英汉谚语比较研究论文 26页

英汉谚语比较研究论文[Abstract]Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Theyreflecttherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture.Humanbeings’commonsocialactivitiesareinmanyaspectssimilar,soEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilarities.Becauseoftheculturaldifferences,EnglishandChineseproverbshavedifferencesintheirdetailedcontents.TheauthorcomparestheirsimilaritiesanddifferencesandalsoproposesthatEnglishandChineseproverbswillbreaktheboundaryandaccomplishinterfusion.EnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginandsimilarlinguisticcharacters.Theybothoriginatefromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsalsoexist.Thatisdifferentgeography;differenthistorycustoms;differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts.[KeyWords]proverbs;similarities;differences;interfusion第26页共26页 [摘要]谚语是语言的一个重要组成部分，是各国语言文学艺术宝库中的一朵奇葩。谚语体现了语言与文化的关系。由于人类的普遍社会活动和心理思维过程有许多共同之处，因此英汉谚语也存在着相同之处。但由于各国具体历史文化背景的不同，所以英汉谚语又存在着差异。本文分析了英汉谚语的相同点与不同点，并提出英汉谚语在跨文化交际中的渗透与融合。英汉谚语有着相同的起源和语言特点。都来自民间生活，神话传说，文学作品和外来语。英汉谚语的语言具有简炼和生动形象的特点。但从具体内容来看，英汉谚语表现了不同的地理、历史、宗教和文化价值观念。最后指出随着世界文化的交流，谚语逐渐打破国家和民族的界限，英汉谚语在互相渗透与融合。[关键词]谚语；相同点；不同点；融合1.IntroductionThedefinitionofproverbbyOxfordAdvancedLearner’sEnglish-ChineseDictionaryis“shortwell-knownsayingthatstatesageneraltruthorgivesadvice.”(精练的俗语，或为普遍道理或为劝诫语)WuZhankunsaidthatproverbsarethecrystalofnationalwisdomandexperience.Theyarefrequentlyusedorallyandhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationandusuallygivepeopleinformationandspeakthetruth.Theyareshortsentenceswithcommonstyle,concisestructure,andvividlanguage.[1]WangQinsaidthatproverbsarethesummingupofpracticalexperiences.Theyaretheoralformsoflanguagethatgivepeopleexperience,adviceorwarning.[2]ThegreatEnglishphilosopherFrancisBacononcesaid:“Thegenius,witandspiritofanationarediscoveredinitsproverbs.”第26页共26页 Fromthesedefinitions,wecanseecommoncharactersofproverbs.Proverbsarethecrystalofthenationalwisdomandexperience.Proverbsarecolloquial,sotheyareveryeasytoberememberedandhandeddown.Theyusuallygivepeopleadviceandwarning.Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Languageandculturearetightlyinteractedwitheachother;eachinfluencingandshapingtheother.Languageispartofculture.TheChineselanguageispartofChinacultureandEnglishlanguageispartofEnglishculture.Languageisthecarrierandcontainerofculture.Humanknowledgeandexperiencearedescribedandstoredinlanguage.[3]Asapartoflanguage,proverbscloselyintegratedwiththesocietyandculture.Proverbsreflectmanyaspectsofthenationsuchasgeography,history,religiousfaithandvalues.EnglishandChinesebelongtotwodifferentlanguagesystems,havinggreatdifferencesintheircultures.Buthumanbeings’commonsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworldareinmanyaspectssimilar.SonotonlydifferencesbutalsomanysimilaritiesexistinEnglishandChineseproverbs.Withthecommunicationofworld,EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother.第26页共26页 2.SimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsThesimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsmainlylieintheiroriginsandlinguisticcharacters.2.1SimilaroriginsProverbsareconcise,vividandcommonshortsentenceswhichbeusedandpassedonorally.Theyarethesummingupoftheexperienceintheproductionstruggleandthesociallifeandthecrystalofwisdom.[4]AnEnglishproverbitselftellsusthat“Proverbsarethedaughterofexperience.”FromthesewecanfindthatEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigin:theybothoriginatefrompeople’sdailylifeandexperience.Specificallyspeaking,theybothcomefromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.2.1.1OriginatingfromfolklifeProverbsarethesummaryofpeople’sdailylifeandexperience,andcloselyrelatedtothepracticeofpeople’slifeandwork,revealingauniversaltruthfromdetailssoastoenlightenpeople.Therearemanyproverbsoriginatedfromfolklife.Theyarecreatedbyworkingpeople,suchasfarmers,workmen,hunters,businessmen,army-menandsoon.Theyusefamiliartermsthatwereassociatedwiththeirownfields.E.g.:第26页共26页 Farmerscreatedthefollowingproverbs:(1)Makehaywhilethesunshines.(2)Aprilrainyforcorn,Mayforgrass.(3)肥不过春雨,瘦不过秋霜。(4)春天不忙，秋后无粮。Workmencreatedthefollowingproverbs:(5)Strikewhiletheironishot.(6)Agoodanvildoesnotfearthehammer.(7)木匠怕漆匠，漆匠怕光亮。Hunterscreatedthefollowingproverbs:(8)Hethatisafraidofeverybushwillneverproveagoodhuntsman.(9)上山打虎心要狠，下海提龙心要齐。Businessmencreatedthefollowingproverbs:(10)Youpayyourmoneyandtakeyourchoice.(11)货有高低三等价，客无远近一样待。Army-mencreatedthefollowingproverbs:(12)Agoodgeneralmakegoodmen.(13)养兵千日，用在一时。第26页共26页 Thesewerefirstusedbyalimitedgroupofpeopleinthesamefields.Becausetheyarephilosophicalcolloquialism,latertheygraduallygainedwideacceptanceandpartlybecamepartofthecommoncornoflanguageandarenowusedinmanyothersituations.2.1.2OriginatingfrommythologyEachnationhasitsownmythology,fableandallusion.Chinesetraditionalculture,ancientGreekandRomancivilizationbequeathmanymythologiesandallusions.Theybecomeoneofthemajorsourcesofproverbs.ThestoriesandheroesinGreekMythology,TheFableofAesopandTheHomerleftalotofproverbs.E.g.:(14)IfeartheGreeks,evenwhenbringinggifts.(Fromthewell-knownstoryoftheTrojanhorsebywhichtheGreekstookthecityofTroy.)(15)YoucannotmakeaMercuryofeverydog.(FromRomanMythology.Itmeansthatnoteverymindwillanswerequallywelltobetrainedintoascholar).(16)Thefoxsaidthegrapesweresour.(FromTheFablesofAesop.Itmeansthatonesaidsomethingisbadwhenonecannotgetit.)第26页共26页 Chineseculturecantracebacktoancienttimes.Thereweremanynaturalphenomenonsandourancestorcan’texplainthesephenomenons.Theycreatedthemythologyandfabletoexplainthephenomenon.SomanyChineseproverbscomefrommythologyandfable.E.g.:(17)八仙过海，各显神通。（from《八仙过海》）(18)过着牛郎织女的生活。（fromafolklegend）2.1.3OriginatingfromliteraryworksManyEnglishandChineseproverbscomefromliteraryworks.Anation’sliterarylanguagesareitslanguage’sginger.Theypromotethedevelopmentoflanguage.Someofbrilliantsentences,plotandhero’snameinliteraryworksbecomeproverbs.[5]Therearemanygreatwritersinwesternsociety,suchasShakespeare,FrancisBacon,JohnMiltonandsoon.TheyhadmadedistinctivecontributionstothedevelopmentofEnglishliterature.TheirworkswereacceptedandpassedonbyEnglishpeoplefromgenerationtogeneration.ManysentencesbecometheEnglishproverbs.Shakespeare’sworksarethemostcolorfulliteratureoriginofproverbs.ManyEnglishproverbsarefromtheworksofShakespeare.E.g.:第26页共26页 (19)“Thebiterissometimesbit.”isfromShakespeare’sHamlet.Ittellspeoplethatthosewhodobadthingstootherswillbringthemselvestrouble.(20)“Allisnotgoldthatglitters.”isfromShakespeare’sTheMerchantsofVenice.Itmeansthatthosewhohaveagoodappearancearenotnecessarilyprofoundorlearned.Someotherwriters,philosophers’wordsalsobecomeproverbs.E.g.:(21)“Readingmakesafullman,conferenceareadyman,andwritinganexactman”isfromadistinguishedEnglishphilosopherandwriterBacon’sOnReading.Ittellspeoplethatreading,conferenceandwritingcanmakeapersonlearned,sharpandprecise.And(22)“Thechildhoodshowstheman”isfromMilton’sParadiseRegained.ManyChineseproverbsarefromclassicChineseliteraryworks.Thefourgreatworks:ThePilgrimagetotheWest,TheThreeKingdoms,ADreamofRedMansionsandTheMarshRebellionarethemostpopularclassicsinChina.Suchas:(23)温故而知新。(Bystudyingtheoldonelearnssomethingnew)---《论语》(SelectedReading)第26页共26页 (24)三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮。(ThreecobblerswiththeirwitscombinedequalZhugeLiangthemaster---thewisdomofthemassesexceedsthatofthewisestindividual.)---《三国演义》(TheThreeKingdoms)(25)三十六计,走为上计。(Ofthethirty-sixstratagems,thebestisrunningaway.)---《水浒传》(TheMarshRebellion)(26)谋事在人,成事在天。(Manproposes;Goddisposes.)---《红楼梦》(ADreamofRedMansions)(27)说曹操,曹操到。(Talkofthedevilandheissuretoappear.)---《三国演义》(TheThreeKingdoms)Literature,asamirrorofsociallife,isanothersourceofproverbs.Manysentencesintheseliteraryworksarefullofwisdomandeasytoberemembered,sopeoplelikethemandusethemagainandagain.Atlast,theybecometheproverbsandarewidelyused.Wecansaythatproverbsarethecreamoftheliteraryworks.2.1.4Originatingfromotherlanguages第26页共26页 Withthecommunicationofworld,nation’sboundaryisbeingbroken.Moreandmorelanguagescontactedwitheachother.Becauseofthegeographyandhistory,Englishwasinfluencedandimpactedbyotherlanguagesinitsdevelopmentprocess.SoEnglishhaveabsorbedagreatnumberofexpressionsofothernation’sculture.Sodoproverbs.ManyEnglishproverbsarefromLatin,Greek,FrenchandChinese.Asthereasonofhistory,mostoftheseloanedproverbsweretransferredintoEnglishandsomemaintaintheoriginallanguages.ManyEnglishproverbsoriginatefromLatin.E.g.:(28)Artislong,lifeisshort.(29)Thewishisfathertothethought.SomeLatinproverbsaretransferredintoEnglish.ForexampleEnglishpeoplehavegot(30)“Soonripe,soonrotten”from“Citomaturumcitoputridum”.ManyEnglishproverbscomefromFrench.Forexample,Englishpeoplehavegot(31)“Whenthefoxpreaches,takecareoffyourgeese”from“Quandlerenardsemetaprecher,gardeauxpoules”.Englishproverbsalsocomefromforeignwriters’works.Forexample,(32)“Constantdrippingwearsawaythestone.”isfromRomanpoetOvid.Chinesepeoplehavealsogotsomeproverbsfromotherlanguages.Suchas第26页共26页 (33)“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”isfrom“Thegrapesaresour.”(34)“谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好”isfrom“Hewholaughslastlaughsbest.”(35)“条条大路通罗马”isfrom“AllroadsleadtoRome.”ThesehavebeenacceptedbyChinesepeopleandbecomeChineseproverbs.FromabovewecanfindoutthatEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginsfromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.FromthesesimilaroriginswecanseethatEnglishandChinesepeoplehavesimilarsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworld.2.2SimilarlinguisticcharactersProverbsarecreatedbycommonpeopleandorallyhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationagainandagain.EnglishandChineseproverbsareconciseandvivid.2.2.1Conciseness第26页共26页 Thecleanestwaterisspring;themostrefinedwordsareproverbs.Proverbdictionisneatandsimple.Proverbsusethefewestwordstoexpressthecontents.Theyareconcise,condensedandcompact.MostofEnglishandChineseproverbsaresimplesentences.E.g.:(36)Easycomeeasygo.(37)Nopainsnogains.(38)人勤地不懒。(39)人心齐泰山移。Proverbsaresimpleandshortsentences,sotheycanberememberedandhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.2.2.2VividnessProverbsuserhetoricaldevicestoattractthereadersdeeply.ManyChineseandEnglishproverbsusethesamerhetoricaldevicessuchassimile,metaphor,repetitionandhyperbole,etc.Simileisusedveryfrequently.Itisafigureofspeech,inwhichamoreorlessfancifulorunrealisticcomparisonismade,using“like”or“as”.[6]Herearesomeexamples:(40)割麦如救火。(41)剩秧如剩草，缺秧如缺宝。(42)Agoodfriendisasthesuninwinter.(43)Ablackplumisassweetasawhite.第26页共26页 Metaphorisafigureofspeech,whichconciselycomparestwothingsbysayingthatoneistheother.[7]Itdoesnotliterallydenoteinordertoimplyaresemblance.E.g.:(44)Timeisfatheroftruth.(45)Failureisthemotherofsuccess.(46)一寸光阴一寸金。(47)谎言怕真理，黑暗怕阳光。Repetitionisanotherrhetoricaldeviceusedtoexpressstrongfeelingsoremphasizesomemeanings.E.g.:(48)哪个老虎不吃人，哪个地主不狠心。(49)Manylords,manylaws.Gorkysaidthat,“Thetrueartisauthorizedtoexaggerate.”Hyperboleisanexaggerationusedtogiveemphasisandstrikethereadersdeeply.E.g.:(50)Athousandyearscannotrepairamoment’slossofhonor.(51)谷子栽得稀，不够喂小鸡。Theexaggerationisnotfalse.Itcomesfromthetruefeelingsandbasesonreality.[8]第26页共26页 Apartfromtheaboverhetoricaldevices,thereareotherdevices.TheyareAntithesis,Synecdoche,Personification,etc.Theuseofrhetoricaldevicesmakesproverbsfresh,humorous,implicitandfullofwit.ThoughEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigins,theyalsohavedifferencesintheirdetailedcontents.Wewilldiscusstheirdifferencesfromthefollowingaspects:differentgeography;differenthistorycustoms;differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts.3.DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsLanguageisstronglyinfluencedandshapedbyculture.Languageisthemirrorofculture.Itcanrepresenteveryaspectofculture.[9]Proverbisanimportantpartofanationallanguageandtheyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage.Differentnationshavedifferentculture.Generallyspeaking,themajordifferenceslieingeography;historycustoms;religionsandvalueconcepts.Asaresult,EnglishandChineseproverbsaredifferentinthedetailedcontents.3.1Reflectingdifferentgeography第26页共26页 Anation’sgeographicalenvironmentisaframeworkinwhichalanguageandculturehavebeendeveloping.Thegeographicalfeaturesofacountryareinevitablyreflectedinthenationallanguageingeneralandproverbsinparticular.[10]EnglandisanislandcountryandlocatedinthewesternseasideofEurope.Englishpeoplelivebyseasideandtheirlifecannotdowithoutsailingandfishing.SomanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedtoseaandsailing.E.g.:(52)Thebestfishsmellwhentheyarethreedaysold.(53)Allatsea.(54)Beingonthesea,sail;beingontheland,settle.(55)Letanother’sshipwreckbeyournavigationmark.Chinaisanagriculturecountry.Everyfeudaldynastypaysmuchattentiontoagriculture.Agricultureisthefundamentalandcrucialtrade.Sotherearemanyfarmingproverbsaboutagriculture.FarmingproverbsconstitutealargepartofChineseproverbs.TheyarethecrystalofagricultureexperiencesofChinesepeople.Itcanbeseeninthefollowingexamples:(56)春雨贵如油。（Rainduringspringtimeispreciousasoil.）第26页共26页 (57)种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（Asapansows,soshallhereap.）(58)人勤地不懒。(Ifmanisdiligent,soilisnotidle.)(59)瑞雪兆丰年。(Asnowyear,arichyear.)(60)一粒下地,万粒归仓。(Fromonegrainsownintotheearth,onethousandgrainswillspring.)(61)前人种树,后人乘凉。(Ancestorsplanttreeswhiledescendantsenjoythecoolunderthetreeshade—enjoyingthefruitsoflaborofone’sancestors.)Fromabove,wecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflecttheirdifferentgeographicalconditions.Englandisanislandcountry,somanyEnglishproverbsareabout“sea”,“fish”,“ship”andsoon.WhilemanyChineseproverbsareaboutagriculture,suchas“豆”，“雪”，“仓”，“地”,etc.3.2ReflectingdifferenthistorycustomsEachnationhasitsownhistory.Sinceproverbsarehistoricalproducts,theymayreflectsomeaspectsofthenationalhistory.第26页共26页 EnglishproverbsarerelatedtothehistoryofEngland.E.g.:(62)“Itisashardtopleaseaknaveasaknight.”AknightreferstoamangiventherankofknighthoodbytheBritishmonarch.TherearemanylegendsabouttheEnglishknights(e.g.:KingArthurandhisgreenknights)intheancienttimes;and(63)“Fromwhippingposttopillory.”Awhippingpostisaposttowhichapersonwastiedforapublicwhippingandapilloryisawoodenframeworkwiththreeholesintowhichtheheadandhandsofanoffenderwereloked,exposinghimtopublicabuseandridicule.[11]Chinahasalonghistory.Thereisthousandsofyears’feudalsocietyinChina.Peoplewerebondedbytherankofclass.Therulersexploitandbullythepeoplecruelty.TherearemanyChineseproverbsaboutfeudalandgenderdiscrimination.E.g.:(64)只许州官放火,不许百姓点灯。(Themagistratesarefreetoburndownhouses,whilethecommonpeopleareforbiddeneventolightlamps.–Thepowerfulcandowhattheywant,theweakarenotallowedtodoanything.)(65)朱门酒肉臭,路有冻死骨。(Behindthereddoorsmeatandwinegotowastewhileoutontheroadsliethebonesofthefrozen.)(66)嫁鸡随鸡,嫁狗随狗。(Marryacockandfollowthecock,marryadogandfollowthedog.—Followthemanyoumarry,behefowlorcur.)[12]第26页共26页 FromabovewecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflectthedifferenthistory.EnglishproverbsarerelatedtokingandknightwhileChineseproverbsreflecttheChinesepeople’sgrudgeandresistancetorulers.3.3ReflectingdifferentreligionsReligionisaveryimportantpartofculture.Differentreligionsreflectdifferentculturalcharacters,differentculturalbackgroundsanddifferentculturaltraditions.Religionisaculturalphenomenon.Proverbsarecloselyrelatedtotheculture,soproverbscanreflectthedifferentreligiousfaith.[13]EnglishpeoplebelieveinChristianityanditisthemostinfluentialreligioninthewest.ManyEnglishproverbsreflectEnglishpeople’sreligiousfaithandmanyofthemareabout“God”,“devil”,“heaven”,“church”,“cross”and“hell”.E.g.:(67)Aspoorasthechurchmouse.(68)Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.(69)ThedevilcanciteScriptureforhispurpose.(70)Bettergotoheaveninragsthantohellinembroidering.(71)ThewaytoheavenisbyWeepingCross.第26页共26页 TheproverbsaboveareapparentlyrelatedtoChristianity,becauseinthem“God”,“devil”,“heaven”,“church”,“cross”and“hell”appearwhicharetheembodimentsofChristianity.Incontrast,BuddhismisthemostpopularreligioninChina.ManyproverbsareaboutBuddhismsuchas:(72)平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚。(Neverburningincensewhenalliswell,butclaspingBuddha’sfeetinanemergency.)(73)跑得了和尚,跑不了庙。(Themonkmayrunaway,butthetemplecan’trunwithhim.—Afugitivemustbelongtosomeplacethatcanprovideclues.)(74)泥菩萨过河,自身难保。(Likeaclayidolfordingariver--hardlyabletosaveone.)(75)放下屠刀,立地成佛。(ThebutcherwholaysdownhisknifeatoncebecomesaBuddha.)Theseproverbsareabout佛，和尚，庙and菩萨。ThedoctrinesofBuddhistadmonishpeopletodogooddeedsandsotheycangototheheavenaftertheirdeath.TaoismcomesnexttoBuddhisminChina.ThereareproverbsaboutTaoismsuchas(76)一人得道，鸡犬升天。(77)道高一尺，魔高一丈，etc.第26页共26页 EnglishandChinesepeoplehavedifferentreligiousfaith.DifferentreligionsleadtothedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs.ChristianityisthemainreligioninEnglish-speakingcountries,somanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedto“God”.WhileChinesepeoplebelievedinBuddhismandTaoism,somanyChineseproverbsareabout“佛”and“道”。3.4ReflectingdifferentvalueconceptsThedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternvalueconceptsmainlylieinindividualismandcollective.Westernersbelievethateverymanisequal.Theyaspiretofreedomandequality.ManyEnglishproverbsshowAmerican’sadvocatingoffreedomandindividualism.E.g.:(78)Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.(79)Hehelpslittlethathelpsnothimself.Thesetwoproverbsillustratetheindividualrole.Thewords“themselves”and“himself”showthatindependenceplaysanimportantroleintheirlife.(80)Everymanisthearchitectofhisownfortune.第26页共26页 (81)Ifyouwantathingwelldone,doityourself.Thesetwoproverbsattachimportancetoindependenceandself-reliance.Self-relianceimpelspeopletocreateopportunities,seekcompetitionandbereadyforrisks.(82)“Itisthesqueakywheelthatgetstheoil.”givesprominencetotheindividualism.(83)“Everymanafterhisfashion.”laysstressonindividualdifferences.Onthecontrary,Chinesepeopletakemodestyasvirtue.Theyrespecttheoldandtakegoodcareoftheyoung.Theircharacteristicsare“justiceandhumanity”,“modesty”and“love”.[14]Chinesepeoplepaymuchattentiontocollectivismandthinkhighlyoftheroleofgroups.Theylaystressonhelpeachotherandrelianceeachother.Theyalsopayattentiontotheharmonioushumanrelationshipandtheytrytosavetheotherside’sface.ManyChineseproverbsreflectthistrend.[15]E.g.:(84)“孤树结成林不怕风吹，滴水集成海不怕日晒。”showsthestrengthofcollectiveorunion.第26页共26页 (85)“四海之内皆兄弟。”reflectstheimportanceofmutualhelpandreliance.(86)“相互协助事好办，各自揣私心事难成。”laysstressontheharmonioushumanrelationship.(87)“忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。”suggeststhatpeopleshouldsavetheotherside’sface.Thereareexceptionsthatareoppositetothemainstream.SomeEnglishproverbsalsoreflecttheimportanceofcollectivism.Forexample,(88)“makeyourselfnecessarytosomeone.”Chinesetraditionalvalueconcepthasbeengreatlyimpactedwiththeinputofindividualism.(89)“一个和尚挑水吃；两个和尚抬水吃；三个和尚没水吃”iscontrarytoChinesecollectivetendency.Inspiteoftheseexceptions,theirmainstreamsarenotchanged.EnglishandChineseproverbshavemanysimilaritiesanddifferences.Withthecommunicationofworldculture,proverbswillbreaktheboundaryofstatesandnations,promotetheculturalconvergenceandachieveinterfusion.EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly.4.Permeationandinterfusion第26页共26页 Withtheprogressofscienceandtechnology,thedevelopmentofsocietyanddisseminationofinformation,thecommunicationandcooperationamongcountriesareexpanding.Thecontactamongstatesandnationsismoreandmorefrequent.Differentnationalculturesarepermeatingandinterfusing.Languageisthecarrierofculture.Culturalconvergenceisdirectlyreflectedintheintegrationoflanguage,atthesametimetheinterfusionandchangingoflanguagereflectandrecordtheevolutionofculturalconvergence.[16]Proverbisthecrystaloflanguage.Ithasnoexception.ThecommunicationbetweenChineseandWesterncultureismoreandmorefrequent.Thesetwoculturesaffectandpermeatemutually.EnglishabsorbmanyChinesewords,andagreatnumberofEnglishwordsalsoenterintheChineseculture.Forexample：(90)“以眼还眼，以牙还牙”isfrom“Aneyeforaneye,atoothforatooth.”(91)“谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好”isfrom“Hewholaughslastlaughsbest.”(92)“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”isfrom“Sourgrapes”andsoon.(93)“Distantwatercannotquenchafirenearby”isfrom“远水解不了近火”第26页共26页 (94)“Don’tclimbatreetolookforfish.”isfrom“勿缘木求鱼。”(95)“Takeawayfuel,takeawayflame.”isfrom“扬汤止沸，不如釜底抽薪。”(96)“Thetruthbyincessantendeavors.”isfrom“愚者千虑，必有一得。”—《史记》（RecordsoftheHistorian）(97)“Betterreturnhomeandmakeanetthanlongforfishbythewaterside.”isfrom“临渊而捕鱼，不如退而结网。”—《汉书》（HistoryoftheHanDynasty）FromaboveproverbswecanseethatmanyChineseproverbsbecomeEnglishproverbsandChinesepeoplealsoacceptalotofEnglishproverbs.EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly.5.Conclusion第26页共26页 Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Theyarecloselyrelatedtoanation’scultureandenjoygreatculturalvalues.Theyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage.Eachnationhasitsowngeography,history,religionandsocialattitude.Becauseoftheculturalgeneralitiesanddifferences,EnglishandChineseproverbshavetheirsimilaritiesanddifferences.Theyarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother.Soacomparativestudyofthemcanhelpustolearnalanguagewellandunderstandthetruemeaningofother’swordincross-culturecommunication.References[1]武占坤.中华谚谣研究[M].保定:河北大学出版社,2003.P6[2]王勤.谚语歇后语概论[M].长沙：湖南教育出版社，1980.P8[3]王振亚.语言与文化[M].北京：高等教育出版社，1999.P18-19[4]成志伟.中华谚语大观[M].北京:金盾出版社,2005.P1[5]胡文仲主编.平洪,张国扬著.英语习语与英美文化[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社，1999.P139[6]TomMcArthur,RoshanMcArthur.OxfordConciseCompaniontotheEnglishLanguage[M].Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress,2001.P550[7]同[8].P374[8]同[2].P54[9]同[3].P19[10]同[3].P192[11]同[3].P198-199[12]武世花.英汉谚语对比研究[J].镇江高专学报,2003.4.P50[13]同[5].P107第26页共26页 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