摘　要

语言，从来不是作为一个单独的个体而存在，它在文化斑斓的外衣下以不同的面貌出现在世界上不同的民族，不同的国家，不同的地区中。现在，在我们的“地球村”中，信息化和全球化给人类社会带来了越来越多的跨文化交际的机会。所以，人们为了避免交流中出现误解，不快和尴尬的局面，应该了解那些关于非本土国家的禁忌相关的知识。禁忌语来源于社会生活，是社会禁忌的一部分。它涉及到人们日常生活的方方面面，包括事情，地方或是人。这些由于宗教、迷信或是其他的原因被人们视为不可接触甚至恐惧的一切事情及其语言都成为禁忌。
本文将通过探讨英汉禁忌语产生的历史背景、差异以及它们在中美文化中的异同，让英语学习者了解和掌握跨文化，避免不必要的交际失误。

关键词：禁忌语；中美文化差异；跨文化交际
 
Abstract

Language never exists as an isolated object, which is always showing its different appearances in different nations, different countries and different areas all over the world together with culture. Nowadays, the information and globalization bring mankind more and more opportunities of intercultural communication in our earth village. To avoid misunderstandings, discomforts and embarrassments during intercultural communication, people need to get fundamental knowledge about taboos in non-native countries. Taboo speech, originating from social life, is part of social taboos. It involves many aspects in people’s daily life including taboo things, places and persons which are made untouchable or sacred by religious customs or superstition or other reasons.
The article, based on studies on taboos' generalities and the background, in which they arise, as well as their cultural differences between China and America, aims at familiarizing English learners with cross-culture background, developing their cross-cultural awareness, and avoiding unnecessary communication failures.

Key words: taboos; Chinese and American cultural differences; intercultural communication

1 Introduction
With the development of society and economy, the world seems to become one global village. It is an opportunity for China, too. However, it is also a challenge because of cultural differences. There is no denying that there are so many differences between China and America, so cultural shock is unavoidable in the intercultural activities. Fortunately, we can analyze cultural differences between China and America through taboos. Taboos occur in all particular cultures and languages. Different societies have different social regulations; some of them are clearly defined on words but others are hazily in peoples’ mind. In the modern world, as technology and science developing, we gain more opportunities of intercultural communications because our world is becoming much smaller. The usage of taboos is regarded rude and improper. When communicating with people, we should care both language and culture so that we can avoid culture conflicts. In order to avoid misunderstandings, discomforts as well as embarrassments during intercultural communication, people require getting sufficient knowledge of taboos in foreign countries. Taboos relate to many aspects in people’s daily life containing things, places and persons that are made intangible or talked because religious customs or superstition or some other reasons.