从文化视角看英汉动物习语的差异_英语论文

A Study of the Differences between English and Chinese Animal Idioms from the Cultural Perspective

摘要

习语作为一种复杂的语言现象，承载着独特的民族特色与文化内涵，在语言中占有重要的地位。对于语言学习者来说，缺乏足够的文化背景知识，理解习语所蕴含的意义将会比较困难。习语种类很多，且每一类都自成一个复杂的系统。本文探讨的主要是动物习语，即包含动物形象的习语。动物给人类的生产活动和日常生活做出了巨大的贡献，是人类亲密的朋友。而语言能够反映人类的生活环境和思想，因此，人与动物之间的密切关系也在习语中有所体现。作为语言中最具活力的部分，动物习语还体现着语言演变过程中发生的变化。本文旨在比较英汉动物习语之间的差异，并从文化视角出发分析差异背后的原因。研究发现英汉动物习语的差异主要体现在以下三个反面，即：冲突，相异和空缺。而造成这些差异的主要原因地理环境，宗教信仰和神话传说的不同。这些因素对于英汉动物习语的形成和演变都有着不可或缺的影响。

关键词：英汉动物习语；差异；文化视角

Abstract

Idiom is a complex linguistic phenomenon. As a significant part of language, it conveys distinct national features and cultural information. It is difficult for the language learners to understand the connotative meaning of an idiom without sufficient cultural backgrounds. There are several kinds of idioms and each one is a complicated system. In this paper, animal idioms are selected as research subjects since animals are our friends and have made great contribution to both the production and our common life. There is a close relationship between human beings and animals and this kind of intimacy is deeply reflected in animal idioms. Besides, as the liveliest part of language, English and Chinese animal idioms can also reflect the changes occurring in the development and modification of some expressions. This paper aims at probing into the differences between English and Chinese animal idioms, and analyzing the causes for their differences. Analyses reveal that their differences can be divided into three categories: conflict, divergence and exclusiveness; and the major causes for their differences are different geographical conditions, different religions, different fables and mythologies. 

Key words: English and Chinese animal idioms; differences; Cultural perspective