Abstract

From the early 1980s, the contrastive rhetoric study has developed rapidly in our country. This article uses the method of contrastive linguistics, mainly exploring and comparing antithesis and allegory, two rhetorical devices in English and Chinese proverbs, moreover, from the culture perspective to explore the rhetorical meaning in English and Chinese proverbs. The author compares the figures of speech in English and Chinese proverbs with content and form: in form, take antithesis for example; in content, through analyzing the different geographical environment, religious beliefs and literature to make a difference in English and Chinese proverbs.
Proverbs, as a carrier of people’s life experience, not only can say a thing or show a reason, but can also express a writer’s subjective evaluation, attitude and emotion for different kinds of things. However, rhetoric is not only the language communication behavior, it is also the pursuit of effectiveness language communication behavior. So, the rhetorical effect is an important characteristic of proverbs. Proverb itself has a lot of rhetorical characteristics, what’s more, when we use proverb and it may make a more abundant difference in rhetoric. Discussing the similarities and differences, the reasons of appearing of commonly used figures of speech in proverbs contributes to a better understanding of English and Chinese proverbs, thus, we can appreciate the Chinese and foreign classics better and understand Chinese and foreign culture more preferably.

Key Words: English and Chinese proverbs  contrast between English and Chinese rhetoric  cultural difference  rhetoric       

摘 要

从20世纪80年代初期，英汉对比修辞研究在我国迅速发展。本文用对比语言学的方法，主要对比探究对偶，比喻两种修辞手法在英汉谚语中的作用，并从文化角度分析探究修辞在英汉谚语中的意义，进而对英汉谚语中的修辞从内容和形式上进行了对比，形式上，对偶为例；内容上，通过分析中外不同的地理环境、宗教信仰以及文学作品给谚语带来的影响。
谚语作为人民生活经验的载体，不仅能表示一种事物或说明一项事理，而且能表达说写者对该事物的主观评价、态度和感情色彩。然而，修辞既是语言交际行为，更是追求语言交际有效性的行为。所以修辞作用是谚语的重要特征。谚语本身有很多修辞特点，谚语一经使用又可发挥丰富的修辞作用。讨论谚语中常用修辞格的异同和其产生的原因，有助于更好地理解英汉谚语，从而，更好地赏析中外经典作品，更好地了解中外文化。

关键词：英汉谚语 修辞 英汉对比 文化差异