摘 要

随着全球化的不断发展，中西方的交流变得越来越频繁。它促进了文化的沟通，但也要求我们能够进行准确和有效的交流。这就需要我们能够深入辨别中西文化的异同，尤其是两种文化间的差异。禁忌语是中西社会中都存在的一个语言现象。它是指在语言交际中，由于某种缘由，人们对某些不能、不敢或不愿说出的词语所采取的一种回避态度或者委婉的表达方式。英汉两种语言在禁忌语方面既有相同之处也存在着不同之处。由于语言是社会文化的一部分，语言反映文化，因此分析英汉两种语言中禁忌语的差异可以帮助我们了解中西方不同的文化内涵和价值，更好地进行友好和有效的交流。本文将通过对英汉禁忌语的对比研究来找出中西文化的差异。

关键词：禁忌语；文化差异；语言；
 
Abstract

With the development of globalization, the international communication between China and English-speaking countries becomes more and more frequent. Meanwhile, it brings new problems in communication, which needs us to have a good knowledge of cultural differences and similarities. To communicate appropriately and effectively, we need to be able to identify the similarities and, especially, differences between Chinese culture and the Western culture. The ignorance of different social customs and cultural values may not only cause communicative obstacles, but also likely bring about prejudice, offence and even hostility in cross-cultural communications. If we know little about cultures of other countries, the international communication will not be smooth and successful. Linguistic taboo is a common language phenomenon in China and the Western countries. Linguistic taboo refers to the avoidance or euphemistic expression of words that people daren’t or are unwilling to say for certain reasons in verbal communication. There are similarities and differences between Chinese taboos and English taboos. Language is part of culture and language can reflect culture. As part of language, linguistic tabs is greatly influenced by culture. Hence, the analysis of the differences between Chinese taboos and English taboos can help us understand the different cultures between China and English-speaking countries, and conduct friendly and efficient communication. The aim of this thesis is to explore the cultural differences between China and English-speaking countries through the comparative study of some typical Chinese taboos and English taboos. In addition to that, the thesis attempts to draw people’s attention to linguistic taboos and to help people avoid cultural conflicts in cross-cultural communication.

Keywords: taboo; cultural difference; language;