A Comparative Study on Meanings and Cultures between English and Chinese Names_英语论文

摘要

姓名作为一种社会文化符号,通常用来区别社会中的个体。从一定程度来说它也是能够反映一个民族历史,语言和文化的一面镜子。不管是在古代还是现代，世界各地的许多学者都对人们的姓名做了许多研究。尤其是对于中英姓名的研究，这其中包括了对中英姓名的特点、构成方式等的研究。姓名是社会的一种特别的产物。对于姓名的意义以及文化作用的研究不仅能够帮助我们理解一个民族的宗教背景，社会研究和历史渊源，还能够帮助我们了解不同民族文化之间的不同。这样我们才能在此基础上和其他民族进行成功的文化沟通。

本文是对英汉姓名做一个比较研究，以及在前人学者的基础上更深入全面的分析英汉姓名中所渗透的文化底蕴。本文通过对中英姓名进行结构、起源和命名方式的比较来分析其中的文化内涵。通过比较能够发现有在中英姓名中存在着很多相似性和差异性。相似性主要表现在中英姓名中都存在着性别歧视，并且在姓名中都有图腾意义的表现。差异性主要表现在中英姓名中存在着集体主义与个人主义的差异，阶级制度和平等制度的差异，儒家文化和基督教文化的差异，以及保守型文化与开放式文化的差异。

本文通过命名学的理论来对英语姓名与汉语姓名进行比较。首先对专名学进行了简单的定义和说明。然后介绍了之前的国内外学者在英汉姓名对比研究上得到的成果，再在此基础上进行对英汉姓名的进一步研究。

关键词：命名学；姓；名；比较研究

Contents

Acknowledgements I

Abstract II

摘  要 III

Contents IV

Chapter 1  Introduction 1

1.1 Purpose of the Study 1

1.2 Significance of the Study 1

1.3 Structure of the Paper 2

Chapter 2  Literature Review 3

2.1 Definition of Name and Onomastic 3

2.1.1 Definitions of Family name, Surname and Given Name in Chinese 3

2.1.2 Definitions of Family name, Surname and Given Name in English 3

2.2 Review of Name Study 3

2.2.1 Name Study Abroad 4

2.2.2 Name Study in China 5

2.3 Summary 6

Chapter 3  Semantic Differences in Naming Practice between English and Chinese 7

3.1 Difference in structure between English and Chinese Names 7

3.1.1 Structure of English Names 7

3.1.2 Structure of Chinese Names 7

3.2 Difference in Source between English and Chinese Names 8

3.2.1 Source of English Surnames 8

3.3 Difference in Naming Approaches between English and Chinese 12

3.3.1 Naming Practice Approaches in English 12

3.3.2 Naming Approaches in Chinese 12

Chapter 4  Differences and Similarities in cultures between Chinese and English Names 14

4.1 Differences between Chinese and English Names 14

4.1.1 Collectivism and Individualism 14

4.1.2 High-Uncertainty-Avoidance and Low-Uncertainty-Avoidance 15

4.2 Similarities between Chinese and English Names 16

4.2.1 Gender Discrimination Reflected 16

4.2.2 Good Implication in Names 17

Chapter 5  Causes of Differences in English and Chinese Naming 18

5.1 Individualism vs. Collectivism 18

5.1.1 Individualism in English Culture 18

5.1.2 Collectivism in Chinese Culture 18

5.2 Equality vs. Hierarchy 19

5.2.1 Equality in English Culture 19

5.2.2 Hierarchy in Chinese Culture 19

5.3 Christian Belief vs. Confucian Thought 19

5.3.1 God –Nature –Man –I Pattern in English Culture 20

5.3.2 Ethics –nature –man –I pattern in Chinese culture 20

Chapter 6  Conclusion 22

6.1 Major Findings of the Research 22

6.2 Limitation of the Research 23

6.3 Pedagogical Implications 23

6.4 Suggestions for Further Research 23

Bibliography 24