analysis on cultural connotation of comparative of english and chinese proverbs related to cat and d 22页

AnalysisonCulturalconnotationofComparativeofEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog猫、狗相关的英汉谚语文化内涵摘要谚语简洁生动，是语言的一个重要组成部分，而在动物谚语之中与猫、狗相关的谚语又占了很大一部分。它体现了语言与文化的关系。由于这些谚语主要都是来自人们的日常生活，社会经验，也是人们智慧的结晶，因此，与猫、狗相关的英汉谚语也存在着相同之处。但由于各国具体的历史文化背景的不同，所以与猫、狗相关的英汉谚语又存在着差异。本文在前人研究所发现的英汉谚语的相同点与不同点的基础之上，深入研究分析了与猫、狗相关的英汉谚语的相同点和不同点。并探究了它们在跨文化交际中的渗透与融合。此外，由于在对猫狗形象的看法相同，这些谚语存在着其它一些相同之处，对人生都有指导，警告及文学运用上的功能。而由于古代中国与西方在对爱情婚姻，家庭及长辈的看法反面存在着差异，及它们所实行的社会制度不同，仍导致了这些谚语的其它不同点。最后，指出随着世界文化的交流，与猫、狗相关的英汉谚语也逐渐打破了国家和民族的界限，相互融合与渗透，其中一些表现出相同的意思。关键词:谚语相同点不同点融合22 AbstractProverbsareverysimpleandvividandthecreamofalanguage.Inanimalproverbs,thereareagreatnumberofproverbsrelatedtocatanddog,whichreflecttherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture.Becausemanyofthemcamefrompeople"sdailylife,socialexperienceandthecrystalofpeople"swisdom,theEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddoghavesomesimilarities,butbecauseoftheculturalandhistoricaldifferences,theyalsohavedifferencesintheirdetailedcontents.Basedonthesimilaritiesanddifferencesfoundbythepreviousresearchers,theauthordeeplystudiessomeothersimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogandexplorestheirinterfusion.Besidesthat,becauseofpeople"ssimilarviewsontheimageofcatanddog,EnglishandChineseproverbsalsohaveothersimilaritiesandhaveinstructive,warningandliteralfunctions.Becauseofdifferentviewsonloveandmarriage,familyandtheagedanddifferentsocialsystemsinWesterncountriesandancientChina,theseproverbsalsohavesomeotherdifferences.ThentheauthorpointouttheblendingofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogbecauseoftheculturalcommunicationaroundtheworldandthebreakingupofthelimitamongdifferentcountriesandnations.KeyWords:Proverbs,Similarities,Differences,Blending22 ContentsAcknowledgements………………………………………………………...…….................2AbstractinEnglish…………………………………….………………………...………….3AbstractinChinese…………………………………………..…………..……....…………41.Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….71.1BackgroundandObjectiveoftheResearch…………………………………………..71.2OrganizationoftheThesis………………………………………………………...….81.3BriefIntroductiontoEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog……......81.3.1DefinitionofProverbs………………………………………………………..…..81.3.2BriefIntroductiontoProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog…………………….....…92.SimilaritiesandDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDogFoundbyPreviousResearchers………………………………………………...………92.Similarities……………………………………………………………………….……..92.1SimilarOrigins……………………………………………………….…….……...92.2SimilarFeatures………………………………………………….……..…….….102.2.1Conciseness……………………………………………………………...…...102.2.2MentionofCatandDoginOneProverb……………………………...……..102.2.3SimilarFunctions……………………………………………………..……...103.Othersimilarities……………………………………………………...………..……...113.1OriginatingfromSimilarViews……………………………………….……..……...113.2HavingSimilarFunctions………………………………………………….....……...123.2.1HavingSimilarInstructiveFunction…………………………...………..……...123.2.2HavingSimilarFunctionforWarning……………………………………...…...123.2.3HavingSimilarLiteralFunction…………………………………….…..……...134.DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog…………...144.1ReflectingDifferentCustoms………………………………………..……………...144.2IndicatingDifferentlifestyle………………………………………..……..…..…...144.3BearingDifferentConnotations………………………………………..…….…...1522 5.OtherDifferences…………………………………………..……………………….…...155.1OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViews…………………………………....……...165.1.1OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViewsonLoveandMarriage……….……...165.1.2OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViewsonFamilyandtheAged…………...185.2DifferentSocialSystem……………………………………………………………...196.TheBlendingofEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog…………..…...207.Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………....228.Bibliography……………………………………………………………………..……....2422 1.Introduction1.1BackgroundandObjectiveoftheResearchAsproverbsaretheessentialpartofalanguage,whichreflectnotonlyacountry"scultureandtraditionbutalsoitssocialdevelopment,manyscholarspaygreatattentiontothestudyofproverbs.Sincetherearesomanysimilaritiesintheproverbsofdifferentcountriesaswellasdifferencesbetweenthem,manyscholarsandexpertshaveacomparisonbetweenthoseproverbs.Sincetheanimalproverbshavearousedpeople"sgreatinterestandstimulatedpeople"sintelligencebecauseoftheirvividimages,theybecomewelcomedamongalargepopulation.SomanyscholarsandexpertshavedonecontractiveorcomparativestudyonanimalproverbsinEnglishandChinese,suchas"OnDifferentMetaphoricalImagesofAnimalsinEnglishandChineseProverbsfromaCulturalPerspective"(CaoXiying,2006:123-126);"ContractiveAnalysisAnimalFigureinChinese-EnglishProverbs"(ShanXingrong,2006:259-260);"TheInfluenceofCulturalFactorsontheImagesofAnimalProverbsinChineseandEnglish"(SongJingsheng,2004:61-64);"AComparativeStudyofAnimalImagesinEnglishandChineseProverbs(WeiLijuan,2005).Theserelevanttheseshavebeenpublishedinvariouspublications.Inthesetheses,thescholarsandexpertshavestudiedthesimilaritiesofEnglishandChineseproverbsintheaspectsoforigins,featuresandfunctionsandthedifferencesbetweenthemfromtheviewofcustoms,lifestyleandmeanings.However,mostofthesethesesjustgiveageneralconstractionorcomparisontotheanimalproverbsinEnglishandChinese,butseldomrefertotheproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.ThereareagreatnumberofproverbsrelatedtocatanddoginEnglishandChinese,andtheseproverbs,playinganimportantroleasthecarrierofpeople"sthoughtsandconcepts,reflectcountries"specificcultureandhistory.StudyingonthissubjectcanmakemehaveadeepunderstandingofthesimilaritiesofanddifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculture,andtheresearchisgreatlyhelpfultothelanguageteachingandcross-culturalcommunicationandliteralstudy.Ihavedonesomeresearchintoit.ThemajorpurposeofmyresearchistofindoutsomemainsimilaritiesofanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogandtheinterfusionofthem.22 1.2OrganizationoftheThesisTherearealtogethersixpartsinthisthesis.Part1presentsthebackgroundandobjectiveoftheresearch,outlinestheorganizationofthethesis,finallygiveabriefintroductiontoEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.Part2analyzessomesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogfoundbypreviousresearchers.Thesimilaritiesincludesimilarorigins,similarfeaturesandsimilarfunctions.ThedifferencesincludethatEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogreflectdifferentcustoms,indicatedifferentlifestyleandbeardifferentconnotations.Part3focusesonanothertwosimilaritiesofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.Oneisthattheyoriginatingfromsimilarviewsontheimageofcatanddog.;theotheristhattheyhavingsimilarinstructive,warningandliteralfunctionsonpeople.Part4discussesanothertwodifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.Theyoriginatefromdifferentsocialviewsonloveandmarriage,familyandtheaged;theyoriginatingfromdifferentsocialsystem:theWesterncountrieshavecapitalismwhiletheancientChinacarriedoutfeudalism.Part5tellstheblendingofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.Part6drawaconclusionofthewholethesis,summingupthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog,andtheirblending.1.3BriefIntroductiontoProverbsRelatedtoCatandDog1.3.1DefinitionofProverbsWhatisproverb?ThedefinitionofproverbbyOxfordConciseDictionaryofProverbsin"Atraditionalsayingwhichoffersadviceorpresentsamoralinashortandpithymanner"（Simpson,2001）.InWangQin"sopinion,"proverbsarethesummingupofpracticalexperiences"(1980:8).Theyaretheoralformsoflanguagethatgivepeopleexperience,adviceorwarning.ThegreatEnglishphilosopherFrancisBacononcesaidthatthegenius,witandspiritofanationwerediscoveredinitsproverbs".Fromthese22 definitions,wecanseethatproverbsarethecreamofalanguage,whichhavebeenhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationandcangivepeopleadviceandwarnings.1.3.2BriefIntroductiontoProverbsRelatedtoCatandDogTherearevariouskindsofproverbssuchasanimalproverbsandplantproverbs.Theanimalproverbsinvolvealotofanimals,cat,dog,dragon,tiger,fishandlion.Amongtheseanimals,catanddogarereferredtoinalargenumberinbothEnglishandChineseproverbs.InEnglishproverbs,thereare"Acatmaylookataking","Itrainscatsanddogs","Barkingdogsdonotbite";inChineseproverbs,wehave"猫走鼠伸腰"，"猫儿狗儿识温存"，"狗眼看人低"。2.SimilaritiesandDifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDogFoundbyPreviousResearchers2Similarities2.1SimilarOriginsAsanEnglishproverbitselftellsus"Proverbsarethedaughterofexperience";sothatproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsogeneratefrompeople"sdailylife,socialexperienceandfolkwisdom.ItisobviousthatEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogsharethesameoriginandtheyarethereflectionofpeople"swisdomandintellect.Specificallyspeaking,bothofthemcomefrommythology.Eachnationhasitsownmythology,fableandallusion.Chinesetraditionalculture,ancientGreekandRomancivilizationbequeathmanymythologiesandallusions.Theyarethepreciouslegacyofmankindandalsoasourceoftheproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.Differentmythologyandfableleftdifferentproverbs.TheRomanMythologyandsomelegendbecamethesourceofEnglishproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.E.g.:YoucannotmakeaMercuryofeverydog.(FromRomanMythology.Itmeansthatnoteverymindwillanswerequallywelltobetrainedintoascholar.)Whowillbellthecat?(From"Aesop"sFable")SinceChinahasalonghistoryof5000years,Chineseculturecantracebacktotheancienttimewhenthereweremanynaturalphenomenathatourancestorcouldn"texplainthoseunknownphenomena.Asaresult,someChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogcome22 frommythologyandfable.E.g.:狗咬吕洞宾，不识好人心（From《八仙过海》）.FromabovewecanfindoutthatsomeofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogsimilarlyoriginatefrommythologyorfablesandarewelcomedbypeople.2.2SimilarFeaturesCreatedbycommonpeople,proverbsarehandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationorally.BothofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogareconciseandvivid.Theyhavesimilarlinguisticcharactersandsimilarmentionofcatanddoginoneproverb.2.2.1ConcisenessProverbdictionrelatedtocatanddogisveryneatandsimple.Theyuseafewwordstoexpressthemeaningandtendtobeconcise.Consequently,manyoftheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogaresimpleandshortsentences.Forexample,inEnglish,"Lovemedog,lovemydog";"Everydoghashisday";"Thecatisoutofthebag";inChinese,"猫儿眼，时时变"；"狗是百步王，只在门前狂"；"猫的气好受，鼠的气难受"。Theseproverbsareusuallyverysimpleandneatandeasytoremember,sotheycanbeveryeasytospeakoutandhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationorally.2.2.2MentionofCatandDoginOneProverbItisacommonphenomenonthatwhenpeoplemention"cat","dog"isalsoalwaysmentioned.InanimalproverbsofEnglishandChinese,catanddogreoftenmentionsinoneproverb,forexample,"Itrainscatsanddogs";"Thecatanddogmaykiss,yetarenonethebetterfriends";"Tolivelong,eatlikeacat,drinklikeadog.";"猫儿狗儿识温存"；"猫一天，狗一天"；"好狗不跳槽，好猫不叫"。Obviously,theseproverbssharesomecommonfeaturesascatanddogarementionedtogetherinoneproverb.2.2.3SimilarFunctionSomeproverbsrelatedtocatanddogarealsoironic;theycriticizesomepeople"sbadbehaviorandrevealsomepeople"sevilheart.Forexample,inEnglishproverb"Everydogisalionathome."Itcriticizethosewhoaresoignorantarealsoveryarrogant"Thedog22 returnstohisvomit."Itrevealspeoplewhohavebeencriminalcommitcrimeagain."Adogthatwillfetchabonewillcarryabone."Itcriticizesthosewhoalwaysbringgossipsaboutothers.InChineseproverbs,"狗嘴里吐不出象牙"Itcriticizespeoplewhoalwaysspeakillofothersandtalkaboutsomethingthatmakesothersuncomfortable."马走千里吃草,狗走千里吃屎"Itcriticizesthosebadpeoplewhocannotchangetheirbadmanners."得志的猫儿欢似虎"Itisusedtorevealthoseratfinkswhogettemporaryprofit.Astherearesomanydarkandunfavorablephenomenainthesociety,manyproverbsrelatetocatanddogarecreatedtocriticizethosegloomythings.3Othersimilarities3.1OriginatingfromSimilarViewsontheImageofCatandDogAlthoughbothEnglishpeopleandChinesepeoplelikekeepingcatsaspets,theythinkcatisalazyandgreedyanimal.(ShenZhi,2007:55)　Catisoftenusedinproverbstorefertothosewhoarelazyorgreedy.Forexample:inEnglish;"Acatinglovescatchesnomice."Thisproverbisusedtorefertopeoplewhoareunwillingtodothingsandworkinvain."Thecatwouldeatfishbutwouldnotwetherfeet."Italwaysimpliesthatonewanttogetsomethingbutdoesnotwanttohaveatryforfearoftroublesome.(PingHong,2000:99)"Inacat"seye,allthingsbelongtocats."Itreflectsthatcatwanttogeteverything.InChinese,wehave"猫巴富，狗守贫".Inthisproverb,"猫"referstopeoplewhowanttobecomerichbyflatteringtherichpeople.In"吊肉跌死猫",itreferstogreedymanlosthisfameforthepresentprofit.AlltheseproverbsprovethatbothEnglishandChinesepeopleseecatasalazyandgreedyimage.What"smore,eitherinwesterncountriesorinChina,catanddogareseenasenemies.Inpeople"sopinion,whenacatandadogmet,theycannotbeartheother"sexistence,asthecatstaredatthedog,whilethedogmightbebarkingatthecat.Becauseofthis,therearesomeEnglishandChineseproverbsinwhichcatanddogrepresenttheoppositesides.Forexample,inEnglish:Livelikecatanddog.(Itmeansthatalifeisfullofquarrelling.)"Thecatandthedogmaykiss,yetarenonethebetterfriends."(Itimpliesthatcatanddogcanneverbecomefriends.)InChinese,"猫不跟狗斗，穷不跟富斗";"猫狗不同槽，穷富不攀亲".Inthesesproverbs,catismentionedasthepoorpeople,whiledogastherichpeople.Fromtheseexamples,wecanknowthatcatanddogareseenastheopponentsand22 againstimages.3.2HavingSimilarFunctions3.2.1HavingSimilarInstructiveFunctionSomeproverbsrelatedtocatanddogrevealthephilosophictruthandtellpeoplethewaysoflife.Someofthemsummarizetheknowledgeofpeople"sdailylifesoastogiveinstructiontopeople.BothoftheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddoghaveagreatnumberofsuchkind.Forexample,inEnglish,"Charityisnotaboneyouthrowtoadogbutaboneyousharewithadog."Ittellspeoplethatthereshouldbemorerelationshipwiththoseinneedsandtoworkwiththemforthebenefitofallconcerned.(Simpson,J.2001)"Wantonkittensmakesobercats."Itletpeopleknowthatchildrenwholivewildlyorextravagantlycanusuallydevelopintosensibleandresponsibleadults."Ifyoucan"trunwiththebigdog,stayundertheporch."Itsuggeststhatwhenthereisfiercecompetitioninpolitics,businessoranyotherfields,ifyoulackenoughstrength,courage,skillorexperience,you"dbetternottotryatall.InChinese,"狗药狗不破皮,人骂人会伤心"Itpersuadepeopleavoidtoquarrelwithothersinordernottohurtother"feeling."狗多不怕狼，人多不怕虎"Ittellspeoplethatwhenmeetingwithtroubles,youdon"tneedtofearaboutitasstayingtogetherwithalargenumberofpeople."人急办不了好事,猫急逮不到耗子"Itsuggestspeoplethatonemustbepatientwhendoingthingsespeciallysomehassles.Aspeople"sdailylifeiscomplicatedandextremelyriffling,suchproverbsrelatedtocatanddogwhichsummarizepeople"sknowledgeintheirlifecantellpeoplewhattodoandhowtodoit.Theycanguidepeopleintheirdailylifeandgivepeopleinstructionsindealingtherelationshipwithothers.Fromtheseproverbs,peoplecanalsobroadentheirknowledgeandoutlooksoastoavoiddetours.3.2.2HavingSimilarFunctionforWarningProverbsrelatedtocatanddog,whichcamefrompeople"sdailylifeandexperienceandcontainpeople"sintelligenceandwisdom,havegreatlypracticalvalueintheirlife.EnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtodoghavethesameallegoricalfunction.Someofthemareallegoricalandaimtopersuadeandteachpeople.Topersuadeistosingthepraiseofjustice,tofightagainstthebully.Tolectureistoguidepeopletoadopta22 correctattitudetowardslife,totakeaproperwaytogetalongwellwiththeothers.(ZhangRui"e,2004:20)Forexample,"Beawareofasilentdogandstillwater"Itremindspeoplethatoneshouldbewaryofthosewholookskindbutmaybeinsidious."Letsleepingdogslie."Itwarnspeopledonotcausetroublebydisturbingastablesituationwhichispotentiallyproblematic."Curiositykilledthecat."Ittellspeoplenotalwayscuriousabouteverything.One"sdesiretofindoutsomethingcanleadhimintotroubleevenlosehislife."Hethatsleepswithdogsmustriseupwithfleas."Itremindspeoplethatonewillbecaughtintroubleifhemadefriendswithvillains.InChineseproverbs,"狗被骨头所骗，人被钱财所蒙"Itremindspeoplethatbewareofbeingcheatedbyotherswhousetheirmoneyascapper."救了落水狗,反咬你一口"Itsuggeststhatweshouldnothelpthebadpeoplewhoisintroublelestbeinghurtbythem."狗肚里没人话"Itimpliesthatthereisnogoodwordsoutofbadmenandwarnpeopledonotbelieveinwhatthosebaddiessay.AlltheseEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogofferadviceforlifetopeopleandremindpeopletokeepconsciousandmaintainsharpvigilance.Peoplecanusetheseproverbswhentheyareremindingotherstokeepalertandawakenpeople"sconsciousnessoflife.3.2.3HavingSimilarLiteralFunctionManyoftheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogareusedinsomeliteralworkswidely.Theseproverbsarethoughtprovokingorhumorousandreflecttheessenceandthetruemeaningoflife.Forexample,inEnglishproverbs,"Giveadogabadnameandhanghim."ItwasusedinSummerScandalxiiiwrittenbyE.KYLEin1979toprovethatamanisinnocenttillhe"sprovedguilty,whichisEnglishlaw."Adogthatwillfetchabonewillcarryabone."ThisproverbappearedinE.Shiddel"sDevilinBucksCountyIIiii(1959)todescribeShirlay"sfeelingaboutthegossip."Thecatwouldeatfish,butwouldnotwetherfeet."ItappearedinShakespeare"sMacbeth.I.vii44.InChineseproverbs,"狗嘴里吐不出象牙来"ItwasusedintheChapterforty-twoof"ADreamofRedMansion"BaochaiusethisproverbtomakejokeonDaiyu."好一块羊肉倒落在狗口里"ItappearedintheChaptertwenty-fourof"theMashRebellion".AfterPanJInliangotmarriedwithWuDalang,somepeoplealwayssaidthisproverbtosneeratWuDalangandsatirized22 thathedidn"thavesuchabilityandappearancetomarryPanJinlian,asobeautifulwoman."得胜的猫儿欢似虎"ItwasusedintheChapterSixty-oneof"PilgrimagetotheWest"todescribeMonkey"shappinessandcomplacenceafterheshowedhishighabilities.TheseproverbsshowthatmanyEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddoghaveappearedinsomeliteralworks.Theywereusedbytheauthorstoenhancetheinfectivityoftheirworksandmaketheirworkssimplerandattractreaders"interest.Soitwillbeeasierforthereaderstounderstandthoseliteralworksandtheywillbeleftadeepimpressionoftheplotforthoseproverbs.4DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDogAlthoughEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogenjoysimilarorigins,featuresandfunctions,therearealsomanydifferencesbetweenthembecauseofculturalinfluences.Theirdifferencesmainlylieinthefollowingaspects:differentcustoms,differentlifestyleanddifferentmeanings.4.1ReflectingDifferentCustomsTheredifferentsocialtraditionsandcustomsresultinpeople"sdifferentfeelingaboutanimalsinChinaandWesterncountries.MeanwhiletheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsoreflectsomedifferentcustomsinWesterncountriesandinChina.SomeEnglishproverbsrelatedtodogalwayshaveactivemeanings,forexample,"Loveme,lovemydog";"Everydoghashisday";"Agooddogdeservesagoodbone".Itreflectsthatinwesterncountries,peoplelikedogverymuchandseedogasalovelyanimal.Dogiswelcomedbypeople.TheChineseproverbsrelatedtodog,however,alwayscontainnegativemeaning,forexample:"狗眼看人低""狗嘴里吐不出象牙"；"狗咬狗，一嘴毛".ItreflectsthatinChina,peopleoftenseedogasaninferioranimal,andusedogasanegativeimagetorefertobadman.4.2IndicatingDifferentlifestyleItiswellknownthatpeople"slifestyleandhabitdiffersalotinwesterncountriesandChina.inwesterncountries,aspeopleinalargefamilyoftenliveseparatelyandhavetheirownhouses,theytendtolikekeepdogsastheirpetsandseedogastheirbestcompany.InEnglishproverbsrefertodog,Forexample,"loveme,lovemydog.";"Agooddogdeservesagoodbone."Theseproverbsshowwesternpeople"saffectiontodogs.Itindicatesthatin22 westerncountries,aspeopleinalargefamilyoftenliveseparatelyandhavetheirownhouses,theytendtolikekeepdogsastheirpetsandseedogastheirbestcompany.InChina,manypeople,especiallythoselivingcountryside,keepdogsasguardstokeeptheirhousesandtraindogstoserveforthem.ThislifestylecanbeseenfromsomeChineseproverbsrefertodogwhichareusuallyusedtoimplybadthings.Forexample:"狗吃谁家饭，替谁把门看"；"狗头插不得金花"；"狗肉上不了正席"；"狗肚里没人话".AlthoughnowadaysmoreandmoreChinesepeoplealsotendtokeepdogsaspets,itcannotchangedogs"badnameintheproverbs.4.3BearingDifferentConnotationsSomeEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogmaysharethesameformandexpression,buttheycontaindifferentorevenoppositemeanings.Inotherwords,theybearssomedifferentconnotations.Forexample,E:DogeatdogC:狗咬狗."Dogeatdog"isalwaysregardedas"狗咬狗"."Infact,"Dogeatdog"referstothephenomenonthatpeoplehurtthoseofthesamegroup,while"狗咬狗"meansbadpeoplefightwithbadpeople."E:Barkingdogseldombite.C:咬人的狗不露齿Here,"Barkingdogseldombite"alsodiffersfrom"咬人的狗不露齿".InEnglish,itmeansbarkingdogsjustthreateningpeoplebutdon"treallydoharmtoothers;InChinese,however,itmeansevilpeoplehurtotherswithoutbeingseen.(WeiLijuan,2005:8)Takingthesefactorsmentionedaboveintoconsideration,wecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogdifferfromeachotherincustoms,lifestyleandmeaning.Besidesthosesimilaritiesanddifferencesthepreviousresearchershavestudiedabove,therearealsosomeothersimilaritiesofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.5OtherDifferencesAstherearesomanyEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog,andwestern22 andChineseculturedifferfromeachothergreatly,someotherdifferencescanalsobefoundoutapartfromdifferentcustoms,lifestyleandmeaning.5.1OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViews5.1.1OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViewsonLoveandMarriageThedifferencesbetweenChinesetraditionalviewsonmarriageandWesternoneareveryobvious.InWesterncountries,sincetheperiodofRenaissance,peoplepursuedfreedomandhumanliberation.Incapitalismsociety,freelovewasprevailedandevenseenasthemostimportantthinginone"slife.Theyoungpeopledidnothavesomuchpressurefromtheirfamily.Generallyspeaking,theyoungmanwouldcourtthegirlhefellinlovewith.Whetheracceptinghisloveornot,thegirlcouldmakeherdecisiononherownwilling.Ifthegirldidn"tlovetheman,shecouldalsorefusehislove.Therewasnoneedforhertoforceherselftogetmarriedwithamanshedidn"tloveatall;andshecouldalsoproposeherrequirementfortheman.Intheirview,marriageisawaytohaveahappylife.Soiftheyfoundtheydidn"tloveeachotheranymore,theycouldbreakupbeforetheengagement.Iftheirmarriagewasnotsohappy,theycouldchoosedivorce.Eventhewomancouldfallinlovewithanothermanwithoutbeingblamed.Awomandidn"tneedtoobeytoherhusbandforherwholelife.InEnglishproverbs,forexample,"Loveme,lovemydog."Whenamanshowshislovetoagirl,thegirlcanrequirethemanloveherfamily,herfriendsandallthingssheloves.Whenfallingindeeplovewiththegirl,themanevenhastolistentothegirl"srequirementsratherthanthegirlobeystothemanasinChina."Acat-and-doglife."Itrevealsthatafterthemarriage,iftherearedifferentopinionsbetweenthecouple,ortheyarenotcontentwitheachother,theymayargueorevenhaveaquarrel.Awifealsohastherighttoblameherhusbandanddoesnotjustlistentoherhusband"sblame.ThiswasnearlyimpossibletohappenintheancientChina."Whenthweaselandthecatmakeamarriage,itisaveryillpresage."Italsoprovesthatinaawfulmarriage,thewifeandthehusbandmaysquabblewitheachother.Thewifewillnotswallowherinsult.InancientChina,however,inordertohaveasuccessfulmarriedlife,onemustknow22 howtobearandforbear,especiallywomen.Youngpeoplemadeamatchoftenbyparents"ordersandmatch-maker"swords.Amatchinfamilybackgroundisthemostimportantrequirementforchoosingalifetimepartner.Whenchoosingthespousefortheirsonsordaughters,parentsalwaysattachednoimportancetotheirsons"ordaughters"emotion.Neitherthebridenorthegroomexpectedemotionalfulfillmentfromtheirmarriage.Beforetheirmarriage,thecouplemightevenhavenotmeteachotherandtheykneweachotheronlyaftertheirmarriage.ThemarriedcouplewasexpectedtobeDarbyandJoan.--"Itisstillawaytodescribeanelderlyandmutuallydevotedmarriedcouplewholiveaplacidanduneventfullife,ofteninhumblecircumstances,andmanymodernreferencesarelinkedtoaonce-popularsongof1890."(What"smore,awifemustobeythemoralstandardsforwomeninancientChinaaccordingtoConfuciusethics(三从四德).Thethreeobedience(三从)areobediencetofatherbeforemarriage,obediencetohusbandduringmarriagelifeandobediencetosoninwidowhood.Thefourvirtues(四德)arefidelity,propermanner,modestspeechanddiligentwork(Mr.Bean,2004).ThesesocialreviewsonmarriagearereflectedinthefollowingChineseproverbs."嫁鸡随鸡,嫁狗随狗"(Marryacockandfollowthecock;marryadogandfollowthedog.)Oneshouldbecontentwiththemanshemarried.ItrevealsthatintheancientChina,onceawomangotmarriedwithaman,shemustbeabidetoherhusbandduringherwholelife.Whetherthemanwaspoororrich,whetherthemanwasuglyorhandsome,hewasgoodtemperedorbadtempered,thewifehadtotakegoodcareofhim,listenedtoallthehusbandorderedtoherandcouldnotsayanythingagainsthim.Eventhoughthehusbandtreatedherbadlyandmadeherledahardlife,thewifehadtotoleratehimandcouldnotdivorcewithhim.Eventhehusbandwasdead,itwasnearlyimpossibleforhertomarryanotherman.Thereisanotherproverb;thatis"猫狗不同槽，穷富不攀亲"(Thepoorpeoplewouldnotmakematchwiththerichpeople;alsotherichnevermarriedwiththepoorpeople.)ItrevealsthatintheancientChina,peoplemadeamatchinfamilybackground.Therichfamilyonlymaketheirsonsordaughtersgetmarriedwithonewithnoblestate;thepoorfamilyinalowstatedidnothavetheopportunitytobeengagedwiththoserichfamilywithahighprestige.Fromtheseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog,wemayseethatinancientChinaandthe22 Westerncountries,people"sviewsonloveandmarriagearequitedifferent.LoveandmarriageinWesterncountriesisfreerthanthatinancientChina,andwomenhaveahigherstatusinWesterncountriesthaninancientChina.MaybeitiseasierforawomantofindhertrueloveandhaveahappymarriageinWesterncountries.5.1.2OriginatingfromDifferentSocialViewsonFamilyandtheAgedAsthesocialviewsonfamilyandtheagedinwesterncountriesaredifferentfromthatinChina,theEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsodifferfromeachother.InWesterncountries,people"sfamilyrelationshipisalwaysalienated;theydon"tviewfamilysoimportant,butrelylessontheirfamily.Youngpeopleusuallydon"tseesupportingtheagedastheirresponsibilities.Intheiropinion,"oldpeopleareveryobstinate,attheirclosingageandhavelessabilitytostriveandlessopportunitytosuccess.TheWesternsocietyistheparadiseforyoungpeople,butthehellfortheoldpeople."(WangWenjiao,WangZongyun,2007:204)Sosomeproverbsrelatedtocatanddogcameintobeing.Forexample,"Anolddogwilllearnnonewtricks."Itisimpossibletoteacholdpeoplenewthings.Itreflectspeople"sideathatitisdifficultfortheagedtoadapttonewthings."Olddogbitesscone."Inpeople"sview,you"dbetternotprovoketheoldpeople;itmaymakeyouintrouble."Oldcatrefusestoadmitthatthefaceinthelookingglassisherown."Itreferstotheideathattheagedareobstinateanddonotadmittheyhavebecomeold.InChina,however,peopleattachmuchimportancetotheirfamily.Theylovetheirfamilyverymuchandseetheirfamilyastheirsweethome.Nomatterwheretheygo,theyremembertheirfamilyintheirdeepheart.InChinesepeople"seyes,itisyoungpeople"sobligationtotakegoodcareoftheirparentsandotheroldpeople.Theyshouldtaketheresponsibilitytosupporttheaged,respecttheagedandlistentotheseniors"words.Inpeople"sopinion,nomattertheirfamilypoororrich,theyshouldkeeptheirfamily,protecttheirfamilymembersandcouldnotdiscardtheirfamily.Itisatraditionalviewthatthejuniorsshouldsupporttheseniors;atthemeantime,theeldershavetenderaffectionfortheirsonsanddaughters.Whilepeoplegetold,theytendtoyearntheirhometown.Intheireyes,intheiroldage,theywanttoreturntotheirhome.Undertheinfluenceoftheseviews,22 someChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogcameabout.Forexample,"狗不嫌家贫，儿不嫌母丑"Thefilialchildrenneverdisliketheirfamilynomatterhowpooritisandstilllovetheirmothernomatterhowheryoungappearanceisbecomingsenile."狗不嫌家贫，人不嫌地穷"Thoughpeoplestayfarfromtheirhometown,theyalwaysmisstheirhomeandaccordingtopeople"sconcept,hometownistheirspiritualend-resultandtheyhavetheirhometowninmindforever."猫老吃子，人老惜子"InChinesepeople"seyes,theolderpeoplebecome,themoretimetheywanttostaywiththeirsonsanddaughters;theoldpeoplewillcherishmoretheirrelationshipwiththeirchildrenandshowmorelovetotheirchildren.5.2DifferentSocialSystemMostproverbshavebeengeneratedalongtimebeforeandhavealonghistory.SincetheWesterncountriescarriedoutcapitalismwhiletheancientChinacarriedoutfeudalism,thereweresomedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.InWesterncountries,theirmainsocialsystemiscapitalismandregardedGodasthesupreme.Underthecapitalism,manypeoplepursueChristianity,whichhavebeenstandingforindividualequality.Thecapitalistsemphasizeindividualprofit.UnderthecontroloftheGod,Westernpeoplebelievethateveryoneisequalandhastherightforvoting;everyonecanstriveforsuccessandeventheordinarypeoplehavetherighttotalkabouttheircommentontheirpresidentspublicly.Thensomeproverbshavebeencreatedandreflectedthissocialsystem.Forexample,"Acatmaylookataking."Itrevealsthateveryoneisequalandeventhepipsqueaksalsohavesomerights.(Simpson,2001:39)."Everydoghashisday."Itreflectsthatunderthecapitalism,everymanhastheopportunitytostriveforhisgoalsandpossiblybecomessuccessful.InancientChina,however,thecountrywasunderthecontrolofthefeudalism.Thekinghadalltherightstodecideallthings.Allthemenandthewholesocietywereruledbytheking.Therankdifferenceswerealsoveryserious.Especiallyinthecorruptdynasties,thepeopleatlowerlevelandthesubordinateshadtoshowtheirrespecttothepeopleathigherlevelorthesuperiors.Asaresult,therichpeoplehadmorerightsthanthepoorpeopledid,andtherecamesomeunfairphenomena.Therichpeoplemightlookdownuponthepoorpeople,whilesomepeoplewithlowerstatustendedtomakeuptothoserich22 peopleorbureaucrats.Therichesbecamericher,thepoorbecamepoorer.Theordinarypeoplewithouttruerightswereoppressedbythosebureaucratswhoweresuperiortothem,butthosepeoplewhoalwaysingratiatedwouldraisetheirofficialpositionquickly.Alongwiththeblacksociety,someproverbsrelatedtocatanddogfollowed.Forexample,"猫不跟狗斗，穷不跟富斗"Itwasdifficultforthepoorpeopletorevoltagainsttherichpeoplewithstrongpowerandtheywouldjustescapefromtheoppressfromtherichpeople."狗朝屁走，人朝势走"Manypeoplejusthangedonthemenofinfluenceblindlyandflatteredtothoseinpower."狗咬挎篮的，贼抢有钱的"Somebulliesalwaysoppressedthepoorpeopleandmadefunofthem."人爱富的，狗咬穷的"Therichpeoplewererespectedbyothersfortheirpowerandlotsoftreasure;thepoorpeople,however,weredislikedandavoidedbyothers."人亲有的，狗咬丑的"Thisproverbalsoreflectsthedarkreality.IntheancientChina,especiallyatthelastreignofadynasty,theofficialdomwasverycorruptanddark.Theemperorwasverymuddleheadedandbelievedslanderoustalkreadily.Therewerefullofcorruptofficialsandmalfeasantsintheimperialcourt,wholacktherealabilityformanagingthecountrybutinsultedtheordinarypeople.Thosewhoreliedonthepoweroftheirsuperiorsalsotriedeverywaytorideroughshodoverthepoorpeople.Undersuchunfairandblackenvironment,someproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsocameabouttocriticizethosevilephenomena.Forexample,"吏到门口，鸡飞狗走"Itdescribesthefactthatthemalfeasantsoftenputgreatpressureonordinarypeople,peopleallfeltfearofthem,andtheirarrivalmadepeoplesuffered,resultinginpeople"sescaping."狗占人势，鸡占地皮"Thesubordinatescountedonthepoweroftheirsuperiorstoshowoffthemselvesandbulledthehumblepeople.Thereisanothersimilarproverb"狗占人势，雪占风势"."狗是忠臣，猫是奸臣"Thereweresomeloyalofficialsbutalsolotsoftreacherouscourtofficials.AlltheseproverbsprovethatthedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogresultsfromdedifferentsocialsystemsofWesterncountriesandancientChina.Theseproverbsarethereflectionofthedifferentenvironmentunderthetwodifferentsystems.6.TheBlendingofEnglishandChineseProverbsRelatedtoCatandDogWiththerapiddevelopmentofscience,economyandtechnology,theimprovementof22 societyandtheInternet,thecommunicationandcontactamongdifferentcountriesbecomemoreandmoreconvenientandfrequent.Differentcultureswiththeirdistinctivecharacteristicsarealsoexchangingandblending.Withthewidedevelopmentofcross-culturalcommunication,language,asthecarrierofculture,reflectsandpromotestheculturalintegration.Thereisnoexceptionofproverbs,thecrystaloflanguage.AsthecommunicationbetweenWesternandChinesecultureisbecomingmoreandmorefrequent,theWesterncultureandtheChinesecultureaffectmutually.Consequently,EnglishandChineseproverbshavemutualreflection.Sodotheproverbsrelatedtocatanddog.TherearesimilarproverbsrelatedtocatanddogbothinEnglishandChinese,andtheyhavethesamemeaning.Forexample,inEnglish,"Everydogisalionathome."InChinese,"狗是百步王，只在门前凶"Bothofthemmeanthateverydogisvaliantathisowndoor.TheEnglishproverbof"Whenthecat"saway,themicewillplay."isequaltotheChineseproverb"猫儿不在，老鼠成精"Theirmeaningisthatwhenthejusticeisdisappearing,theperversetrendisupgrading,andwillsurpassthejustice."Catshaletheirclaws."Thisproverbmeansyoucanmakeacquaintancewithsomeonebutithardtoknowaboutwhatheisreallythinkingaboutinhismind.InChinese,thereisalsoasimilarproverb,whichhasthesamemeaning.Thatis"猫捉老鼠前不露爪"Thereisanotherexample:"Bewareofasilentdogandstillwater.";"提防不吠的狗，小心静止的水"Thesetwoproverbsmeanthatwatchoutforthosewhoareactuallyinsidiousbutlooksverykindandbewareofthesituationswhicharereallydangerousbutlooksveryquiet.FromtheproverbsmentionedabovewecanseethattheEnglishproverbsrelatedtocatanddogfindtheircounterpartsinChineseproverbs.SomeoftheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogsharethesimilarsayingandthesamemeaning.EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly.Whilethetechnologyisbecomingmoreandmoreadvancedandtheeconomyisdevelopingmoreandmorerapidly,itwillbeeasierforWesternandChinesepeopletocommunicatetheirculture.TheblendingofEnglishandChineseproverbswillalsobecomemorefrequent.TheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogwhichsharethesamemeaningisalsoappearinginagreaternumber.22 7.ConclusionProverbsarethecreamofalanguageaswellasthecrystalofnaturalwisdomandpeople"sexperience.Proverbsrelatedtocatanddogarealsocloselyrelatetoanation"scultureandcontaingreatculturalvalues;sotheyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage.Asaproductofaparticularculturalbackground,theyshowanation"shistory,socialconventions,literatureandsocialattitudes.Sincethereareculturalsimilaritiesanddifferencesindifferentcountries,EnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsohavetheirsimilaritiesanddifferences.Asproverbsgeneratefrompeople"sdaily,folkwisdomandarehandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration,EnglishandChineseproverbssharethesimilaroriginsandfeatures.Someofthemcomefrommythology,fableorlegend,andmanyofthemaresimpleandshortsentences.While,withtheinfluenceofdifferentculture,therearealsosomedifferencesbetweenthem.ThevariationsofEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogalsoreflectthedifferentsocialtraditionsandcustomsinWesterncountriesandinChinaandindicatetheirdifferentlifestyle.Eventhesameexpressionofoneproverbmayhavedifferentconnotations.Besidesthosementionedabove,wecanalsofindsomeothersimilaritiesanddifferences.EnglishandChinesepeoplehavesomesimilarviewsontheimageofcatanddog.Ontheonehand,theyallconsidercatasalazyandgreedyanimal,somanyproverbsrelatedtocatarenegative.Ontheotherhand,theideathatcatsanddogsareenemiesresultsinsomeproverbsinwhichcatanddogrepresenttheoppositeside.Someproverbsrelatedtocatanddoghaveinstructive,warningorliteralfunctions.Theytellpeoplethewayoflife,givepeopleadvice,remindpeopletokeepalert,ortheyareusedfrequentlyinsomeliteralworkstosimplifytheexpressionsaswellasdrawreaders"attention.Whereas,proverbscameaboutinthelonghistoryandpeopleinWesterncountriesandinancientChinainsistonquitedifferentviewsonloveandmarriage,familyandtheaged,Westernpeoplehaveanopenerviewonloveandmarriage,butignorantviewtowardsfamilyandtheaged.SotheEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddogstillexistgreatdifferencesandreflect22 differentculturaltraditions.AnotherequallyimportantaspectisthatWesterncountriescarryoutcapitalismwiththeadvocationofindividualfreedomandequality,whileinancientChina,itsmainsocialsystemwasfeudalism,whichresultedinthedarksocietyespeciallyattheendofadynasty.SuchdifferentsocialsystemalsobecomeoneoftheoriginsofthedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsrelatedtocatanddog."Acomparativestudyonthemcanhelpalanguagelearnerefficientlyandproficientlysoitwillbeamucheasierjobtolearnaforeignlanguage."(ZhangRui"e,2004:60).ThisstudycanalsohelpuslearnEnglishwellandunderstandthetruemeaningoftheEnglishwordsincross-culturalcommunication.Still,suchstudyissoprofoundthatitmustbeputinacomprehensiveculturalbackground.Thisthesisisjustconfinedtosomespecificaspects.Proverbsrelatedtocatanddog,asanimportantkindofproverbsandacrucialpartofalanguageandculture,needafurtherstudytoadeeperextent.22 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