英語論文:比較中英習語的差異

04-19

Cultural Discrepancies of Chinese and English Idioms

Abstract: The cultural discrepancies of Chinese and English idioms are extensive and profound. On one hand,when it comes to natural environment, history, literary works and religion, therere some discrepancies in the origins of Chinese and English idioms to some extent, but on the other hand, owing to the different customs and national psychology, together with value systems and correspondence, discrepancies are sure to appear in the use of idioms. By comparing Chinese and English idioms from their cultural discrepancies, we enable to learn more about the relationship between idioms and culture. With a combination of the idioms and a language, we can have a better understanding of a language.

Key words: cultural discrepancies Chinese and English idioms origins usages

Ⅰ.Introduction

An idiom is a set of word combinations whose meaning cannot be derived from the meaning of the individual elements. In addition to this semantic inseparability, cultural specificity is another property of idioms; that is, idioms are usually used in a given cultural group where people share some common fundermental knowledge, information or experience.

With the development of language, both Chinese and English are bound to assimilate lots of good idioms from each other. When it comes to their origins, the idioms share a lot in discrepancy in some aspects. Likewise, in the aspects of customs, national psychology and value systems, there are still some cultural discrepancies in the use of Chinese and English idioms.

Ⅱ.Discrepancies in the origins of Chinese and English idioms

A.Natural environment

In an island country like Britain, fishing and sailing are naturally main activities in which British people are engaged. Subsequently they become the sources of many English idioms.

e.g.take the helm(掌舵),

fish in the air(白費勁),

a drop in the ocean(滄海一粟),

plain sailing(一帆風順)

Located on the continent, China has a long farming history from which many idioms have come into use.

e.g.to spoil things by excessive enthusiasm(拔苗助長),

a snow year a good year(瑞雪兆豐年).

With a comparison of these examples, we can see that in English there are numerous sailing idioms while in Chinese there is a surprising number of farming idioms.

B.History

Understanding idioms originating from historical events require historical knowledge, because the history of a given country is unique and cannot be shared. We can find a number of them both in English

e.g.cross the Rubicon(破釜沉舟),meet ones Waterloo(遭到慘敗)

and in Chinese

e.g.to be besieged on all sides(四面楚歌)，do one thing under the cover of another(暗度陳倉)

From these examples, we can see that, in connection with historical figures and their heroic deeds, many related idioms have been created.

C.Literary works

Stories in ancient Greek mythology, and Aesops Fables, or Shakespeares plays contribute a lot of idioms to English.

e.g.Achilles heel(致命要害),sour grapes(吃不到葡萄說葡萄酸),

forgive and forget(既往不咎)

Chinese classics as Analects of Confucius make a similar contribution.

e.g.look before you leap(三思而行)，

gain new insights through reviewing old materials(溫故知新)

Basically, the main sources of English idioms are the three literatures: the Bible,writings from Shakespeare and the fables of Aesop. And in China, Analects of Confucius also plays the leading role in the development of Chinese idioms.

D.Religion

Christianity, a predominant religion in the English culture, is another main source of English idioms.

e.g.cast pearls before a swine(對牛彈琴),angel visit(不常有的事)

And in China,Buddhism plays a similar role in forming Chinese idioms.

e.g.thoroughly remould oneself(脫胎換骨)，

It is never too late to repent(回頭是岸)

According to the examples above, we can easily guess that the Bible is the source of English idioms while the Buddhist sutras is the main source of Chinese idioms.

Ⅲ.Discrepancies in the use of Chinese and English idioms

A.Customs and national psychology

For the same object, people in different cultures might have very different attitudes.Take dogs as an example. English-speaking people hold a positive or negative attitude from which come the idioms with favorable connotation such as top dog(優勝者), love me love my dog(愛屋及烏) and go to the dogs(每況愈下). The Chinese people usually hold a negative attitude; hence, most idioms containing "dog" have unfavorable connotation.

e.g.the heart of a beast(狼心狗肺) underdog(喪家之犬)

B.Value systems

Value systems in the English culture stress individualism, inventiveness,

adventurousness and materialism, which are reflected in English idioms.

e.g.God helps those who help themselves(天道酬勤)，Money talks(錢能通神)

However, the Chinese value system lays emphasis on balance, modesty and self-effacement, the signs of which can be found in idioms such as "harmony between human and nature"(天人合一)，"self-disciplined gentleman"(謙謙君子),"still water runs deep"(大智若愚)，etc.

C.Correspondence

The correspondence between Chinese and English idioms can be divided into full correspondence, semi-correspondence and non-correspondence.

1.Full correspondence

This category includes idioms completely corresponding in both denotation or connotation, such as "strike while the iron is hot(趁熱打鐵)" and "out of sight, out of mind(眼不見為凈)".

2.Semi-correspondence

This category covers idioms partly corresponding to denotation or connotation such as a black sheep(害群之馬) and bury ones head in the sand(掩耳盜鈴).

3.Non-correspondence

Idioms in this category are corresponding in literal meaning but different in connotation, such as "eat ones word". The counterpart in Chinese is not "break ones word(食言)" but "admit what you said was wrong(承認自己說錯話)". Another example is "pull somebodys legs". The counterpart in Chinese is not "hold sb. back(拉後腿)" but "play jokes".

Ⅳ.Conclusion

Culture is a kind of social behavior. It requires time and people to form the culture. Idioms come up with the new things and new ideas. It can be reflected not only in English idioms but also Chinese idioms. The analysis of origins causing different idiomatic expressions and cultural differnences in this essay can provide a way for us to understand idioms correctly and use them in cross-cultural communication precisely and accurately.

Bibliography

[1] 江瑞 . 從文化視角看英漢習語的差異 [J]. 山西教育學院學報 , 2000.

[2] Smith, Logn P. Words and Idioms[M]. London: Constable and Company Ltd.,1943.

[3] 庄和誠 . 英語習語探源 [M]. 上海 : 上海外語教育出版社 ,2002.

[4] 彭曉蓉 . 從學習漢英習語中了解中西文化差異 [J]. 大眾科技 , 2004.

Ackownledgments

I would like to express my great thanks to those who have helped me a lot when I was writing this thesis.And I am very thankful for Miss Lius precious suggestions on how to write such an excellent thesis.At last,my great gratitude will be given to the researchers who had a very deep understanding of the discrepancies of Chinese and English idioms.Thank yall.