中美动物词汇文化内涵比较分析_英语论文

A Comparative Study of the Cultural Connotations of Chinese and American Animal Words

摘要

词汇，是构筑一种语言最基本的材料，它最能集中反映一个民族的文化。作为数量庞大，使用频率高的一类词，动物词往往被赋予了丰富的联想与文化内涵。不同语言中的动物词汇体现了不同民族之间的文化差异和各自的民族文化特征。因此，对动物词汇的使用与翻译是语言教学中不可忽视的一个重要方面。本文从词汇、语言、文化三者的辩证关系出发，在界定词的文化内涵的基础上，将语言学的相关理论应用于中美动物词汇内涵意义的比较分析中。根据其意义的差异程度，本文将其分为以下四类：指代同一动物的词语意义相接近；指代同一动物的词语意义相差悬殊；指代不同动物的词语意义有重合之处；一种语言中有内涵意义的动物词，在另一种语言中意义出现了空缺。之后，本文探讨了可能导致中美动物词汇内涵差异的五个因素：地理环境、生活习俗、历史政治背景、宗教信仰以及神话传说。最后，本文提出了关于减少对动物词汇含义误解的建议，即充实文化知识储备，同时加深对本国和外国文化的理解，从而构建跨文化交际能力。

关键词：动物词；文化内涵；文化差异；比较分析

Abstract

Vocabulary is the basic element of a language. It is a reflection of a nation’s culture. As a group of words with large quantity and high frequency of usage, animal words are usually rich in both associations and cultural connotations. Animal words in different languages show the cultural distinctions between different nations. Therefore, the usage of animal words is an important part of language teaching that can never be overlooked. This paper starts with the narration of the relationships between culture, language and vocabulary. Based on the definition of “cultural connotation”, it applies relevant linguistic theories to the comparative analysis of the meanings of Chinese and American animal words. This comparison can be divided into the following four sections: identical animal words with close meanings; identical animal words with opposing meanings; different animal words sharing similar meanings; an animal word with meanings in one language showing no meaning in another. Then, this paper discusses five factors that may lead to the previous differences of cultural meanings, namely geographical situation, living customs, historical and political background, religious faith and mythology. Finally, it comes with suggestions about how to reduce misunderstandings of animal words. Only by enriching ourselves with more cultural knowledge and deepening our comprehension of both our native and foreign cultures, can we effectively improve our cross-communication skills.

Key words: animal words; cultural connotations; cultural distinctions; comparative analysis

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Review of Cross-cultural Study on Animal Words 1

1.2 Significance of Study 1

1.3 Structure of Writing 1

2. Relationship between Language and Culture 3

2.1 Notion of Culture 3

2.2 Divergences between Language and Culture 3

2.3 Interaction between Language and Culture 4

2.4 Animal Words and Their Cultural Connotations 4

3. Comparative Analysis of Chinese and American Animal Words 5

3.1 Contrast on Cultural Meanings of Animal Words 6

3.1.1 Identical Animal Words with Close Cultural Meanings 6

3.1.2 Identical Animal Words with Opposing Cultural Meanings 7

3.1.3 Diffrent Animal Words Sharing Similar Cultural Meanings 9

3.1.4 Blankness in Meanings of Animal Words in Chinese and English 9

3.2 Factors Contributing to Differences in Cultural Meanings 10

3.2.1 Influence of Geographical Situation and Living Customs 11

3.2.2 Influence of Historical Allusion 11

3.2.3 Influence of Religion 12

3.2.4 Influence of Myth and Fable 12

4. Implications on Intercultural Communication 13

4.1 Usage of Animal Words in Daily Conversation 13

4.2 Solution to Misunderstandings of Animal Words 14

5. Conclusion 16

5.1 Findings 16

5.2 Limitations 16

Reference 17