英汉动物谚语的对比研究.docx

1、英汉动物谚语的对比研究毕业论文题目：英汉动物谚语的对比研究Title: A Comparative Study of English and Chinese Animal Idioms2009 年 5 月 20日Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere gratitude to a number of teachers and friends at the Foreign Language Department for their help and encouragement in the writing of this thesi

2、s. Special thanks should go to Ms. Lu Li, my respected supervisor, who gave me so much constructive instruction and insightful guidance throughout my research work. With great care, She read the whole manuscript and offered much invaluable criticism. Her great help makes this thesis a better one tha

3、n it would otherwise have been.I am also indebted to my affectionate parents, and the rest of my family. Throughout the development of this paper, they have been there always giving me continuous support, encouragement and understanding. Their love and support encourage me to pursue progress all the

4、 time.Abstract Culture study has been a heated subject; hence many scholars focus their attention on the field of intercultural study. Idioms are a very impertant part of Chinese and English languages, and Chinese and English languages abound with animal idioms, which reflect respective culture. The

5、 thesis attempts to make an intercultural study of animal idioms to track down the similarities and differences in cultural aspects and cultural features expressed in animal idioms. In short, in exploring the essence of culture, animal idioms shining with cultural flavor and cultural connotations wi

6、ll contribute to the understanding of different cultures, it also can promote the communication between Chinese and Western culture.Key words: Chinese and English animal idioms ; associated meanings ; cultural connotations ; translation 摘 要在文化研究成为热门话题的今天，许多学者把视角锁定在跨文化领域。谚语是汉英语言及文化的构成部分之一。其中动物谚语能最丰富地

7、体现汉英语言文化，本文从跨文化角度入手，对含有动物形象的汉英谚语进行对比研究，透过文化底蕴、联想意义以及翻译方法三个层面研究汉英动物谚语，着眼于动物习语反映出的中西文化相似与差异之处。总的来说，研究文化以及这些谚语所反映的文化内涵可以加深人们对两种不同文化的理解，促进中西文化的交流。关键词: 汉英动物谚语；联想意义；文化底蕴；翻译ContentsIntroduction.1I. Different Cultural Backgrounds between Chinese and English Animal Idioms.21.1 The Concept of Animal Idioms.21

8、.2 Cultural Connotations2II. Unique Animal Idioms in Chinese and English9 2.1 Unique Animal Idioms in Chinese.9 2.2 Unique Animal Idioms in English10III. The Translation of English and Chinese Idioms113.1 Suggested Ways of Translation.11Conclusion .17Bibliography18Introduction Language is a part of

9、culture and palys a very important role in it. Meanwhile, language is also a cultural carrier and serves as the principal means to cross-cultural communication1:45. As a particular part of language, idioms are no exception indicating the distinctive features of a culture. Idioms are small pieces of

10、human wisdom that have been handed down from generation. They express ideas in short and recognizable sentences. What might have taken an entire paragraph to explain is expressed metaphorically in these idioms, which contain in a nutshell the philosophy of the common people. Idioms also embody a con

11、centrated reflection of various rhetorical means and serve as a mirror of the historical and cultural conceptions of a social community. Idioms are existent in various peoples languages and in circulation by formulaic phrases in spoken language as what comprehensively transmits experiences and lesso

12、ns for a struggle in existence2:72. Different people share with each other such features as idiomatic forms and contents, because they share practical experiences and wisdom for human beings in order to survive. Idioms are nevertheless rooted in the soil on which the people live and are realized as

13、formulaic phrases in its language system. Therefore the character of the people is clearly branded in its idioms. By comparing idioms of different people with each other, we can find that each peoples characteristics, history, economic life, cultural tradition, mentality, morality, sense of value, g

14、eographical environments and other aspects are fully expressed in its idioms .Consequently, in order to understand idioms, we should observe them in relation with such conditions as its religion, history, culture, customs, geography , etc. I. Different backgrounds between Chinese and English Idioms1

15、.1 Animal Idioms and Culture Many idioms are tested in practice and have been regarded very important. Many of them pack a lot of information, especially cultural information. Animal images are much more popular in idioms which are full of cultural connotations. Making use of idioms is a method of e

16、xpressing oneself more quickly and concisely than in any other way. People are carrying on the research on how to overcome the cultural obstacles evoked by cultural differences. Culturally-loaded vocabulary plays an important role in a language. Differentsocial backgrounds and national culture have

17、a great effect on cultural connotations.With comparison, the same animal words may bear the same and different culturalmeanings. And different animal words may convey the similar or even same meaning. Chinese and English idioms carved with cultural characteristics account for a great part in transla

18、tion. Cultural similarities and differences may have a positive or negative effect on translation. Idioms have many characteristics, such as succinct writing, proper choice ofwords, vivid and bright images, and they are full of rhythm. To learn and study idioms by studying the associative meanings o

19、f animal images both in English and Chinese idioms as well as the origin of idioms will help to achieve a thorough understanding, a proper command and a solid grasp of animal culture in idioms.1.2 Cultural Connotations Reflected in Chinese and English Animal Idioms1.2.1 Geographical Cultures in Anim

20、al Idioms Geographical culture refers to the culture formed by the area, natural condition and geographical environment. The geographical cultures of the Chinese and English nations are of great importance and difference, which have obviously manifestations in their individual proverbs 12:42. Emerge

21、nce of idioms is closely related to peoples labor and life. Most idioms are the offspring of their different life experience, so naturally they manifest two different kinds of national forms. Due to different living conditions, the English and Chinese people have their own individual state of mind a

22、nd ways of thinking, which also add national coloring to the idioms. The Chinese people belong to an agrarian society that places agricultural production at the top of the national agenda. Since time immemorial, China has been a large continental country chiefly based on agriculture, and an overwhel

23、ming majority of the people lives in the rural areas12:42. Hence there is a surprising number of farming idioms and idioms with animal images accumulated in their productive labor by the Chinese peasants from generation to generation. For example, 林中不卖柴，湖上不卖鱼。 Fuel is not sold in a forest, nor fish

24、on a lake. The farmers proverbial sayings form a large part of Chinese idioms. The Chinese ancestors created glorious material wealth. Everything needed was produced in the territory of ancient China 10:56.The Chinese love peace and earth. So the majority of agricultural idioms emphasize the importa

25、nce of agriculture, taking farming as materials and showing the simple and industrious tradition of Chinese people and their national character- sticking to their hometown land, reverting to their origin. Such idioms are a very important component of Chinese idioms. For example, 牛不喝水强按头。 try to make

26、 an ox drink by forcing his head into the water-try to impose ones will on sb. 马到成功。 be victorious the moment the battle steeds arrive-gain an immediate victory. 风马牛不相及。 be totally unrelated. Taking a panoramic view of English history and analyzing English idioms, we will find out that island cultur

27、e. Britain is an island country which has a long history of navigation. Therefore, people who live along seacoast and whose livelihood is dependent on sea will have enormous numbers of nautical idioms connected with water, sailing and fish, and a great number of English idioms are derived from the s

28、ea 12:44. The life and labor of the English are closely concerned with oceans. A lot of English idioms have much to do with the sea, marine climate, shipping and relevant experience and lessons. For example, as close as an oysteras drunk as a fishcry stinking fishall is fish that comes to his netnev

29、er offer to teach fish to swimthe best fish swim near the bottomthrow out a sprat to catch a herring/ mackerelAnother trait of Britain is that its agriculture is based on animal husbandry and a lot of ordinary people are engaged in this work and poultry raising, from which many idioms have been crea

30、ted. For example,Like cow, like calf. You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drinkAll lay loads on a willing horse.A big fish in a little pond (山中无老虎，猴子称霸王。)1.2.2 Customary Cultures in Animal IdiomsCustomary culture is the culture of a nations customs and conventions which exist i

31、n daily social life and communicative activities 13:78. Linguists hold that language is accepted through common practice 12:48.Many idioms both in Chinese and in English come from colloquial speech in daily life and customs of different nations. People have created lots of idioms in practice. They are vivid, practical and closely related to humans life experience.Both cultures are the product of the different life experience, and customs and conventions of the social members who use the languages. The differences in these aspects of the two nations certainly produce great discrepa