英汉谚语中的性别歧视_英语论文

The Sexism in English and Chinese Proverbs

摘要

语言是社会的一面镜子,语言反映了民族风俗习惯。产生在特定的历史背景下的谚语是语言文化的精髓。语言中的性别歧视成了语言学家研究的热门问题。本文从社会语言学的角度下，运用萨丕尔-沃夫假说从言语行为、社会角色、性情智慧、婚俗和社会地位五方面对英汉语言中的性别歧视做了一个全面的分析。重点分析了文化因素导致谚语中性别歧视的存在，例如宗教、传统观念、父权社会等。研究认为，在语言重建和社会改革的双重作用下，性别歧视在语言和谚语中逐渐减弱甚至消失。人们应该充分意识到语言中的性别现象，认识到语言反映了相应的思维和意识形态，从而避免文化交际中因语言使用不当而发生冲突。

关键词：谚语  性别歧视  萨丕尔-沃夫假说   

Abstract

Language is a mirror of the society, reflecting national customs and habits. Proverbs that are produced in a specific historical context are the essence of language culture. The study of the sexism in language has always been a hot issue of linguists. From the perspective of sociolinguistics, guided with Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, this thesis makes a comprehensive analysis of sexism in English and Chinese Proverbs from five aspects of verbal behavior, social role, temper and wisdom, marriage custom and social status. It focuses on the cultural factors that lead to the existence of sexism, such as religion, traditional ideas, patriarchy and so on. It is found that under the dual role of language reconstruction and social reform, sexism in language and proverbs will be weakened or even disappear. People should be fully aware of the sexism in language and the corresponding thinking and ideology reflected by language in order to avoid conflicts in language communication which are caused by inappropriate use of language.

Keywords: Proverbs  Sexism  Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis   

Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter I Literature Review 3

1.1 Sexism in the West and China 3

1.2 Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis 5

Chapter II Analysis of Sexism Manifested in Proverbs 7

2.1 Proverbs 7

2.2 Sexism in Chinese and English Proverbs 10

Chapter III Cultural Factors Causing Sexism in Proverbs 14

3.1 Religious Myth 14

3.2 Social Cognitive Psychology 14

3.3 Convention 14

3.4 Social Status 15

Conclusion 16

References 18

Acknowledgments 19