1、Unit 4,Verbal Communication,2,Objectives,Learn the culturally loaded words Learn the cultural reflections on proverbs Learn taboos Learn the differences in cultural thought patterns,3,CONTENTS,I. Warm-up cases II. Detailed Study: culturally loaded words cultural reflections on proverbs taboos differ
2、ences in cultural thought patterns III. Summary IV. Assignments,4,Case 1. Shoes for Street Walking,I. Warm-up cases,Question : Why did the Italian shop owner make such a blunder?,Shoes for street walking. Come in and have a fit.,5,Interpretation,a street walker- a prostituteto have a fit-to become s
3、uddenly and violently angry or upset,6,II. Detailed Study,Loaded words and phrases are those which have strong emotional overtones (n. 暗示，弦外音，寓意) or connotations (n. 涵义，言外之意), and which evoke strongly positive or negative reactions beyond their literal meaning.,1.Culturally Loaded Words,What is load
4、ed words?,7,Animals in English and Chinese,Dragon- in Chinese culture, it is a totem with many royal associations, such as 龙颜，龙床，龙袍， 龙体，龙榻，龙心大喜, 龙颜大怒。And all the Chinese people call themselves to be the offspring of the dragon。In the English culture, dragon refers to a giant horrible animal like the
5、 lizard, meaning being terrible or disgusting. Therefore, in the west a person like a dragon usually implies that he is horrible, vicious and disgusting.,8,Animals in English and Chinese,Phoenix- In China, it refer to an auspicious bird, implying that peace reign in the world. Also it refers to the
6、queen or the holy person, such as 凤冠， 风辇。In English it refer to a kind of bird which has been burnt to death, regenerating from the ashes. Therefore, phoenix means reviving or regenerating in the western country.,9,Animals in English and Chinese,Dogs In the west, dogs are the faithful friends for th
7、e mankind and the lovable pets in the family. Therefore the idiom related to dogs usually have the positive meaning, such as a lucky dog 幸运儿；an old dog 老手； Every dog has its day. 凡人皆有得意日。He works like a dog. 他工作很努力。Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。In China, dogs are insulting languages, meaning being desp
8、icable and hateful, so the idioms related to dogs usually has negative meanings, such as 走狗，丧家犬，看门狗，狗急跳墙，狗仗人势，狼心狗肺，鸡鸣狗盗，蝇营狗苟。,10,Animals in English and Chinese,Owl In China it has something to do with death, implying being unlucky; in the west, owl relates to cleverness, wiseness, in English a perso
9、n like an owl suggests that he is as clever as an owl. Peacock In Chinese it is an auspicious bird, so when the peacock spreads it tail, it represents auspiciousness, prosperity and peace. However, in English, peacock usually means being pleased with oneself or showing off oneself, therefore, a pers
10、on like a peacock suggests that he is as proud as a peacock,11,Owl In English: as wise as an owl 象猫头鹰一样聪明In Chinese: 猫头鹰进宅, 好事不来bear In English: He is a bear at maths (他是个数学天才) In Chinese: “瞧他那个熊样儿”、“真熊”,12,。,fish In Chinese:年年有余(鱼) In English: a poor fish a loose fishfish in the air,可怜虫,生活放荡的女人,水中捞
11、月,13,Please choose the proper animal words for each phrase.,hare horse snail mouse bee mule,as busy as a _,as slow as a _,as stubborn as a _,as timid as a _,snail,bee,mule,hare,as strong as a _,horse,as poor as a church _,mouse,14,A dogs life 争吵不休，过着不安宁的日子 Go to the dogs 每况愈下 Dog-eat-dog 狗咬狗的，损人利己的
12、Dog in the manger 站着茅坑不拉屎 Dog days 大热天 Doggy bag 餐馆里的打包袋,15,Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. drink like a fishtread upon eggs,宁为鸡头，不为凤尾。牛饮如履薄冰,16,Chinese: 胆小如鼠 狐假虎威 瓮中之鳖,English: as timid as a rabbit/chicken-hearted an ass in a lions skin like a rat in a hole,17,Chinese:落汤鸡 母老虎（比
13、丈夫强的妻子）,English:like a drenched chicken; like a drowned rat grey mare,18,干部-cadre 母马-female horse?/mare? 扁担-a carrying pole; a shoulder pole 一本书- a book 知识分子-intellectual 社会科学-social science?/the humanities?,Can you find the equivalent words in Englishfor these Chinese words?,19,知识分子,In CC, it refer
14、s to people including college teachers, college students, middle school teachers, and such people as medical doctors, engineers, interpreters.In EC, it refers to people of high academic status (college professors) much smaller range of people.not always a complimentary term, sometimes used in deroga
15、tory sense.,20,干部,-a small group of people who are specially chosen and trained for a particular purpose.骨干队伍 -a member of this kind of group.干部In EC, many people dont know what it means. (not a common word) Some other substitutes: official, functionary, administrator, etc. But none of these gets ex
16、act same meaning as Chinese word “干部”.,21,社会科学,Social Sciences in Chinese covers all the fields except the ones in the natural science and applied sciences. Same as “the humanities” in English. While in English, “social sciences” cover a smaller area of learning. It includes political science, econo
17、mics, history (often classified under the humanities) and sociology. -the branches of learning that study human society, especially its organization and relationship of individual members to it.,22,Birds and animals/ male or female,Generic term male female the young chicken cock/rooster hen chick du
18、ck drake duck duckling goose gander goose gosling horse stallion mare foal cattle/cow bull cow calf dog dog bitch puppy sheep ram ewe lamb deer stag doe fawn pig boar sow shoat,23,bull, cow, cock or hen, male, female, she,Not all animals or birds have specific names that denote different sex.bull, c
19、ow, cock or hen are frequently used to distinguish sex. bull seal , cock sparrow, hen sparrowmale, female , she also acceptable male leopard, female panda, she wolf,24,副,副主席 vice-chairman 副教授 associate professor 副主任 deputy director 副秘书长 assistant secretary 副州长 lieutenant governor 副国务卿 undersecretary
20、,25,Colors in Chinese and English,Red-In Chinese, red usually has something to do with happiness, fortunes, fervency, auspiciousness. Such as, 红喜字，红盖头，红地毯，红灯笼，红包，红利，满堂红。Also, red denotes the revolution. Such as 红旗，红领巾，红军，红色根据地。In English red has something to do with blood or infelicity, implying ble
21、eding, danger or violence. For example, red in tooth and claw 血淋淋；a red tag to the bull 令人生气的事情, be in the red 负债亏空；see red 大发脾气，red revenge 血腥复仇,26,Colors in Chinese and English,Yellow In Chinese, yellow has something with sovereign, harvest, and wealth. For example, 黄袍，黄榜，黄道吉日。 Also it is related
22、to something pornographic and scurrilous, such as 黄色电影，黄色小说，黄碟。In English, yellow just refers to a color existing in our life, such as, yellow card 黄牌， a yellow alarm 黄色警报， yellow line 黄线，yellow light 黄灯， yellow page 黄页。,27,Colors in Chinese and English,green In Chinese, green is relevant to peace,
23、safety, hope, environmental protection, such as 绿色食品，green food; 绿色产业 green industry; 绿色能源，green power，绿色产品，green products. Sometimes, it has something to do with the adultery between men and women, such as 绿帽子， 绿头巾.In English, green is the most valuable color in the nature, also, it means immature,
24、 such as green tomatoes 不成熟的人. As well green implies being envy with somebody such as green with envy.,28,green,a green hand(生手，易上当受骗的人)， green goods(新鲜货)， a green man(新来水手)， a green old age(老当益壮)等等。 green-eyed“嫉妒”、“眼红” You are expecting too much of him. He is still green, you know. （你对他要求过高，他还没经验嘛。
25、） green back “美钞” green power “金钱的力量”或“财团”,29,White:the color of snow,Western country Fair,pure(in the wedding) Lucky (eg. a white day) Conservative Modern meaning:equal, from the film “white”,China Unlucky(葬礼，白事） Crafty(奸诈的，eg.白脸的曹操） Vain (eg.没效果，白费力气） 不付出代价而享受（eg.吃白食，小白脸）,30,White,Snow White, whit
26、e Christmas, a white soul the White House He has white hands. white hand有“pure”(纯洁)、或“unstained”(清白)之意。,31,white war指没有硝烟的战争，常指“经济竞争”。 white elephant（昂贵却派不上用场的物体或物主不需要但又无法处置之物） white goods 表示纯洁、美好、善意、合法、公平、幸福、轻轻的、政治上反动等a white flag,32,白色,“白手” “白手起家” start from scratch; build up from nothing 白眼 the t
27、ired look 白丁 very common people表示清楚、明白、陈述、纯净、无代价的、无效的、政治上反动的等,33,“White” in Chinese,白班day shift 白鹭egret 白内障cataract 白痴 idiot 白开水plain boiled water 白血病 leukemia 白眼 supercilious 白手起家to start from scratch,34,Black:the color of night or coal,Western country Evil(e.gblack mail) Unlucky VS.white meaning u
28、nluckiness in Chinese Hopeless (e.gthing was beginning to look pretty black for us),China Righteous(e.g黑脸的包公铁面无私） The same as western country evil(黑社会） Secret (e.g黑话）,35,black,black money（黑钱） black market（黑市交易或黑市） a black letter day 不吉祥的日子，倒霉的一天 black ox 不幸black figure，in the black都表示“盈利”、“赚钱”表示 “严重
29、的，不受欢迎的，不吉利的、罪恶的、不合适的、不合法的、愤怒的”等,36,“黑色”,黑心人 the very cruel people 黑帮 the reactionary organizations gathered secretly多表示贬意如“阴暗的、非法的、秘密的、坏的、狠毒的等,37,Black in Chinese,黑眼镜sun glasses 黑货smuggled goods 黑心肠evil mind 黑话cant 黑体字boldface type 黑咕隆咚pitch-dark 黑死病the plague 黑更半夜in the dead of night,38,Translatio
30、n of black,1.black tea 红茶(而不译为黑茶) 汉语中的“红茶”译成英语是“black tea”，字面上意为“黑茶”，这是因为汉语针对茶水的颜色而言，故称其为“红”，而英语的着眼点则放在茶叶的颜色上，故称其为“黑”。 2.black and blue 青一块紫一块(而不是青一块黑一块),39,Blue: the color of sky,Western country Sad (eg. get the blues;bluesa slow sad style of music that came from the southern US) Obscene(mentioned
31、above,blue book) Noble,highly privileged(e.g.blue-blooded=belonging to a royal or noble) Modern meaning: freedom(from the film “blue”),China 表示天空和大海的颜色。 京剧中的蓝脸表示人物刚直勇猛、坚毅勇敢、桀骜不驯，有心计等 如窦尔敦，单雄信，马武等。,40,blue,he is a real blue blood.（他是真正的贵族。） blue-eyed boys “受到管理当局宠爱和特别照顾的职工”blue book （蓝皮书） blue-sky ma
32、rket（露天市场）， blue-collar workers（从事体力劳动的工人）,41,You look blue today. Whats wrong with you? 你今天看起来闷闷不乐，出了什么事？ “忧郁，伤感，沮丧” a blue Monday (倒霉的星期一) in a blue mood (情绪低沉) blue moon; once in a blue moon “罕见之至，极不可能”“千载难逢,blue,42,Grey: the mixed color of black and white,Western country Experienced( e.g. grey h
33、and老手） Boring (e.g. a grey book) Gloomy(e.g. grey prospects) Reliable,expensive(灰色是西方消费者联想到贵重的，质量可靠的商品）,China also the meaning gloomy,depressed (e.g. 灰心丧气，心灰意懒） Cheap,unqualified(灰色使消费者联想到廉价货，水货）,43,Purple: the mixed color of red and blue,Western country Royal(e.gborn to the purple=born into a high
34、social class) Flashy and without substance(华而不实的，e.ga purple passage),China Propitious(祥瑞，e.g紫气冲天，紫气东来）,44,Pink: pale red,Western country Healthy(e.g In the pink=in good shape) Mostly referred to female(e.g Pink jobs:女性的职业）,China Related with the color of peach Romantic (e.g.桃花运） The vague relations
35、hip between men and women (桃色新闻）,45,Numbers in English and Chinese,In china, Three, six eight and nine are usually regarded the auspicious numbers, and these numbers or dates are usually used in our daily life. Also, nine is the largest one in the ten Arabic numbers with the partial tone with the Ch
36、inese character “久” meaning forever. Therefore, most emperors in China admired this number which can be reflected in the architecture of the Palace Museum. Also there are some other idioms related nine in Chinese,46,Numbers in English and Chinese,such as “九流， 九泉，九族，九品，九连环，九牛二虎，九九重阳，九九艳阳天. However, f
37、our and five have the partial tone with the Chinese character “死” “无” . Therefore, these numbers are regarded unlucky. In the west, thirteen is regarded as the unlucky number which is related with the story of the Jesus death. If it is 13th on Friday, it is called the Black Friday, meaning the most
38、unfortunate day.,47,Summary,A term in one language does not necessarily have a counterpart in the other language;（扁担）Words or terms in both language appear to refer to the same object or concept only on the surface, but actually refer to quite different things;（龙）,48,Things or concepts are represent
39、ed by one or perhaps two terms in one language, but by many more terms in the other language, ie, finer distinctions exist in the other language;（社会科学） Terms have more or less the same primary meaning, but have secondary or additional meanings that may differ considerably from each other.（龙）,49,2. C
40、ultural Reflections on Proverbs,Proverbs may provide interesting glimpses or clues to a peoples geography, history, social organization, social views, etc. A new broom sweeps clean. 新官上任三把火 Many hands make light work. 众人拾柴火焰高。 Dont put off until tomorrow what you can do today. 今日事今日毕。 Kill two birds
41、 with one stone. 一箭双雕。 Haste makes waste. 欲速则不达。,50,Where theres smoke theres fire. 无风不起浪。 The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. 这山望着那山高。 Beauty is only skin deep. 好花不常开，好景不常在。 Spare the rod and spoil the child. 玉不琢不成器 Give a person a dose of his own medicine. 以其人之道还治其人之身。,51,M
42、an proposes, God disposes. 尽人事，听天命。/ 谋事在人，成事在天。 It is a sin to steal a pin. 勿以恶小而为之，勿以善小而不为。 Revenge is a dish that could be eaten cold. 君子报仇，十年不晚。 Every dog has its day. 人人皆有得意日 。/十年风水轮流转 。,52,The above expressions get similar /same meanings both in English and Chinese. But some others get dissimil
43、arities: 良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行。Frank advice is like good herbal medicine, had to take but ultimately beneficial. 瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠。 Neither adjust your shoes in the melon patch; nor your hat under a plum tree. 一人得道，鸡犬升天。 Even the dogs swaggers when its master wins favor.,53,Hard to find equivalents,Absence make
44、s the heart grow fonder. 越是不见越想见。 An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 一天一苹果，医生远离我。 Let sleeping dogs lie. 莫惹是非。 You cant teach an old dog new tricks. 年逾花甲不堪教。 You cant have your cake and eat it too. 鱼与熊掌不可兼得。,54,Lightening never strikes the same place twice.福无双至，祸不单行。坏事不过二 。祸无双至。同一灾害不会在同一场所重复发生。 O
45、ne swallow does not make a summer.一叶知秋。一燕不成夏。一花独放不是春。,55,Surface similarities, but differences,It takes two to make a quarrel. 一个巴掌拍不响。 A miss is as good as a mile. 差之毫厘失之千里。 Gilding the lily. 锦上添花。 Life begins at forty. 三十如狼，四十如虎。 If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.近朱者赤，近墨者黑。,56,
46、The Proverbs in English and Chinese Culture,趁热打铁。 Strike while the iron is hot. 不入虎穴焉得虎子。 Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 打铁还得自身硬。 Forging the iron needs a strong body. 行行出状元。 Every profession produces its own best. 亡羊补牢未为晚已。Its never too late to mend. 眼不见心不烦。Out of sight, out of mind. 物以类聚人以群分。 B
47、irds of a feather flock together. 三思而后行. Look before your leap.,57,The Proverbs in English and Chinese Culture,Where there is a will, there is a way. 有志者事竟成。 Works make the workman. 勤工出巧匠。 Constant dropping wears the stone. 水滴石穿。 Like Father, like son. 有其父必有其子。 Great mind think alike. 英雄所见略同。 Rome w
48、asnt built in a day. 冰冻三尺非一日之寒。 Where there is a life, there is a hope. 留得青山在不愁没柴烧。 Spare the rod, spoil the child. 棒打出孝子，惯养忤逆儿。,58,The Mottos in the Chinese and English Culture.,It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred to rear people. 十年树木百年树人。 Eat to live, but not live to eat. 吃饭为了活着，活着不是为了
49、吃饭。 A friend in need is a friend in deed. 路遥知马力，日久见人心。 Speech is silver, but silence is gold. 言语是银，沉默是金。 Two dogs strive for a bone a third runs away with it 鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利。,59,The Mottos in the Chinese and English Culture.,山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。 Sometimes, things may seem to be pretty bad, but if you work hard, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. 亦余心之所向兮，虽九死其犹未悔。 For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart, Id not regret a thousands times to die. 苟利国家生死以，岂因祸福避趋之。 I shall dedicate myself to the interests of the country in life and death irrespective of personal weal and woe.,
