日常工作经验概括与总结，其内容精辟，寓意深邃，具有广泛的感染力，从中折射出一个国家的地理，历史,社会制度，生活哲理，社会观点和态度及其丰富的文化内涵。作为一种语言，谚语的独特魅力在于它是民族文化的精邃。既反映了一个民族文化的共性又反映了其个性——受该民族的价值观念，宗教信仰，审美习惯，历史文化，社会制度和社会意识形态的影响。比如，居住在沿海一带，靠海生活的民族，其谚语往往涉及海上航行，经受风雨，捕鱼捉虾。而游牧民族的谚语则多涉及沙漠，草原，牛羊，骆驼和豺狼。谚语是民间流传的至理名言，措辞简练，便于记忆。谚语内容精辟，语言生动，短小精悍，通俗易懂，因而有广泛的感染力。正如上所说，语言与文化是分不开的。语言是文化的一部分，但是它又是一种特殊的文化。语言与文化间的关系，是双向的影响制约的关系。有些社会学家认为，语言是文化的基石——没有语言，就没有文化；从另一个方面看，语言又受文化的影响，反映文化。可以这样说，语言反映一个民族的特征，它不仅包含着该民族的历史和文化背景，而且蕴涵着该民族对人生的看法，生活方式和思维方式。社会学家告诉我们，一切文化是独特的，互不相同的。人类学家Sapir在其《语言论》中说：“语言是个底座，说一种语言的人是属于一个种族或几个种族的，也就是说属于身体上具有某些特征而又不同于别的群体的一个群。语言…….决定我们生活面貌的风格和信仰的总体。”不同的民族在漫长的历史进程中孕育了独具特色的文化。总的说来，英美文化的主线是个人主义（或称个人本位），而中国文化（以汉族文化为代表）则以集体主义（或称人伦本位）为主线。此外，英美文化受宗教的影响比较大，而儒家思想则在中国的文化中留下深深的烙印，漫长的封建社会对中国文化的影响也是显而易见。在中西谚语以及中西文化差异研究方面的人物有：26 肖媛媛（2004）、连淑能（1993）、汪福祥（2001）陈文伯（2005）、温端政（2000）、吴国瑞（1995）、 邓炎昌（1989）陈文伯（1993）、包惠南（2004）、王德春（2003）对其差异性的探讨与研究，将有利于人们跨越不同的文化背景，准确理解和把握文化所赋予英汉谚语丰富独特的内涵。跨文化交际中，正确把握这两种谚语必须建立在多其文化的深刻理解的基础上，才能准确理解其蕴涵的哲理以及幽默所在。在对其进行翻译时，宜先按照原文的预期了风格进行直译，然后附加起画龙点睛作用的词语，点出其寓意。此外，在可能情况下还应仔细琢磨译出语的结构及措辞，并用对等的译于入语进行翻译，以达到传神传韵、形似神似，使谚语放射出原有的光彩。二、研究的基本内容与拟解决的主要问题对其差异性的探讨与研究，将有利于人们跨越不同的文化背景，准确理解和把握文化所赋予英汉谚语丰富独特的内涵。跨文化交际中，正确把握这两种谚语必须建立在多其文化的深刻理解的基础上，才能准确理解其蕴涵的哲理以及幽默所在。在对其进行翻译时，宜先按照原文的预期了风格进行直译，然后附加起画龙点睛作用的词语，点出其寓意。此外，在可能情况下还应仔细琢磨译出语的结构及措辞，并用对等的译于入语进行翻译，以达到传神传韵、形似神似，使谚语放射出原有的光彩。英文提纲如下：Outline:1.Introduction2．CultureandInterculturalCommunication2.1.1Culture2.1.2Language2.2InterculturalCommunication3.LanguageandCulture3.1Languageandculture3.2Proverbsandculture3.3Significance26 4.Conclusion三、研究的方法和技术路线文章的研究主要通过查阅图书馆的有关资料、报刊，以及网上相关资料，通过对国内外学者们对英汉谚语的研究进行综合归纳等方法，研究谚语在不同时期词义的变化发展，加深对非母语谚语的文化内涵的理解，使译者准确、恰当地处理谚语的翻译，促进中西跨文化交流和发展,分析中西差异.四、论文详细工作进度和安排2010年10月10日－11月15日        确定论文题目2010年11月16日－11月30日       指导老师下达任务书，学生提交开题报告，文献综述，2011年1月底前                     提交论文初稿2011年3月底前                     初稿、二稿的修改2011年4月底前                     三稿、四稿的修改2011年5月10日前                  定稿，提交按要求装订的论文终稿一式四份2011年5月15-5月30               答辩五、主要参考文献[1] Eugene A. Nida，“Language Culture and Translation” [M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，1993。[2] Claire Kramsch, “Language and Culture” [M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2000.。[3] 汪福祥等，英语谚语妙用500句[M]. 北京：外文出版社，2001.。[4] 王德春等，汉英谚语与文化[M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2003.。[5] 包惠南等，中国文化与翻译[M]. 北京：外文出版社，2004.。[6] 邓炎昌等，语言与文化—英汉语言文化对比[M]. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1989.。[7] 吴国瑞，圣经故事—The Story of the Bible [M]. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1995.5。26 [8] 温端政，中国谚语大全[M]. 上海：上海译文出版社。[9] 陈文伯，英文谚语习语词典[M]. 世界知识出版社，2005.1。[10] 连淑能，英汉对比研究[M]. 北京：高等教育出版社，1993.3。[11] 肖媛媛，海外英语—中西文化大不同[M]. 合肥：安徽科学技术出版社，2004.10。26 毕业论文文献综述英语英汉谚语反映的中西文化差异一、前言部分谚语是一个国家人民日常工作经验概括与总结，其内容精辟,寓意深邃,具有广泛的感染力,从中折射出一个国家的地理,历史,社会制度,生活哲理,社会观点和态度及其丰富的文化内涵.作为一种语言,谚语的独特魅力在于它是民族文化的精邃.既反映了一个民族文化的共性又反映了其个性——受该民族的价值观念，宗教信仰，审美习惯，历史文化，社会制度和社会意识形态的影响。比如，居住在沿海一带，靠海生活的民族，其谚语往往涉及海上航行，经受风雨，捕鱼捉虾。而游牧民族的谚语则多涉及沙漠，草原，牛羊，骆驼和豺狼。谚语是民间流传的至理名言，措辞简练，便于记忆。谚语内容精辟，语言生动，短小精悍，通俗易懂，因而有广泛的感染力。正如上所说，语言与文化是分不开的。语言是文化的一部分，但是它又是一种特殊的文化。语言与文化间的关系，是双向的影响制约的关系。有些社会学家认为，语言是文化的冠石——没有语言，就没有文化；从另一个方面看，语言又受文化的影响，反映文化。可以这样说，语言反映一个民族的特征，它不仅包含着该民族的历史和文化背景，而且蕴涵着该民族对人生的看法，生活方式和思维方式。社会学家告诉我们，一切文化是独特的，互不相同的。人类学家Sapir在其《语言论》中说：“语言是个底座，说一种语言的人是属于一个种族或几个种族的，也就是说属于身体上具有某些特征而又不同于别的群体的一个群。语言…….决定我们生活面貌的风格和信仰的总体。”不同的民族在漫长的历史进程中孕育了独具特色的文化。总的说来，英美文化的主线是个人主义（或称个人本位），而中国文化（以汉族文化为代表）则以集体主义（或称人伦本位）为主线。此外，英美文化受宗教的影响比较大，而儒家思想则在中国的文化中留下深深的烙印，漫长的封建社会对中国文化的影响也是显而易见。二、主题部分26 肖媛媛在(2004)《海外英语—中西文化大不同》当中提及，语言是文化的载体，而谚语是意义相对完整的固定句子，是语言中一种重要的熟语，是语言的花朵，归纳归纳总结出中西文化在这方面差异。在连淑能的(1993)《英汉对比研究》书中，作者从英汉对比研究中挑选了十个带有普遍意义的专题，逐一进行对比分析。书中所讨论的内容涉及英汉的语法特征、表现方法、修辞手法、思维习惯、语言风格、翻译技巧以及某些文化因素，殊途把学术性与实用性结合起来。此项著作对论文的完成具有大范畴的指导作用。陈文伯的(2005)《英文谚语习语词典》，释义和例句全部取自英美出版的辞书或出版物，来源不限于一个，因而比任何一本辞书的释义更全面。例句引自英美人的作品，从中可以看出其用法。在探究和分析谚语与文化问题上，此著作利用其实例具有具体的指导作用。温端政，《中国谚语大全》一书分上下两编。上编收录通行在口语里的谚语约十万余条。在研究中国本土谚语的时候，有重要的参考价值，并从中获得中国文化与谚语之间的关联之处。北京外国语学院邓炎昌(1989)教授根据自己长期从事英语教学的经验，参考当代语言学方面著作，写了《语言与文化》（LanguageandCulture）一书，就英汉语言文化进行对比，以适应英语教学与研究的需要。作者通过对中国文化与西方文化差异的比较，详细论述在使用英语时所涉及的重要文化因素，以大量实例说明，必须掌握与这些因素有关的英语使用规则，才能措词得当，言语得体。包惠南边(2003)等编著的《中国文化与翻译》从文化翻译学的角度分析比较英汉民族的文化心理观念和习俗，探讨语言、文化、翻译三者之间的关系，从文化语境观察语言翻译，提高译者的文化意识，有利于提高译文质量，系统提示涉及文化因素的翻译操作方法，例证丰富，实有性强。王德春(2001)等《汉英谚语与文化书》共分五章，从汉英谚语的溯源、文化含义、语言特点和社会功用几个方面进行分析。我们又从文化角度研究语言，竭力阐明两种社会现象的密切关系，对研究谚语与文化关系有很大的指导作用.三、总结部分26 对其差异性的探讨与研究，将有利于人们跨越不同的文化背景，准确理解和把握文化所赋予英汉谚语丰富独特的内涵。跨文化交际中，正确把握这两种谚语必须建立在多其文化的深刻理解的基础上，才能准确理解其蕴涵的哲理以及幽默所在。在对其进行翻译时，宜先按照原文的预期了风格进行直译，然后附加起画龙点睛作用的词语，点出其寓意。此外，在可能情况下还应仔细琢磨译出语的结构及措辞，并用对等的译于入语进行翻译，以达到传神传韵、形似神似，使谚语放射出原有的光彩。四、参考文献[1] Eugene A. Nida，Language Culture and Translation [M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，1993。[2] Claire Kramsch, “Language and Culture” [M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2000.。[3] 汪福祥等，英语谚语妙用500句[M]. 北京：外文出版社，2001.。[4] 王德春等，汉英谚语与文化[M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2003.。[5] 包惠南等，中国文化与翻译[M]. 北京：外文出版社，2004.。[6] 邓炎昌等，语言与文化—英汉语言文化对比[M]. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1989.。[7] 吴国瑞，圣经故事—The Story of the Bible [M]. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1995.5。[8] 温端政，中国谚语大全[M]. 上海：上海译文出版社。[9] 陈文伯，英文谚语习语词典[M]. 世界知识出版社，2005.1。[10] 连淑能，英汉对比研究[M]. 北京：高等教育出版社，1993.3。[11] 肖媛媛，海外英语—中西文化大不同[M]. 合肥：安徽科学技术出版社，2004.10。26 （20__届）本科毕业设计英语透过中西谚语的对比分析中西文化异同TheSimilaritiesandDifferencesofCulturesInChineseandEnglishProverbs26 摘要谚语是一个国家人民日常工作经验概括与总结，其内容精辟，寓意深邃，具有广泛的感染力，从中折射出一个国家的地理，历史，社会制度，生活哲理，社会观点和态度及其丰富的文化内涵。作为一种语言形式，谚语的独特魅力在于它是民族文化的精邃。既反映了一个民族文化的共性又反映了其个性：受该民族的价值观念，宗教信仰，审美习惯，历史文化，社会制度和社会意识形态的影响。这篇文章将通过对比中西方谚语的异同，来展示中西方文化的差异与相似点，已达到了解并掌握跨文化交际中需要注意的问题。关键词：谚语；文化内涵；文化相似点；文化差异。26 AbstractProverbsissummarizedfrompeople’sdailyworkexperiences.Itsmeaninghavebroadappealandwhichreflectsacountry’sgeography,history,socialsystem,thelifephilosophyandsocialviewpoints.Asakindofformsoflanguage,theproverbnotonlyreflectsanation"scultureingeneralbutalsoreflectsitsindividualitybythenation"sconceptofvalue,religiousbeliefs,aesthetichabit,historicalculture,socialsystemandtheinfluenceofsocialideology.ThethesisdiscussthesimilaritiesanddifferencesofculturesinChineseandEnglishproverbstofindbetterwaysininterculturalcommunications.Keywords:proverb;similarities;differences.26 ContentsAbstractI1.Introduction12.DefinitionandDelimitationofProverbs12.1Englishproverbs12.1.1DefinitionsofEnglishProverbs12.1.2DelimitationsofEnglishProverbs22.2ChineseProverbs42.2.1ChineseYan-yuandSu-yu42.2.2DelimitationsofChineseProverbs53CulturesReflectedinChineseandEnglishProverbs53.1SimilaritiesReflectedinEnglishandChineseProverbs53.1.1UniversalandObjectiveNormsandTruth63.1.2ConceptsaboutMoney73.1.3SexualDiscrimination83.2DifferencesReflectedinEnglishandChineseProverbs93.2.1DifferentValues103.2.2DifferentReligions113.2.3DifferentAestheticHabit123.3.4DifferentHistoricalCultures134.Conclusion...13Bibliography14Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................……..1526 1.IntroductionAsacomponentofculture,languagecanberegardedastheobviousobstacletointerculturalcommunication.Asthebasicbuildingblocksofcommunication,wordisoneofthesourcesthatcausemisunderstanding.However,asimplestudyofalanguageisfarfrombeingenoughtolearntheculturewell.Themeaningofawordistheproductofaparticularculturethatpassesonsharedandappropriatemeanings.Proverbsarethecrystalofnationalwisdomandexperience.Theyarefrequentlyusedorallyandhangeddownfromgenerationtogenerationandusuallygivepeopleinformation.Theyareshortsentencewithcommonstyle,concisestructure,andvividlanguage.Proverbsarethesummingupofpracticalexperiences.Theyaretheoralformsoflanguagethatgivepeopleadviceandwarning.Thisthesishastwomainparts:thefirstoneisthedefinitionsanddelimitationsofChineseandEnglishproverbs;andthesecondpartisthesimilaritiesanddifferencesofculturesbetweenwestandeastinproverbs.WewilldefinitetheproverbsinChineseandEnglishseparately.Andtherearethreesimilaritiesandfourdifferenceswhichwewilldiscuss.Wecanseethebetterwaysininterculturalcommunications.2.DefinitionandDelimitationofProverbsPeoplearequitefamiliarwithproverbsacrosstheworld.However,togiveacleardefinitiontoproverbsisnotaneasything.Manyscholarshaveputforwardthedefinitionsofproverbs,butwhatisandwhatisnotaproverbhasbeenarguedforlong.NowwewillseethedefinitionofChineseandEnglishproverbs.2.1Englishproverbs2.1.1DefinitionsofEnglishProverbsManyauthoritativeEnglishdictionarieshaveprovideddifferentdefinitionsofproverbs.Aproverbisdefinedas“Ashortwell-knowsayingthatstatesageneraltruthitgivesadvice”inOxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionaryofCurrentEnglish(2002),AccordingtoLongmanModernEnglishDictionary(2007),aproverbis26 abrieffamiliarmaximoffolkwisdom,usuallycompressedinformofteninvolvingaboldimageandfrequentlyajinglethatcatchesthememory.TheRandomHouseWebster’sDictionary(1966)definesaproverbas“Ashortpopularsaying,usually,ofunknownandancientorigin,thatexpresseseffectivelysomecommonplacetruthorusefulthought.”AccordingtoOxfordConciseDictionaryofLiteraryTerms(2001),aproverbis“ashortpopularsayingofunknownauthorship,expressingsomegeneraltruthorsuperstition”.Althoughtherearemanydifficultiestodefineproverbs,someexpertsinrelatedfieldhavebeentryingtogivetheirowndefinitionsofEnglishproverbs.GregoryTitelman(1996)definesproverbsinhisintroductiontoadictionarycalledRandomHouseDictionaryofPopularProverbsandSayingsas“thecollectivewisdomofallnations,ofallages,ofalltimes.”Aproverbtypicallyexpressesacommonplacethoughtinasuccinct,oftenmetaphoricalway.Aproverbmightbedefinedingeneraltermsasconcisestatementofapparenttruthsthathavecommoncurrency.AfteranalyzingthedefinitionsofproverbsgivenbyscholarshomeandabroadandsystematicallycomparingEnglishproverbswithproverbswithothercategoriesofEnglishidiomssuchassetphrases,sayingsandmaxims,ZengZili(1983)cameupwithatentativedefinitionofproverbs,“EnglishproverbsarethesummarizationofthelifeandstruggleexperienceofEnglish-speakingpeoplewithinstructiveandpersuasivefunction,suchasimpartingknowledge,providingadviceandwarning;andtheyareconciseandveryvividsentencesandutterances,whicharefixedinformandpatternandwidelypopularwithBritishandAmericanpeopleaswellasotherEnglishspeakingnations.”Thelengthydefinitionfullydemonstratesthetremendousdifficultyindefiningthefamiliarbutcomplicatedmatters.Regardingthetremendoustroubleanddifficultyindefiningthemostordinaryandeverydayphenomena,manyscholarswillhaveacleardefinitionaboutproverbs.Theproverbsaremoreandlessthesamelinguisticandculturalphenomenon,thoughtherearemanykindsofdefinitionsfromdifferentscholarsanddictionaries.Wecanstillputproverbapartfromotheridiomsbasedoncarefulcampration.2.1.2DelimitationsofEnglishProverbsAsweallknow,proverbsareakindofEnglishidioms.YuFuming(1999)classifiesEnglishidiomsinthreekind:idiomaticphrases,proverbsandslangexpressions.AccordingtoZhangYunpei(1994),Englishidiomsconsistofphraseidioms,clause26 idiomsandsentencesidiomsincludingproverbsandhabitualexpressions.LuGuoqiang(1994)alsomaintainsthatEnglishproverbsbelongtoanindependentcategoryofEnglishidioms.Englishproverbspossessallthefeaturesuniquetoidiomscharacterizesby“semanticunityandstructuralstability”.Englishproverbsareonthesentencelevel.InWuZhaofang’sview(1995),“Englishproverbsarespecialsentences,whicharefixedinform.”WhileZengziliheldtheviewthattheformandthecontentarethemajordifferencesbetweenEnglishproverbsandsetphrases,phrases,proverbsareindependentsentenceswhilesetphrasesarenotcompleteandcanonlyserveasconstitutingelementsofsentences.Englishproverbsoftencontaintruth,wisdom,counselorwarning.Thefollowingsentencescanbejustifiablydefinedasproverbsbecausetheycontainsomefolkwisdomorgeneraltruth,expresssomerulesofconductandquiteoftenconveysomeadviceorcounsel.Theyhavephilosophicdepthorinstructivefunction,andtheymakesthemdifferentfromtypicalconversationalexpressions.Thereismeasureinallthings.Letbygonesbebygones.Wherethereislife,thereishope.Prosperitydiscoversvice;adversity,virtue.Thecourseoftrueloveneverdidrunsmooth.AsXuTianchi(2000)putsthatEnglishproverbstouchalmostallaspectsofpeople’slifeandtherolethatproverbsplayintheeducationofpeopleisuniqueandcanhardlybereplacedbyothermeansofeducation.Therefore,wecancometotheconclusionthatEnglishproverbsdocontainphilosophicdepthandinstructivepower,andatthesametime,wecanhaveabetterunderstandingofthetraditionalvalue,conceptandattitudeoftheEnglishpeopletowardsallaspectsintheirdailylife.Atthesametime,Englishproverbsmustobtainpopularityamongpeople.Theyareusedindailyspeechorotherkindsofmedia.Thedefinitionswehavelistedhaveshownthattheyarewell-known.Proverbsarethecrystalofthecollectivewisdomoftheworkingpeople.However,nomatterwhenweopenanycollectionofproverbs,wewillfindmanyfamousquotations,maxims,aphorismsandpoeticlines,whichhavestrongliteraryflavors,areincluded.Forsure,proverbshavesomeotherfeaturesaswell.Wecannotbesurethatthefeaturesdiscussedabovearecomplete.Butthemajorfundamentalfeaturesputforwardherecanhelptoclarifysomemisunderstandingsintheresearchof26 proverbs.2.2ChineseProverbsChineseproverbsarewidelyusedbyordinarypeopleliketheircounterpartinEnglish.Aproverboftenshouldnotonlybeplainandpopular,butalsoterseandimplicit.WewilldiscusshowwedefineproverbsinChinesenextpart.2.2.1ChineseYan-yuandSu-yuTherearethreetypesofChineseproverbsonthesentencelevel:yan-yu(proverb),su-yu(commonsayings)andxie-hou-yu(Two-partallegoricalsayings).Amongthethreetypes,xie-hou-yumaybelinguisticallyChinesespecificthatitcanbeeasilydividedfromtheothertwocategoriesofChinesesentenceidioms.Butwhetheryan-yuandsu-yubelongtothesamecategoryornothavelongbeenthefocusofattentionofscholarsinthefield.Foraverylongtime,scholars’viewsarevariedandtheyseldomagreewitheachother.Butitisgenerallyacknowledgedthatyan-yuandsu-yubelongtothesamecategoryofChineseidiomsandtheyarepopularsayings,originatedfromandcirculatedamongtheordinarypeopleandusuallycontainsometruth,wisdom,counselorwarning.WenDuanzheng(1985)alsoheldtheviewthatinthebroadsenseyan-yuandsu-yuareactuallyoneconcept.Hesaidthatyan-yuisactuallysu-yuwiththepurposetoimpartknowledge.WangYingchuanmaintainsthatbothofthetwoarecreated,polishedandenrichedbythecommonpeople.Theyreflectwisdomandknowledgeofthecommonpeople.Theyarevivid,forcefulandhavepleasantsoundeffect.However,manyotherscholarsthinktherearedifferencesbetweenyan-yuandsu-yu.CaoCongsun（1981）heldtheviewthattheonlystrikingdifferenceisthatsomeyan-yuarecloselybelongsu-yu.Besidesthis,yan-yuandsu-yuarejustthesamecategoryofidiomaticexpressionsinChinese.XuZongcai（1994）analyzedthatthatsu-yuusuallyconsistofonlyoneclausewhileyan-yuareoftencomposedoftworhymedclauseswithparallelismasadominantfeature.Howeverdifferentviewsandopinionsthescholarshave,yan-yuandsu-yuenjoythefollowingcommonground.First,thoughtheremaybesomeothersources,mostofyan-yuandsu-yuareoffolkorigin.Theyarespreadcolloquiallybypeople.Second,theyareidiomaticexpressionsinthesentencelevel.Third,mostofthemconvey26 wisdom,counselorwarming.Fourth,theyobtainwidepopularityamongthecommonpeopleandtheyareboththeconsequenceofcollectivewisdomovergenerations.Itisworthymentioningthatthedelimitationofyan-yuandsu-yuisnotclear-cutevenintheirnarrowsense.Someofthemmaysuperpose.Thisisthereasonwecaneasilyfindmanysentenceidiomsfrequentlyappearingbothinthedictionariesofyan-yuandinthoseofsu-yualthoughtheircompilersclaimtocollectonlyyan-yuandsu-yu.Fromtheabovediscussion,wecanmakeaconclusionthatChineseproverbsincludeyan-yuandsu-yu.2.2.2DelimitationsofChineseProverbsOnthebaisoftheanalysisofyan-yuandsu-yu,andtheessentialfeaturesofEnglishproverbs,wecanassumethatthecounterpartofEnglishproverbsinChineseshouldincludebothyan-yuandsu-yu.WehavediscussedtheessentialfeaturesofEnglishproverbs:theyarepopularsayingsonthesentencelevel.Theyoftencarrytruth,counselorwarning,andareoftenfigurativeinlanguagewithpleasantsoundeffect.Bothyan-yuandsu-yumeettherequirements.Therefore,itisreasonabletosaythecounterpartofEnglishproverbsinChineseshouldincludeyan-yuandsu-yu.3CulturesReflectedinChineseandEnglishProverbsTherearesimilaritiesanddifferencesofculturesinChineseandEnglishproverbs.Nowwewillhaveadiscussionwhichhastwopartseperately.3.1SimilaritiesReflectedinEnglishandChineseProverbsTheexperiencesandobservationsfromhumanoftheworldareverysimilar.InspiteofthedissimilarculturalbackgroundsoftheChineseandtheEnglish-speakingpeoples,therearemanyproverbsreflectingsomesimilarcultures.Inthefollowings,wewillhaveadiscussionabouttheculturalsimilaritiesreflectedintheproverbsdinbothChinaandEnglishspeakingcountries.Butweshouldbearinmindthatthesimilaritiesherearebynomeansabsolutebecauseproverbsarethecrystallizationofpeople’swisdom,which,themselves,arecountradictoryinmeaningsometimes.26 3.1.1UniversalandObjectiveNormsandTruthTherethreesidestoexplain:a.Everythinghasitsopposites.Tounderstandit,onemustnotonlyunderstanditspresentformbutitsoppositeformaswell.Astheunityofoppositesisawayofunderstandingsomethingentirelyinsteadofjusttakingoneaspect,oronepartofacertainthing.Thisisthefundamentaldisciplineintheuniverse,whichhasbeenexplicatedbothinEnglishandChineseproverbsalready,makingtheproverbsglitteringwiththephilosophicthoughts.NowseethefollowingEnglishproverbsasexamplestoproveabove-mentionedsimilarities:Therearespotsevenonsun.Nogreatlossbutsomesmallprofit.Everybeanhasitsblack.Everyextremeisafault.Firesandwateraregoodservants,butbadmasters.Thewaterthatbearstheboatisthesamethatswallowsitup.Similarly,thereareChineseproverbsexpressingthethoughtofunityofopposite.Forexample:小洞不补，大洞吃苦。(Astitchintimesavesnine)失败是成功之母。（Failureisthemotherofsuccess）祸与福同门，利与害为邻。（Happinessandevilgotogether）尺有所短，寸有所长。（Everyonehastheirownshortcomingsandadvantages）b.Ontheearth,allthethingsareinterrelated,fromthenaturetohumansociety,frompeople’slifetothespirit.Everythingisconnectedwithoneanother.WecanfindsuchrelationsbothinEnglishandChineseproverbs.InEnglishproverbs,wecanfindproverbsthatcontainsimilarthoughts.Alittleleakwillsinkagreatship.ALargefireoftencomesfromasmallspark.Nopains,nogains.InChinese:凡事皆有因。（Everywhyhasawherefore）无风不起浪。（Nosmokewithoutfire;nowind,nowaves）上梁不正下梁歪。（Fishbeginstostinkatthehead;theupsidebeamisskew,the26 downsideoneisskewtoo）种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（Sownothing,reapnothing）c.Therearesomeproverbsthatattachgreatimportancetotheactiveroleofexperienceandpracticeintheprocessoflearning.InEnglish,wehave:Experiencemustbebought,Theproofofthepuddingisintheeating.Thereisnothingsohardbutitbecomeseasybypractice.Experienceisthemotherofknowledge.InChinese,wehave:临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网。（Doingisbetterthanthinking;itisbettertopreparethenetthanwatchthefishalongtheriver）要知山下路，需问过来人。(Experienceisveryimportant;ifyouwanttoknowaboutthepathunderthehill,youmustaskthewalkerwhohaspassed)一生不出门，终究是小人。(Experienceisveryimportant;ifyoustayhomealllife,youwillbeanignorantpeople)Aswediscussedabove,therearemanysimilaritiesofconceptsaboutsometruthfromdifferentcountries.Wesharetheworldtogether.Peoplefromallwalksoflifesumuptheirdailypracticesinformsofproverbs,andacomparativestudyofChineseandEnglishproverbsrevealshowpeoplefromthesecountriesfashiontheirlanguagesintothecondensedpresentformsfromdailyactivitiestheyareengagedin.3.1.2ConceptsaboutMoneyMoney,asakindofwealth,isveryimportantinthelivesbothinChineseandEnglishcountries.Moneyisindispensable,playanimportantroleinsocieties.TheEnglishproverbafullpursemakestheheartlight,andalightpurseisaheavycurse.ThisproverbexpresseshowimportantmoneyisinEnglishcountries.InChinese,thereisa有钱有粮心中不慌，无钱无粮愁断肚肠,whichgivesasamepositionofmoney.Moneyisnotonlyimportantforanindividual,butforacountryaswell.InEnglishproverbs,thereare“Moneyrulestheworld”and“Moneyispower”.InChinese,贫穷就要挨打.Listedbelowaresomeotherproverbsabouttheimportanceofmoney.26 Heismostlovedwhohasthemostbags.Amanwithoutmoneyisnotamanatall.Moneyisthewiseman’sreligion.钱袋轻，心事重。有了钱，万事圆。人为财死，鸟为食亡。钱能壮胆，钱能唬人。钱能通天，势能压人。Theaboveproverbsarerelatedtotheimportanceofmoney.3.1.3SexualDiscriminationWomen’shumblestatusleadstothediscriminationtowardthembothintheeastandwest.Manyproverbsareaboutsexdiscrimination.AmongthoseChineseandEnglishproverbsthathavebeencompiledandpublished,itisquitedifficulttofindsomeextollingwomen.Despitethelonggeographicaldistancebetweentheeastandthewestandtheimitationoftheculturalexchangeoffolklanguage,itissurprisingthatbothChineseandEnglishproverbshavemuchincommonintheaspectofsexdiscrimination.AccordingtotheBible,womanisjustaribofaman.Wecanfindthatthepositionofwomenisrelatedtothebeginningoflifeinthewest.WhileinChina,Confuciusputforwardman’sphilosophy,thatwasthethreeObedienceandtheFourVirtues.InancientfeudalChina,thesespiritualfettersofwifelysubmissionandvirtueimposedonwomenweredeeplyrootedinsocialvaluesystemandweredeeplymarkedbywomendiscrimination.TherearemanyproverbsinbothchineseandEnglishshowingwomenareinferiortomaninsocialstatus.Suchas:女子无才便是德。(Awomanwillhavemoralitywhenshehasnotstudyed)女人三十三，太阳落西山。(Youthisveryimportanttowomen;awomanwhois33islikethesunset)嫁出去的女，泼出去的水。(agirlwhohasmarriedislikesplashedwater)养儿防老，养女赔钱。(Soncansupporttheparents,whilethedaughterlosemoney)夫贵妻荣，母凭子贵。(Women"sfatearerelatedtosonsandhusbands)Awoman,adogandawalnuttree,themoreyoubeatthem,thebettertheywillbe.26 Amanofstrawisworthofawomanofgold.Amanisamanthoughhehasbutahoseonhishead.Ifthehusbandbenotathome,thereisnobody.TheChineseandEnglishproverbslistedabovedisplaythatinsociety,womenaredisadvantaged.3.2DifferencesReflectedinEnglishandChineseProverbsAspartofculture,languageplaysanimportantroleintheculture.Proverbsareanimportantpartofthelanguageandcultureofasociety.Toalargeextent,proverbsareinfluencedbyculture,thustheyinevitablyreflectculture.Theyaredescribedasthecrystaloflanguageandthemirrorofculture.Forexample,peoplewholivealongseacoastsandwhoselivelihoodisdependentontheseawillhaveproverbsaboutsailing,aboutfishandfishing.Forexample,therearemanyproverbsaboutsailinginEnglishlanguage,Asmallleakwillsinkgreatship.Asmoothseanevermakesaskillfulmariner.Hoistyoursailwhenthewindisfair.Saltwaterandabsencewashawaylove.Letanother’sshipwreckbeyournavigationmark.WhileChinaisalargecountry,about70%to80%ofwhosepeopleareengagedinfarming,therefore,thereareasurprisingnumberoffarmingproverbsinChinese,forinstance,瓜熟蒂落，水到渠成。(Whenwaterflows,achannelisformed)种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。(Sownothing,reapnothing)一份耕耘，一份收获。(Nopains,aharvest;sownothing,reapnothing)民以食为天。(Foodistheparamountnecessityofthepeople)Theaboveexamplesarejustadropinthesea.Wecanalsoseethatincultureswhereoldpeoplearerespected,therewillbeproverbsaboutthewisdomoftheelders.Insocietieswherewomen’sstatusislow,therewillbeanumberofproverbsdemeaningthem.Proverbsprovideinterestinglittleglimpseorcluestoapeople"sgeography,history,socialorganization,socialviewsandattitudes.Humanexperiencesandobservationsoftheworldareinmanyrespectssimilarandthereare,forsure,manydifferencesaswell.Wewillhaveacomparisonofthetwo26 nations’culturesreflectedinbothEnglishproverbsandChineseones.3.2.1DifferentValuesInvalues,BritishandAmericansvalueindividualism,advocatingpersonalrelativeinitiative.Don"tputyourfingerinthepiereflectstheAnglo-Americansocietypursuesindividualismphilosophy,itwarnspeoplenottomindotherpeople"sexternaldistractions,anddowelltohimselfisthebestpolicy.BritishandAmericanvaluesarealsoreflectedintheconceptoftimeonpunctuality,pursuitingefficiencyandoptimisticattitude.ProverbTimeisMoneyislikeChineseproverb一寸光阴一寸金,寸金难买寸光阴.Butitfocusesontellingpeopleshouldmakefulluseoflimitedtimeunceasinglytocreatemorematerialwealth,containingstrongeconomiccolourandreflectingtheconceptofwealthinfinitetheoryprogress.PunctualityisthepolitenessofkingsandPunctualityisthesoulofbusinessreflectspeople"sattentiontobepunctualinwesterncountriesadvocatedbyideas,althoughChineseproverbalsohasWastingtimeismurder,butgenerallyspeaking,theChineseconceptofpunctualityisrelativelyweaker.Bypersonalstandardvaluesinfluence,Anglo-Americansattachgreatimportancetopersonalprivacy,reasonage,income,religiousbeliefandprivateresidences.Traditionallyspeaking,Chineseprivacyconceptsisnotverystrong,therearenotsomanysecretoff-limited.Andasforindividualism,Chineseareadvocatingcollectivism(orcalledethicalstandard)values.ItistheChineseculturetowards-accuser.Duetotheeffect,Chineseproverbsplaysanverystrongethicalstandardcolourfulrole,anditisembodiedadvocatefortheinterpersonalhelpingandlovingeachotherandcooperationrelations,whichisproductionof2,000yearsChina"sfeudalsocietystructure.TheChineseproverbs一个篱笆三个桩，一个好汉三个帮and众人拾柴火焰高reflectakindoftypicalcollectivestrength.Ethicalstandardsarealsoreflectedinthecloserelationshipsuchadfamilyandfriendship.Peoplepaygreaterattentionstothethickaffectionandthereturnsoffriendship,emphasizingthekindnessandobligation.一日为师，终身为父embodiesChinesetraditionalteacher-studentrelationship.谁言寸草心，embodiesthereturntotheirparents.士为知己者死reflectedfriendscouragegreat-heartedandnaturallyformedresponsibilityconsciousness.CollectivismistypicalcultureofChina.26 3.2.2DifferentReligionsInreligionside,ChristianityisthemainreligiousfaithofAnglo-Americancountries,whichhasproducedmanyuniquefeaturesofreligiousculture.ProverbChristmascomesbutjustayearhasbecomecommon-sencewords.ChristmasisthebiggestfestivalinChristiancountries,andithasuniquereligiouscultureaccumulaterighteousness.Duringthefestival,peopleoftenusethisproverburgepeopletobearothernoisy,belly-worshiptoholdon,donotwanttoocareabout.ItAlsoletpeoplegrasptheopportunitytosendathingorhelpthepoors.InChina,itisnotlikethatinwest.InChristiancountries,perhapsbecauseofthepracticeinvogue,itsuniquereligionandreligiouscultureasaresult,itissopopular.Anotherexample,proverbsmerryinlent,andYou’lllivetorepentthestorycomefromareligiousholiday:duringtheholidayseasons,Christianeatvegetarian,theymakethisdayasasinoftheday.Peoplethinkthatlentwillgivepeoplebadluck.InEnglishproverbs,CROSSandGODareusedverycommonly.Forexample,inproverbsThecrossonhisbreastandthedevilinhisclothesisthatonbackofJesuswhenhewassuffering.Theproverbmeanspeoplewillbeartheburdenhardnessoflife.Inaddition,EnglishproverbusedGODtorefertothehumandominate.Forexample,GodsendscoldafterclothesandGodhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves,etc.ReligiouscultureinEnglishleftdeeptraces.TheBibleisaholybookoftheJewsandthewesternChristiancountriessuchasBritainandAmerica,anditcontainsarichreligiousandculturalcontent,andhasalonghistory,formingtheuniquecultureoftheBible.ManyofEnglishproverbscomefromtheBible.Forexample,EveryhearthasitsownacheisfromtheBible.AndtheproverbForbiddenfruitissweetcomesfromastorythatEvaatetheForbiddenFruitofGardenofEdenandangeredGod.Anotherexample,proverbWhenthesunrises,thediseasewillabatecomesfromanotherstorythatafterthedeathofAbrahamwhohadanecklacewhichcouldhealthediseasegivenbyGod,Godputthatintothesun.ProverbYoucannotserveGodandmammonmeansChristianscannotcovetmoney,becausedevoutisfarfromthemoney.TheaboveproverbshavebigrelationswithdoctrineofBible.Religionsinwesterncountrieshaveimportantposition.AlthoughChinahasBuddhismandTaoism,ConfucianismhastakengreateffectontheChineseculture.Confucianisminthefeudalsocietyplaysaleadingroleinthefeudalsociety.Still,therearemanyproverbsaboutreligion.,suchas26 一人得道，鸡犬升天、放下屠刀，立地成佛、平日不烧香，临时抱佛脚、八仙过海，各显神通andsoon.3.2.3DifferentAestheticHabitBecauseofthedifferencesofthedifferentnationalfeatures,therearemanyaesthetichabits.Onthebaseofit,theChineseandwesterncountrieshavedifferentvaluesofaesthetic.Especiallywhenpeopleusetheanimaltorefertodifferentkindsofpersons,therearemanydifferencesbetweentheChineseandEnglishcountries.Forexample,thewordDOG.Peopleofwesterncountrieslikedogsastheirpets,sotheyoftenusethewordtocalleachother.Forexample,Man’bestfriend.Everydoghasitsday.Barkingdogseldombite.Dogdoesnoteatdog.Youareluckydog.ButinChina,peopleoftenrelatethewordtosomethingbad.Peopleregarddogasaboringanimal.狗改不了吃屎。(Badmanisalwaysabadman;dogslikeeatshit)狗娘养的。(Sonofabitch)Whentreatingtheage,therearemanydifferencesbetweenwesternandChinesepeople.Inwest,peopleregardageasaprivacyquestion.Peoplealwaysdonotaskeachother’sage.ItisseeninsomeEnglishproverbs,suchasYoucannottelltheolddognewsticks.Theproverbshowsthesademotionofthepeoplefortheoldness.ButinChina,oldnessisoftenrelatedtothepersonswhohaveexperienceandarewise.Respectingtheoldpeopleisatraditionalmorality.WecanseeitintheChineseproverbs.老骥伏枥，志在千里。(Oldpeoplemaystillcherishhighaspirations;theoldhorsestillwantstorunquickly)姜还是老的辣。(Theolder,thewiser;theoldgingerismorespicy)ThedifferentmetaphorsbetweentheChineseandEnglishproverbsaresomehowrelatedtotheaesthetichabits.Allisfishthatcomestothenetand抓到篮子里便是菜;Tocryupwineandsellvinegarand挂羊头，卖狗肉;Loveme,lovemydogand爱屋及乌;Betterbetheheadofadogthanthetailofalionand宁为鸡口，不为牛后.26 3.3.4DifferentHistoricalCulturesInbothChineseandEnglishproverbs,somewordsareoriginatedfromthehistoricalcultures.Therefore,knowingsomehistoryofonecountryisveryimportanttocorrectlygraspthemeaningsofproverbs.ThemeaningofTalkofthedevil,andheissuretoappearandPeakofangelsandyouwillhearthetheirwingsissomehowliketheChineseone说曹操，曹操到(曹操isahistoricalpersoninChina).ButtheformeronesarerelatedtothewesternreligioncultureandthelatteroneisoriginatedfromChinesehistory.Anotherexample,LoveisblindisliketheChineseproverb情人眼里出西施.TheformeroneisrelatedtotheLoveGodErosfromwesternculture.AndthelatteroneisoriginatedfromChineseculture.Thebreadneverfallsbutonitsbutteredsideislikethemeaningof人倒霉，吃豆腐也塞牙.Buttheyhaveshowedusdifferenthabitsandcustomsbetweenwestandeast.EnglishproverbDonotcarrycoalstoNewcastleislikethemeaningofChineseproverb要倒卖槟榔去广东.Althoughbothofthemmeandonotdosomethingyoudonothavetodo,thebackgroundsaredifferent.Newcastleisaplacewherecoalisproducedlargely,whileGuangdongproducesbetelnut.Inaddition,therearesimilarmeaningsbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs,butonescomefromlifeandsourcesandtheotheronesareoriginatedfromhistoricalcultures.Sowecannotrelatethemdirectly.Andanotherexample,themeaningofproverbDon’tbeadoginthemangerissimilarwiththemeaningofChineseproverb占着茅坑不拉屎.TheformeroneisoriginatedfromAesop"sFables,whilethelatteronecomesfromdailylife.Chinaisastatewithlonghistoryoffeudalsociety,whentherearemanyChinesefeaturesfeudaleraofculturalproducts.Therefore,manyproverbsandthesocialbackgroundcloselyrelated.4.ConclusionAsthecreamofalanguageandthecrystalofnationalwisdomandexperience,proverbscarrygreatculturalinformation,appropriatelyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage,providinginterestingcluetoanation’sgeography,history,socialconventions,people’soutlook,religionandliterature.26 Tostudythecultureofanation,onecannotneglectthepowerfulimpactofitslanguage.Proverbsofanationaretheembodimentofpeople’swisdom.Theconcise,forcefulandmeaningfulproverbsarethekeytograspingandanation’culture.EnglishandChineseproverbsreflecttheirculturalsimilaritiesanddifferences.Theyarepermeatingandinterestingeachother.Acomparativestudyofthemcanhelpalanguagelearnertolearnalanguageefficientlyandproficientlysolanguagelearningmaybecomeamucheasierjob.Meanwhile,withthedevelopmentoftheglobaleconomy,moreandmorepeopleofdifferentculturalbackgroundsneedtocommunicatewitheachother.Proverb,asthecreamoflanguages,mirrorcertainculturesandexpressideasofhumanexperiencesinanexplicitway,providingreaderswithplentifulinformationtoindicatehowpeoplearethinking,doingandcommunicating.Butjutbecausetheirparticularculturaltraits,theyplayaioninthewayofinterculturalcommunication.Inthisaspect,thecomparativestudyofbothEnglishandChineseproverbsofferssomeinsightsinthestudyofinterculturalcommunication.TheculturalsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenChinaandthewesterncountrieslieinmanyaspectsofthesociety.Sothecomparativestudymustbeomnibearingandprofound.Anditmustbeputinacomprehensiveculturalbackground.Thisthesis,however,isconfinedtoonlysomeaspects.Soafurtherstudymustbecarriedouttoamoresatisfactoryextant.Proverbs,binganimportantpartofalanguageandculture,reallydeservesuchastudy.BibliographyGregory,Y.Titeman.RandomHouseDictionaryofPopularProverbsandandSayings[M].NewYork:RandomHouse,1996.MartinKuester.FramingTruths[M].TorontoLondonBuffalo:UniversityofTorontoPress.1992.PatriekHartwellandRobertH.Bentley.Open[M]toLanguage:AnewCollegeRhetoricOxford:OxfordUniversityPress.1982.XuTianchi.AnApproachtoEnglishProverbs[J].JournalofSichuanNormalUniversity(SocialScienceEdition)SupplementNo.1,(2000).26 YuFuming.AComparativeStudyofEnglishandChineseIdioms[M].Shanghai:ShanghaiJiaotongUniversityPress,1999.ZhangYunpei.AnIntriductiontoModernEnglishLexicology[M].Beijing:PerkingNormalUniversityPress,1987.陈望道，修辞学发凡[M]上海：复旦大学出版社,2008。靳瑞华，孟令新，广告语篇中仿拟修辞方式的运用.安徽文学,2009(11):313-314。李鑫华，英语修辞格详论[M]上海:上海外语教育出版社,2000。李桃梅，浅谈英语谚语中的仿拟及其在广告中的妙用[J]赤峰学院学报(汉文哲学社会科学版)，2009(7):99-101。单满菊，英语Parody和汉语仿拟修辞格对比研究[J]西安外国语大学学报,2009(2):22-25。王立新，西方文化简史[M].郑州：河南人民出版社，2005。王希杰，汉语修辞学[M].北京：商务印书馆,2004。曾自立，英语谚语概说[M].北京：商务印书馆，1983。赵政清主编，英语谚语范围手册[M].成都：西南交通大学出版社，1996。AcknowledgementsManypeoplehavemadeinvaluablecontributions,bothdirectlyandindirectlytomyresearch.IwouldliketoexpressmywarmestgratitudetoLecturerChen,mysupervisor,forhisinstructivesuggestionsandvaluablecommentsonthewritingofthisthesis.Withouthisinvaluablehelpandgenerousencouragement,thepresentthesiswouldnothavebeenaccomplished.Besides,IamalsogratefultoJiaxingUniversitythathasprovidedmeachanceofthisstudy.Finally,Iwishtothankmyfriendswhohelpedmeinsearchingforreference.Myheartswellswithgratitudetoallthepeoplewhohelpedme.26