Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: Sociolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language and social subjects. Language and culture are the integration that cannot be divided. Cultural differences are not only embodied in language itself, but also in its usage. As the most active factor in language, vocabulary is not just the meaning indicated by superficial expression, but also carries different cultural connotations because of different cultural traditions and customs. Due to Chinese and English traditional cultural differences, kinship terms are endowed with different cultural connotations. This paper will demonstrate the English and Chinese kinship terms from sociolinguistics. It will also take the cultural differences as the background to make a further discussion of the translation of Chinese and English kinship terms.

Key words: sociolinguistics; kinship terms; culture; translation

摘要：社会语言学是研究语言和社会之间关系的学科。语言和文化是密不可分的，文化差异不仅体现在语言本身的特点上，而且反映在语言的使用上。词汇作为语言中最活跃的因素，也不再仅限于表达肤浅的所指意义，而是蕴藏着不同的文化传统、风俗习惯等所赋予它的不同的文化内涵。由于英汉两民族传统文化差异，因此分别赋予亲属称谓语的文化内涵也不尽相同。本文通过从社会语言学分析和比较英汉两民族不同的文化在亲属称谓语上的反映，以示英汉文化差异。再以文化差异为背景，进一步探讨亲属称谓语的翻译。

关键词：社会语言学； 亲属称谓语； 文化； 翻译

1.    Introduction
Language and culture are the integration that cannot be divided. Different nations have formed different cultures because of the different geographical conditions, customs, historical backgrounds and religious beliefs.So cultural difference comes into being, which result in different value standards and ways of thinking. Cultural differences are reflected in languages. However, cultural differences are not only reflected in language itself, but also in the usage of language. As the basic component of language, vocabulary is not just the meaning indicated by superficial expression, but also carries different cultural connotations.
Undoubtedly, kinship terms, as an indispensable part of vocabulary, show cultural differences. Kinship terms are the starting point to determine the relationship with others. The kinship includes blood and marriage. Different kinship terms are the appearance of different cultures that reflect the different national characteristics. Due to the disparities of Chinese and American cultures, the system of Chinese kinship terms is different from that of the English kinship terms. The rules governing the usage of kinship terms in two social contexts are distinctly different. Also, kinship terms are can be influenced by cultural differences.