Abstract

Language and culture have a close relationship with each other. Language is a part of culture and plays a very important role in it; on the other hand, culture influences language. The language system of a nation highly reflects the geographical environment, history and culture, social customs, living styles, and ways of thinking of the nation. There are many words about plants in both Chinese and English. Because of the unique characteristics and living environment of plants, the plant terms have different symbolic meanings.
This thesis starts with the discussion about the relationship between language and culture. Then it focuses on the analysis of five different modes of symbolic meanings: the same plant words with the same symbolic meanings; the same plant words with different symbolic meanings; plant words with symbolic meanings only in Chinese; plant words with symbolic meanings only in English; the same symbolic meanings with different plant words. Finally, this paper offers three main methods for translating plant words: word-for-word translation, replacement of images and free translation.

Key words: plant word, difference, translation

摘要

语言和文化关系密切。语言是文化的重要部分；另一方面，文化影响语言。一个国家的语言系统高度浓缩了这个国家的地理环境、历史和文化、社会风俗、生活模式、以及思想方式。无论是在中文还是英文中，都有许多关于植物的词语。因为植物独特的特征和成长环境，这些植物词语有着不同的象征意义。
本文首先讨论了语言与文化的关系。接着，着重分析五种象征意义对应的模式：同一种植物词，相同的象征意义；同一种植物词，不同的象征意义；只在中文中有象征意义的植物词；只在英文中有象征意义的植物词；相同的象征意义，不同的植物词。最后，本文提出三种翻译方法：直译、套译、意译。

关键词：植物词；区别；翻译

1. Introduction
1.1 Relationship between language and culture
The relationship between language and culture is very complex. Language and culture interacts each other through the entire history of human beings. Culture influences and shapes language. With the development of science and technology, culture has become increasingly complicated, and language has become increasingly rich. Language and culture rely on each other and influence each other. Therefore, if we don’t have enough knowledge about the culture of a language, we can not use the language appropriately. To make matters worse, we may make mistakes during the communication. The Chinese culture and English culture are different from each other. So we should focus on the comparative study of these two different cultures.