animal 2.docx

1、animal 22. Cultural connotation of animal words in English and Chinese Similarities and dissimilarities in the cultural connotations of animal words in the two languages should be taken into consideration in cross-cultural communication and translation because both English and Chinese are rich langu

2、ages with a great number of words in which there are many words concerning animals related with people closely. On the one hand, animals are one of the most important sources of humans living. On the other hand, some animals are divined and respected by people. The symbolism of animals reflects spec

3、ial animal cultures of different nations. Because of peoples way of living, histories, social customs, and so on and so forth, all play important roles in the change of connotative meaning of animal words. In a word, all the people, drawing on their background, decide what a word means. So the cultu

4、ral connotations of animal words in one language sometimes coincide with those in another. However, under more circumstances, they are distinguished from each other. 2.1. An animal word has the same cultural connotation in English and Chinese Thanks to the similar ecological environment, animal has

5、marked characteristics whether Chinese or English speaking people have something in common on the attitude towards them and even use them in comparison to describe the special properties of people or things. So people in the two cultures try to study animals from their basic properties, which offer

6、them the similar cultural association of animals. There are similar sayings in the two languages such as “as fat as a pig” “肥得像头猪”, “as happy as a lark” “像百灵鸟一样快乐”, “make a monkey out of somebody” is like the Chinese saying “拿某人当猴耍”. People in China explain “He is as cunning as a fox” as “他这个人像狐狸一样狡

7、猾”. Swan stands for holiness and purity in English ,meanwhile, in Chinese ,the saying “癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉” refers to fantasying impractically. The ugliness of toad is used to lay emphasis on the holiness of swan. Swans dance in China originated form a legend in which a beautiful girl jumped into the water in

8、order to fight against feudal marriage. Finally, she became a pretty swan. In English, the swan in “All your swan is goose” refers to nice wish. English speaking people use bug to refer to someone who is partial to somebody or something, such as “a camera bug”（摄影迷）, “a football bug”（足球迷）, “a bug at

9、sports（体育迷）”. In China , bug has a similar usage, for example, “懒虫”means a lazy person; “糊涂虫”refers to an unwise person; “蛀虫” refers to someone who embezzle national or others properties. These animal words with both the same denotative meaning and connotative meaning prove that they reflect the com

10、mon characters of the two cultures in some aspects. To most people, there are some similarities in the national environment and their living conditions. So many animal words possess the same connotation, even in two different cultures. There are many other examples to show the some animal having the

11、 same cultural connotation in both languages，such as： Wolf as cruel as a wolf（像狼一样凶残） Pig eat like a pig , make a pig of oneself（大吃大喝） Bee as busy as a bee（像蜜蜂一样忙碌） Ass make an ass of oneself（干蠢事） Dog live a dogs life(过着狗一样的生活) 2.2. An animal word has different cultural connotations in English and C

12、hinese In most cases, the referential meanings of an animal are the same but their cultural connotations are obviously different, conflicted even opposite in two cultures. The common phenomenon in language is worth attention. Different cultural environments provide Chinese and English speaking peopl

13、e with different imaginations on animals and offer richer cultural connotations to animal words .In the following paragraphs, the author presents the differences of cultural connotation of animal words in English and Chinese from two aspects: different conventional cultures and different aesthetic a

14、ppreciations. 2.3. Different conventional cultures The dragon in English and “龙”in Chinese are both imaginary animals but have very different connotations. To Chinese “龙” is something sacred and has been referred to as the ancestor of the Chinese nation. That is why the Chinese call themselves “龙的传人

15、”(descendants of the dragon) and Chinese feudal emperors were often referred to as “真龙天子”,wearing “龙袍”，living in palaces decorated with the dragon. “龙王”（the dragon king）is a powerful god in Chinese legendary which rules the seas and other water bodies and is in charge of raining . Many Chinese would

16、 “望子成龙”，but its literal translation “to expect ones son to become a dragon” would sound ridiculous to the English speaking people, because in their mind the dragon is some evil monster which can spit fire and possesses three to nine heads. There are very few English idioms with the word “dragon” exc

17、ept “blind dragon” and “fight like a dragon”. Out of such consideration, “亚洲四小龙” is properly turned into “the four tigers of Asia”. Phoenix is an unusual kind of animal, which is the king of all the birds in Chinese legendary. It is believed that phoenix is the symbol of peacefulness and it brings p

18、eople good luck. In ancient times, it was used to compare to a person with virtue. “凤毛麟角”refers to rare, precious persons or things. “山窝里飞出了个金凤凰”means that a person with special ability comes from a remote village. However, In English, it is said that phoenix lived in Sahara for about 500 years. It

19、would build a nest covered with spice before burning itself into ashes from which a new phoenix was born. Therefore, phoenix, in English, stands for regeneration. For example, Religion, like a phoenix, has been resurrected form the ashes of the war. 2.4 .Different aesthetic appreciations Aesthetic a

20、ppreciation is related with peoples preference or detestation towards animals. The corresponding animal word will have favorable meaning if the animal is appreciated, on the contrary, it will have negative meaning if the animal is disgusted. 2.4.1. The same animal word bears favorable meanings in En

21、glish but derogatory meanings in Chinese Take dog for example, in most cases, the word “dog” is favorable in its connotation in the English language. This is reflected in sayings like “Love me, love my dog”; “a lucky dog”. “To help a lame dog over the stile” means to help someone in difficulty. “Eve

22、ry dog has its day” means every person will some day succeed or become fortunate. But figures of speech like these are not proper in Chinese as the word 狗in most Chinese phrases are associated with some derogatory connotation, as is reflected in sayings like “狗急跳墙,狗头军师,狗仗人势，狐朋狗友,狗心狼肺,狗眼看人低,狗嘴里吐不出象牙,

23、丧家之犬”,etc. In Greek and Roman mythology, owl always stays by the goddess of witness. It is invited to make a verdict on arguments between animals, especially on emergent occasions. Therefore, in English, owl is a bird standing for witness. Such as “as wise as an owl” Owlish refers to clever, shrewd.

24、 For example, Patrick peered owlishly at us through his glasses. However, in Chinese, owl is thought as a symbol of omen because it always flies around graveyard at night, sending out sad voice. In the old legend ,it is said that someone would die if the owl rest on his house . Owl is related to bad

25、 luck, death .There are many expressions showing peoples view towards owl, such as “夜猫子进宅,无事不来”, “夜猫子抖翅,大小有点事”, “夜猫子进屋,全家都哭”,etc. Whale is a huge animal, so in English it is a symbol of valuable things. The following examples proves it- a whale of a chance(一个极好的机会), whale on skating (滑冰高手), a whale

26、at tennis(善打网球的人).However, in china, people pay little attention to its value but to its huge appetite. “蚕食鲸吞”means that a small country is embezzled like a silkworm eating little by little or like a whale swallowing. 2.4.2. The same animal word bears derogatory meanings in English but favorable mea

27、nings in Chinese In Chinese, “猫” is a symbol of loveliness, shrewdness. Chinese people love cat because it is a lovely companion and it is a master in catching mice. Some ancient poets wrote poems to prize cats. But in English, cat is embodiment of devil. People detest cat, especially the black cat.

28、 In Chinese , “喜鹊”is an auspicious bird .it is said that its voice brings good news as the following saying shows: 今朝闻鹊喜,家信必有归; 破颜看鹊喜,拭泪听猿啼; 鹊声喳喳宁有知,家人听鹊占归期. Whats more, its voice is the forest of fine weather, such as 鹊声宣日出 晴色喧从喜鹊知 It is proved that magpie can bring us good luck, whereas in English

29、, it refers to wordy,garrulous people .for example: She is a magpie of a woman. She kept muttering like a magpie. It is suggested that people in English speaking counties feel disgusted towards its voice. Besides, it stands for chaos, disorder. For example, “a magpie collection”, “to magpie together

30、”. Apart from the above examples, there are many other animals, such as cricket, cuckoo, bat, petrel, and mouse, having favorable meanings in English but having derogatory meanings in Chinese. 3. An animal word has both the same and different cultural connotations in English and Chinese Language, th

31、e reflection of especially social culture, is the result of social development and effects peoples ideas, thought and imagination. Different nations have different imaginations about animals according to their own thinking rules, knowledge scales, living customs and moral standards and the people en

32、dow them different cultural functions. Meanwhile, because of the similarity of the object living circumstances, it is unavoidable that some animal words, on the other hand, have the same cultural connotation. Fox, in both English and Chinese, refers to a common wild animal with a cunning nature. Whe

33、n used in comparison, it is a synonym of “slyness, trickiness, and deceitfulness ”. On this point ,the similarity of cultural connotation of the animal word is beyond our mind .People are very familiar with a series of English and Chinese idioms or sayings .For example, as cunning as a fox(狡猾得像个狐狸),as sly as a fox(像狐狸一样狡猾),a sly old fox(一只狡猾的老狐狸); “露出了狐狸尾巴”, “狐狸再狡猾也逃不过猎人的眼睛