A Comparative Study on Cultural Connotation ofPlant Terms between English and Chinese.doc

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1、中英植物词汇文化浅析A Comparative Study on Cultural Connotation of Plant Terms between English and ChineseAbstract: Language is an important part of social culture. People cant communicate and understand each other without language. Therefore, Culture is the bridge of communication between peoples. Language i

2、s really a forceful tool for us to understand the essence of a society, so culture and language is an inseparable entity. The paper probes into the relationship and interaction between the connotation of plant terms and culture in English and Chinese. To the differences of traditional culture and cu

3、stom between English and Chinese, this article compares and analyses their similarities, differences and nationalities in culture meaning of plant terms, exploring the original cultural reasons of that differences, and the connotation of two languages as well. Helping the readers learn the differenc

4、es of two culture, the research has great value to the cross-cultural communication, language teaching, and bilingual translation. Key words: plant words；connotation；culture；similarities and differences摘要：语言是文化的一个重要组成部分，没有语言作为工具，人们将无法交流和相互理解；与此相对应，文化也通过语言来体现，各种不同的语言体现着不同的文化。透过中英植物词语可以看到不同的文化对语言的影响及其

5、在语言中的体现，同时也可以看到不同的语言对其文化的能动作用。针对英汉语言中的中西文化与风俗习惯差异，本文对比分析了英汉植物词语的国俗语义的趋同现象、趋异现象及其异同的文化根源及文化内涵。这一问题的研究帮助读者了解英汉文化差异、对实现跨文化交际、语言教学、英汉互译都具有极其重要的实用价值。关键词：植物词汇；内涵；文化；差异ContentsI. Introduction.1II. Cultural Connotation of PlantsA. The cultural connotation of plants between English and Chinese are perfect co

6、rresponding.2 1. Laurel .2 2. Grass.2B. The cultural connotation of plants between English and Chinese are partial corresponding .3 1. Pine .3 2. Willow .4 3. Peach .5C. The connotation of the same plant in Chinese and English are different .5 1. Peony .6 2. Lily .6 3. Red Poppy .6D. The connotation

7、 of a plant only exists in English 7 1. Apple.7 2. Rose.8 3. Olive.9E. The connotation of a plant only exists in Chinese 91. Chinese mei Flower .92. Bamboo .103. Apricot .10 III. Conclusion .11Works Cited .12 I. IntroductionWhen we study a language to learn a countrys culture, firstly, we must pay a

8、ttention to the study of MEANING. The difficulty in this study is that the word “meaning” in itself has different meanings. G. Leech in a more moderate tone recognizes 7 types of meanings: concept meaning, connotative meaning, social meaning, affective meaning, reflective meaning, collocative meanin

9、g and thematic meaning. ( Hu 105) Among these meanings the connotative meaning refers to what is communicated by virtue of what language refers to. Philosophers use connotation, opposite to DENOTATION, to mean the properties of the entity a word denotes. For example, the denotation of “human” is any

10、 person such as John and Marry, and its connotation is “biped”, “featherless”, “rational”, etc. In Leechs system “connotative” refers to some additional, especially emotive meaning. The difference between “politician” and “statesman”, for example, is connotative in that the former is derogatory whil

11、e the latter is commendatory. This type of meaning is known as associative meaning. In this paper I want to mainly compare and contrast the cultural connotation of plants between English and Chinese to further facilitate the cross-culture communication.The plants have close relation to humans existe

12、nce and development. We know that there are many kinds of plants and whats more, they maintain all creatures life and play an important part in humans development. Many plant terms in both Chinese and English have rich connotative meanings which present the languages communitive function and cogniti

13、ve function. On the one hand, humans cognitive activities come from the body experiences of daily life, but different nations body experiences are the same, and because of the same nature of plants, there are some similarities on the connotation of plants in China and English-speaking countries; on

14、the other hand, people in China and English-speaking countries belong to different cultural systems, and they have different religions, traditions, and different geographical locations, so there must be some differences in body experiences and it leads to different cognitions. All of these make the

15、same plants in different countries with different meanings. II. Cultural Connotation of PlantsA. The cultural connotation of plants between English and Chinese are perfect corresponding1. Laurel People always connect the “laurel” with “honor” and “success” both in English and Chinese culture. In Eng

16、lish, there is a Greek myth about the laurel. One day, Apollo saw Eros, the boy god of love playing with his bow and arrows; and being himself the god of archery, he laughed at the boy, and told him to play with his toys. Deeply offended by Apollos insulting words, Eros shot both Apollo and Daphne w

17、ho was a beautiful nymph, the daughter of a river god with arrows. He shot Apollo with a golden arrow through the heart, causing him to fall madding in love with Daphne. He shot the nymph with a leaden one, making her hate all suitors. Apollo followed Daphne everywhere, trying to catch her, but Daph

18、ne did not stop. When he was finally about to take her in his grasp, Daphne called her father-the river-god for help. Her father immediately changed her into a laurel tree. Her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her feet stuck fast in the ground as a root. Apollo was very sad, but he said

19、 that the laurel would be his sacred tree and he would wear leaves as his crown. This is said to be the reason why the Greeks gave wreaths of Apollo. In Roman, great conquerors were crowned with laurel wreaths. Now English people call the poets who had got the great achievement “poet laureate”. Besi

20、des, there are many phrases about laureate. For example, “gain/win ones laurels” “look to ones laurels” which means “to be careful that you do not lose the success or advantage” and “rest on ones laurels” which means “to feel so satisfied with what you have already achieved that you do not try to do

21、 any more”(Oxford 987). In Chinese, people also call the winners “冠军”. Here “冠” in Chinese means “crown”. In ancient China, the laurel is the symbol of honor, so people who succeeded in his job was called “折桂”. After Tang Dynasty, taking exam for is very popular. It was held in August every year, so

22、 people who past the exam was called “蟾宫折桂” or “月中折桂. There was a custom in some places that people who will take part in the exam would receive the cake which was made from laurel from his relatives and friends, because people thought this kind of cake can give those who would take part in the exam

23、 good luck.2. Grass When asked about “grass” people both in English speaking countries and China will think of “many” “people who does much contribution but is always silent”. For example, in English , “grassroots” means “ ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or

24、people who make decisions” it equals “草民,百姓” in Chinese. In Chinese, grass has a great spiritperseverance. For example, there is a poem written by Li Bai (Sun 300) : GrassesTall and hanging down, the grasses on the wide plain Flourish and wither once in every year Wild fire could not burn them up to

25、 extirpateSpring tide zephyrs blow and they come to life again This poem praised this spirit, and praised the people who is not famous but perseverant and does his job carefully. B. The cultural connotation of plants between English and Chinese are partial corresponding 1. PineIn western countries,

26、pine is described as a ever green tree, so it symbolizes immortality and it is called “life tree”. In Rome mythology, pine is the symbol of Cupid, god of love. In China people love pine and praise it because it can live in very cold whether. In The Analects, the Master said: Only when it grows cold

27、do we see that the pine and cypress are the last to fade (“岁寒，然后知松柏之后凋也”)(Waley 114). People often wish good things to be as pine trees. They mention pine for their lofty images and inborn win-power and their unyielding integrity in particular shown in extremities. Poets from generation to generatio

28、n in China literature have written a great many poems about pine trees. Because the pine is always green in every season and it can live long time, people always give best wishes with pine. To a country , it symbolizes stable, prosperous and strong; to an old people, it symbolizes long life; to a fr

29、iend, it means forever friendship. In English, pine has close relation to peoples life. According to the Bible, floor and door of Sodoms palace are made of pine. There is a metaphor in Bible (Yan 152)All the lands are at rest and a peaceThey break into singingEven the pine trees and the cedars of Le

30、banonExact over and say“Now that has been laid lowNo woods man comes to cut us down”Here pine is compared to peace. There is no threat, so pine can live in this world with no fear, and this is just we human beings wish.Also in the Bible, God said:I am like a green pine tree,Your fruitfulness comes f

31、rom meHere pine symbolizes the permanent. In western countries, people decorate the pine as Christmas tree, so we also can say pine here symbolizes happiness. In front of Americans White House stands a high pine which called National Christmas Tree. In every Christmas Eve, American President light a

32、ll the lights to announce the start of Christmas. In different periods of history, lighting the National Christmas Tree has different meanings. For example happiness, sorrow, and peace, etc. And the ceremony of lighting National Christmas Tree is called “Pageant of Peace”. 2. WillowWillow in English

33、 culture and Chinese culture both can remind people of the sadness, but the sources of the two cultures different. The connotation of the willow in English mostly refers to the losing of love, death and mourning which are caused by death. For people had wore willowy wreath to express condolence, the

34、re is a phrase “wear the green willow” which means “grieve for the loss of loved one.”In the Shakespeares Othello (IV iii) Desdemona said:My mother had a maid calld Barbara,She was in love, and he she loved provd madAnd old thingtwas, but it expressed her fortuneAnd she died singing it.And then come

35、s the songThe poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore treeSing all a green willowHer hand on her bosom, her head on her kneeSing willow, willow, willowThe fresh steams ran by her, and murmurd her moans Sing willow, willow, willowHer salt tears fell from her, and softend the tones From those words, we ca

36、n see in the old times, people always connect the willow with the sorrow. But in modern English this connotation is not familiar to people. Now the length and the softness of willows twigs reminds people of womans grace and slenderness. In the Cambridge International Dictionary of English, we can se

37、e the explanation “ approving（esp. of a woman）graceful and thin” and there is also a sentence “Clothes always look good on her because she is so tall and willowy.” And in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English we see “She was pale and willowy, with violet eyes”. Also in English people often

38、say “a willowy young actress” or “a girl with a willowy figure”.In Chinese, willow also reminds people of sorrow. However this feeling is not caused by death but departure. For example, in the poem of Wang Wei who is the poet of Tang Dynasty.Bidding Adieu to Yuan Junior in His Mission to AnxiThe fal

39、l of morning drops in this town of WeiIts dust light doth moistenTenderly green are the new willow sproutsOf this spring-adorned tavern It is the same as in English that people in China often describe womans beautiful eye-brow and figure with the willow. Besides, in Chinese, willow often refers to p

40、rostitute.3. Peach Because of its beautiful color and round shape, peach can make people think of young woman. So in western countries, people use peach to describe the charming young woman and good things. There is a proverb in English “life is not all peaches and cream”. We also can say: “She is a

41、 real peach” and “We had a marvelous time at the ball, it was a peach of an evening”. Besides when peach is used as an adjective, it also means “good”. For example, “we had a bit of disagreement but now everything is just peachy”.In Chinese, peach also can refer to woman. Chinese people describe the

42、 love affair with the peach. Moreover, in the traditional Chinese culture, peach also can symbolize long life which doesnt exist in English.C. The connotation of the same plant between English and Chinese are different1. Peony In western countries, according to Greek Mythology, peony is named after

43、a Doctor-god. He cured the son of Zeus- Hercules with the root of peony. So in the western culture, peony is considered to be a miracle flower. But in China, esp. in the ancient times, people like to plant peony. The men of letters often named the house and garden with the peony. Rich people often p

44、ut a peony picture on the wall of their sitting room to show their richness. Because peony is colorful and the size of flower is big and alive, it is called “the flower of life”.2. LilyIn western country, lily is an emblem of chastely innocence and purity, so in English lily is often connected with

45、the color of white to express the meaning of “purity”. In the Cambridge International Dictionary of English there is an example “He marveled at her lily-white hands. And when we describe a persons character, lily-white” can be understood as “perfect character”. The dictionary says: “someone who is d

46、escribed as lily-white has a faultless character”. Another example is “Its ironic that he should criticize such conduct- hes not exactly lily-white himself” so lily-white can also mean “naive”. Many English people name after the lily and we can see they really like this kind of flower. However, in C

47、hinese, lily has a different meaning. Because every two leaves of the lily always get close to each other, so Chinese people use lily to describe the deep love between the couple.3. Red PoppyThe red poppy is the source of opium. Because of opium is a kind of drug and Chinese people suffered too much fro