文化視角下的英漢動物隱喻對比研究【畢業(yè)論文】

1、<p><b>　　（20_ _屆）</b></p><p><b>　　本科畢業(yè)設計</b></p><p><b>　　英語</b></p><p>　　文化視角下的英漢動物隱喻對比研究 </p><p>　　A Study on Animal Metaph

2、ors in English and Chinese from the Cultural Perspective</p><p><b>　　摘要</b></p><p>　　在日常生活中人們常常會使用隱喻來表達自己的思想。因為一些類似的生活經驗，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)，在英漢語言中許多隱喻具有相似性。而不同的文化和思維又使得兩種語言的隱喻有著這樣、那樣的差異性。因此，雖然東西方文

3、化中都有著豐富的動物隱喻現(xiàn)象, 但同一種動物的隱喻卻不盡相同。本文以英漢動物隱喻的動物形象為基礎，從同形同意，同形異意，異形同意以及形象缺失四個方面，分析其內在的文化差異。同時對英漢動物隱喻異同的文化內涵包括宗教信仰、生活條件、歷史進程以及文學因素作出對比分析。本文旨在幫助人們了解和認識不同民族之間的文化傳統(tǒng)和風俗習慣，進而促進中西方跨文化交際順利進行。</p><p>　　關鍵詞：動物隱喻；文化內涵；形象對比；

4、文化差異</p><p><b>　　Abstract</b></p><p>　　In our daily life, metaphors are often used to express people’s implied meaning. We find out there are many similarities between Chinese and En

5、glish metaphors based on our similar life experience. Differences exit as well due to our different culture and thinking. Although both English and Chinese have abundant animal metaphors, the identical animal image has d

6、ifferent metaphorical implications. Based on the animal images in English and Chinese metaphorical phenomenon, this paper is to analyse t</p><p>　　Key words: animal metaphor; cultural connotation; image cont

7、rast; cultural difference</p><p><b>　　Contents</b></p><p>　　Abstract………………………………………………………………………….......Ⅱ</p><p>　　Introduction………………………………………………………………….…..1</p>&

8、lt;p>　　Literature Review………………………………………………………………..1</p><p>　　2.1 Studies on Metaphor…………………………………………………………..1</p><p>　　2.2 Studies on Animal Metaphor………………..………………………………...2</p><p&

9、gt;　　Images of Animal Metaphor in English and Chinese ………………..………..2</p><p>　　3.1 Metaphor of Identical Animal Images in English and Chinese……………….3</p><p>　　3.1.1 Identical Animal Images with S

10、imilar Meanings…………...…………..3</p><p>　　3.1.2 Identical Animal Images with Different Meanings…..………………….4</p><p>　　Metaphor of Different Animal Images in English and Chinese……………….5</p>&l

11、t;p>　　Metaphor of Animal Image Blanks in English and Chinese…………………..6</p><p>　　3.3.1 Animal Image Blanks in English………………………………….......…6</p><p>　　3.3.2 Animal Image Blanks in Chinese…………………

12、……………….….....6</p><p>　　4 Reasons of Differences in Cultural Connotation between English and Chinese Animal Metaphor…………………………………………………..………….....7</p><p>　　Different Religious Beliefs………………………

13、………………….………..7</p><p>　　Different Living Conditions…………………………………………….........8</p><p>　　Different Historical Processes……………….…………………..….……......9</p><p>　　Different Literary Factors

14、…………………………………………...…...…...9</p><p>　　5 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….....10</p><p>　　Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………...11</p><p>　　Acknowledgements…………………………………………

15、…………………….....12</p><p>　　1 Introduction</p><p>　　Throughout the history of human beings, animals and human beings are interrelated so closely that animals have become an integral part of lives o

16、f human beings. There are many parallels between human beings and animals, such as gene, physical appearances, characters, and behaviors, etc. Abundant animal words have been created by human beings owing to their relati

17、onship with animals. “So many animal phrases and expressions that a book listing them all would become a small dictionary” (quoted in D</p><p>　　Human beings create many expressions related with different an

18、imals in their languages, which is reflected in animal metaphors. These animal metaphors make our languages and expressions vivid and colorful. In the meanwhile, animal metaphors also cause some difficult aspects for us

19、to understand in the cross-cultural communication. There is no doubt that there exist many similarities and dissimilarities between English and Chinese animal metaphors. Cultural factors play a very important role in t&l

20、t;/p><p>　　2 Literature Review</p><p>　　2.1 Studies on Metaphor</p><p>　　In classical theories, there have been three main theories of metaphor: the Comparison Theory from Aristotle, t

21、he Substitution Theory and the Interaction Theory from Black(1979). All these metaphor theories share a common feature: they view metaphor as a linguistic figurative phenomenon, and assume a fundamental distinction betwe

22、en literal and figurative senses. The contemporary theory of metaphor, however, is revolutionary in many aspects. Lakoff and Johnson(1980) redefined the term “metaphor”.</p><p>　　China has also experienced t

23、he craze for metaphor, which is evidenced by the proliferation of publications of papers concerning metaphor studies in China’s major key journals of foreign language research. Shu Dingfang(1996) introduces the aims, met

24、hods and task of the modern cognitive approach. Other books centering on metaphor can also be found, such as Shu Dingfang(2000), Fan Wenfang(2001), and Hu Zhuanglin’s(2004). These published monographs take the broad view

25、s to the research on metaphor ra</p><p>　　2.2 Studies on Animal Metaphor</p><p>　　The westerners began metaphor study 2000 years ago. They also lead the world in animal metaphor research. Lingui

26、sts and scholars both in China and abroad make many investigations on animal expressions.</p><p>　　According to Guo Zhuzhang(1999)，animal expressions consist of names and phrases or idioms involving animal n

27、ames. Both Chinese and English are full of animal expressions. Human beings’ existence and development keep very close relationship with animals. Animals might become friends, pets or enemy in the natural coexistence pro

28、cess. Then animals become one important part of people’s life and get gradually familiar to people. Therefore, during the process of linguistic development, people certainl</p><p>　　Liao Guangrong(2000) make

29、s a comprehensive contrast between cultural loaded animal metaphors in English and Chinese. He suggests that many English and Chinese culturally-loaded animal words differ in meaning owing to different cultural content,

30、tradition and psychology. Di Feng(2006) put forward a new way to classify the relations of metaphorical meaning between English and Chinese: a perspective of animal images to classify the animal metaphors.</p><

31、;p>　　3 Images of Animal Metaphor in English and Chinese</p><p>　　In order to discern the differences and similarities between English and Chinese animal metaphors in an all-around way, we may make a contr

32、astive analysis from the perspective of animal images and their connotation. “We find the relation of metaphorical meaning between the two languages may be divided into three kinds, that is, corresponding kind, semi-corr

33、esponding kind and non-corresponding kind” (Ji Yizhi 1993:16--23). And we can classify the relations of images between English and Chinese an</p><p>　　3.1 Metaphor of Identical Animal Images in English and C

34、hinese</p><p>　　As the increasing interaction of the global civilization, there are certainly more identical animal images among languages and cultures. Similar or identical metaphorical meanings may appear

35、though different meanings are also characterized by them within a same animal image.</p><p>　　3.1.1 Identical Animal Images with Similar Meanings</p><p>　　Some expressions containing animal word

36、s in English and Chinese are identical in both form and meaning. The expressions in this category are the result of either coincidence or translation loans from one language to the other. They are not hindered by nationa

37、l boundaries or cultural barriers; instead they have taken on some universal significance. The following are examples with identical animal images.</p><p>　　In English, “donkey” is used to describe a person

38、who is simple, foolish and stubborn, as in “foolish donkey” and “as stubborn as a donkey”. In Chinese, “donkey” is also used to express that meaning, as in, “蠢驢”，“笨驢”，and “有子不教如養(yǎng)驢”.</p><p>　　In English, “fox

39、” has the metaphorical meaning of “a crafty, sly, or clever person”. For example, “He is as sly as a fox.” And in Chinese, we also use “老狐貍” (an old fox) to describe that kind of people.</p><p>　　“Parrot” me

40、ans to repeat or imitate, especially without understanding. In English, for instance, “He doesn’t have any idea of his own. He just parrots what other people say.” Similarly, there is an idiom in Chinese—“鸚鵡學舌”, means to

41、 repeat the words of others like a parrot.</p><p>　　The metaphorical meaning of “wolf” in both English and Chinese is “fierce”, “greedy” and “cunning”. For example, “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, “wolf down”, “

42、cry wolf” are always used in English. In Chinese, “wolf” usually can be expressed in such idioms as: “狼子野心”，“豺狼當?shù)馈?，“如狼似虎”，etc. </p><p>　　Many factors have contributed to the emergence of fully corresponding

43、pairs in English and Chinese. Although different nations live in varied natural environments and diversified geographic conditions, they still share quite a lot in common. They have more or less the same species of anima

44、ls. And the common ground of human cultures is larger than the individual features of each culture. Although people’s concrete ways of life are varied in different places, the fundamental ways of living and thi</p>

45、<p>　　3.1.2 Identical Animal Images with Different Meanings</p><p>　　Some English and Chinese expressions share almost the same form and image, and people take it for granted that they should have the

46、 same connotation, but actually, they contain different or even opposite meanings. Let’s consider the following examples.</p><p>　　In the west, “dog” is one of the people’s favorite pets. Dog is seen as peop

47、le’s best friend. So in English, most metaphorical expressions with “dog” refer to a kind of people, such as “l(fā)ucky dog”. In addition, “dog” also refers to the goods with low quality, for instance, “he said the old car w

48、as an absolute dog to drive”. However, in Chinese, “dog” usually has a derogatory meaning, which can be illustrated by these examples： “狗腿子”，“狗仗人勢”，“狗血噴頭”， “狼心狗肺”， “狗嘴里吐不出象牙”, etc.</p><p>　　Bat has ugly and

49、dreadful appearance, and it is always associated with evil in western countries. So its metaphorical meaning in English is negative, as in “as blind as a bat”, “crazy as a bat”, and “have bats in the belfry”. However, ba

50、t’s connotation in Chinese is totally different from that in English. Bat symbolizes “health, happiness and auspiciousness” in Chinese, for it is pronounced in the same way as the Chinese character “福”， which means “happ

51、iness and auspiciousness”.</p><p>　　Dragon is a mythical monster traditionally represented as a gigantic reptile having a lion’s claws, the tail of a serpent, wings, and a scaly skin in English. It is also a

52、 symbol of evil, and sometimes it refers to violent woman, i.e. “his wife is an absolute dragon”. (Li Xiaoqiang & Gao Yanhong 2004:70) However, dragon in Chinese is something sacred and refers to the ancestor of the

53、Chinese nation. Therefore dragon in Chinese is usually associated with “l(fā)uck” and “auspice”. There are some Chine</p><p>　　In the west, phoenix is a kind of animal which has burned itself into ashes, and the

54、n fly out a new one from the ashes. So “phoenix” has the metaphorical meaning of “renewable”, “resurrection”. Different from English, “phoenix” is the queen of the birds in Chinese, so there is a Chinese saying: 百鳥朝鳳. Th

55、e “dragon” is a symbol of the emperor, and the “phoenix” is the symbol of the queen. </p><p>　　In conclusion, they are some misunderstandings that the animal images look like the same but actually do have d

56、ifferences. We must pay great attention to those animal images that contain strong national colors, such as “old dog”, so that we will understand each other better.</p><p>　　3.2 Metaphor of Different Animal

57、Images in English and Chinese</p><p>　　Some English and Chinese expressions have the similar form and structure, so they are easily to be mistaken as having the same meaning, but actually their connotative m

58、eanings are different or even opposite. When understanding those expressions, we must be careful not to judge only from the surface meanings. Those English and Chinese expressions may have almost the same grammatical str

59、ucture that leads people to consider them as being equivalent. There are some common mismatched English and Chin</p><p>　　(1) Cattle and horse</p><p>　　In Middle Ages, people had attached great

60、importance to stock, which was the main mode of production. English people give “horse” many good figurative meanings, such as: “as strong as a horse” and “to work like a horse”. It has similar connotation with “?！?in Ch

61、inese. China is an agricultural country with an ancient civilization. Agriculture is dominant in China. As a very important tool to agricultural production, “?！?is a very significant image in Chinese culture. There are m

62、any expressions, s</p><p>　　(2) Tiger and lion</p><p>　　“Lion” in English and “tiger” in Chinese usually have the same metaphorical meaning. In western countries, the lion is the king of animals

63、. So it always refers to a brave, agile person. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language interprets “a person felt to be like a lion especially in courage, ferocity, dignity or dominance”. We

64、use “as bold as a lion” to describe a brave person, which is close to the Chinese phrases “虎”: “虎虎生威”, “生龍活虎”. In Chinese, the tiger is the ki</p><p>　　(3) Goose and hen</p><p>　　In English, “ki

65、ll the goose that lays the golden eggs” means “to destroy fundamental and future basis in order to get quick interests”. And in Chinese, we use another animal image in a similar phrase “殺雞取卵”, which literally means “to k

66、ill the hen to get eggs”. Similarly, in Chinese, we say “雞皮疙瘩” to describe the very uncomfortable feeling, while the English people says “goose flesh”.</p><p>　　3.3 Metaphor of Animal Image Blanks in English

67、 and Chinese</p><p>　　3.3.1 Animal Image Blanks in English</p><p>　　With many differences of culture, language development, people’s thinking mode, animal absence, living style, etc. between Eng

68、lish and Chinese, we can easily find that there exist some animal image blanks for English by contrast to Chinese. And these blanks in one language are exactly particular images in another language.</p><p>　

69、　In Chinese culture, crane has very rich connotations such as “鶴發(fā)童顏”(longevity),“鶴立雞群”(outstanding appearance)，“閑云野鶴”(light heartedness),“駕鶴西去”(going to the heaven). Crane is a kind of bird, and it often appeared with an

70、 old immortal in Chinese myth, so it is often linked to longevity. However, in English, “crane” does not have such abundant cultural meaning. It just refers to this animal and the action of raising one’s head, for exampl

71、e, “Jack craned his head to look for his father in the crowd.</p><p>　　Mandarin duck is a kind of specific bird flying in couples. Its metaphorical meaning in Chinese refers to faithful lovers in couples or

72、things in pairs. In a newly-married couple’s room, bedding would be pictured with mandarin duck, called “鴛鴦帳”， “鴛鴦被”， “鴛鴦枕”， etc. And these things show people’s wishes to the new couple. However, mandarin duck in English

73、 has no symbolic meaning at all.</p><p>　　Silkworm comes from China and the silk fabrics are very popular in foreign countries. Silkworm spins silk industriously till its death, so it is spoken highly in the

74、 poem for its dedication, for example, “春蠶到死絲方盡”. While in English, silkworm does not have any special cultural connotations but a kind of small animal.</p><p>　　3.3.2 Animal Image Blanks in Chinese</p>

75、;<p>　　Animal image blanks in Chinese refer to the phenomenon that the English expression contains an animal image, but the synonymous Chinese one doesn’t contain an animal image at all, the Chinese one may be jus

76、t in simple and plain words, or vice visa. This kind of blank is quite common because of cultural differences, and it’s very natural to abandon images when necessary.</p><p>　　“Beavers are native to North Am

77、erica, and they are known for building nests. Therefore, beavers in English are characterized by industrious work, e.g. ‘eager beaver’, ‘He is beaver no matter at work or at his house.’ But they are unfamiliar to Chinese

78、 people.”(Wang Qi & Zhou Su, 2007:249--250)</p><p>　　Dodo is a kind of bird. In English, its metaphorical meaning is “something is out” or “someone is dull”. However, as a kind of borrowed bird, it has n

79、o special meaning to Chinese people.</p><p>　　Ostrich is a kind of large bird living in the area of African deserts, with a long neck and long legs; it cannot fly but can run very fast. In English culture, “

80、ostrich” refers to a person who is stupid, evading or having a good appetite. Several examples may show its figurative meaning in the following: “ostrich belief(鴕鳥信念)” refers to deceptive idea. “To bury one’s head ostric

81、h-like in the sand” is used to describe a person who prefers to ignore problems rather than try and deal with them. In </p><p>　　4 Reasons of Differences in Cultural Connotation between English and Chinese A

82、nimal Metaphor</p><p>　　British linguist Geoffrey Leech classified the meanings of words into seven kinds, that is, conceptual meaning, affective meaning, reflective meaning, collocation meaning, connotative

83、 meaning, social meaning and thematic meaning. Further, he regarded connotative, social, emotional, reflective and collocation meanings as the scope of connotations. From him, we know that culture is multidimensional, co

84、mplex and all-pervasive. So in this chapter, religious beliefs, living conditions, historical pro</p><p>　　4.1 Different Religious Beliefs</p><p>　　Religious beliefs play an important role in ma

85、ny people’s lives. English people and Chinese people believe in different religions. Different religious beliefs not only determine what people believe in and abstain from, but also reflect the respective linguistic expr

86、essions and the animal metaphorical expressions.</p><p>　　There is no doubt that Christianity is the most important religion in the west, and it has been influencing all aspects of English people’s life. The

87、 Bible is read by almost everyone who believes in Christianity. As one of the major source of English culture, the Bible provides many animal metaphorical expressions. People use many of them for description and communic

88、ation in daily life. For example:</p><p>　　(1) The leopard cannot change its spots. (本性難移；積習難改)</p><p>　　(2) A little bird told me. (有人（私下）告訴我，消息不脛而走”。)</p><p>　　The first sentence

89、is from The Book of Jeremiah (《耶利米書》) in the Bible, “Can the Ethiopian change its skin or the leopard its spots? Then may ye also do well, that are accustomed to do evil.”(http://www.o-bible.com/kjv.html ) And the second

90、 example is from The Book of Ecclesiastes (《傳道書》), “Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the

91、 matter.” (Quoted in Di Feng 2006:22)</p><p>　　Taoism and Buddhism are the main religions in China. Like Christianity in the west, they also produced great influence on Chinese language in the aspect of anim

92、al metaphorical expressions. Buddhists believe that life is inevitably full of sorrow that is due to craving and the way out is stopping craving by a course of a carefully disciplined and moral life. There are a lot of C

93、hinese expressions about Buddhism, such as:</p><p>　　(1) 廟里的豬頭各有主</p><p>　　(2) 狗咬呂洞賓，不識好人心</p><p>　　The first example is from Internet (http://bbs.xinjs.cn/read.php?tid=858593). Its

94、 meaning is that some persons must be ruled or managed by their leaders. The second example originates from a legend: a dog bites Lv Dongbin because it can’t recognize a good man or good intents. Lv Dongbin was one of th

95、e Eight Immortals in Chinese Daoism.Here the animal metaphor means someone can not recognize good things.</p><p>　　In conclusion, different religions beliefs will employ different animal images to express di

96、fferent meanings, and thus endow the animals with special national meanings.</p><p>　　4.2 Different Living Conditions</p><p>　　Language reflects people’s life and it comes from people’s life. Li

97、ving conditions greatly influence and restrict the system of language expressions. Every language is characterized by its brands of different living conditions.</p><p>　　The UK is an island country, surround

98、ed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the English Channel. People from the ancient times frequently made their living by fishing and navigating. Therefore, in English culture, animal images are linked closely with