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1、西方文化与英语学习,Western culture & English Learning,Language & Culture,Language is a part of culture One design feature of human language is cultural transmission (文化传递性) (by C. Hockett） So English is capable of transmitting the Western culture.,Geographic layout of the Western culture,1.Europe 2. North Am
2、erica( the USA & Canada) 3. Oceania (i.e. Australia & New Zealand),2 layers of culture,Physical culture (eg. architectural styles ) Non-physical culture (eg. religion; morality),Why there are so many languages ?,The story of building Babel 巴别塔 Bible/Genesis 创世纪11:1-9: God confusing peoples language
3、Genesis 11: 1: Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.(那时，天下人的口音言语都是一样。) Genesis 11: 1 : Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD (God) confused the language of all the earth.,Babel 巴别塔,Two Major Foundations in Western Culture,1.the Greco-Roman foundation (古希腊罗马文化
4、基石) The spirit of rationality 理性主义精神 2.the Judeo-Christian foundation （犹太-基督教文化基石） pursuit of God : the supernatural being,Ancient Greek Culture,Three masters of thinking : Socrates（苏格拉底） Plato （柏拉图） Aristotle（亚里斯多德） focusing on pursuit of freedom, democracy and truth in nature and in human being,Ro
5、man Laws,The Justinian law code (under the Emperor Justinian) the most systematic and complete summary of laws.,Christianity,1.Birth & Development of Christianity Jesus Christ：the incarnation of God (God in huam flesh body 道成肉身的上帝) “Son of God” ( the second person in the Trinity 三位一体), he came to pr
6、ovide salvation (救赎)for the sinners,Christianity-2,Other Christian beliefs Jesus virgin birth, His Crucifixion (put on the cross) for washing his believerssin “crucifying”-adj. 折磨的 ascension into Heaven His future Second Coming.,Christianity-3 major festivals concerned with Jesus Christ,1.Good Frida
7、y :耶稣受难日 Jesus Christ died on Friday, a day before the Passover Day) 2. Easter Day: 复活节(Resurrection) Jesus Christ rose from death on Sunday 3. Christmas Day (Xmas) on honoring Jesus holy birth,Bible : Christian Holy Scripture,The Old Testament : 39 books The New Testament : 27 books,The Middle Age,
8、late 5th century - 14th century The age of Christianity The Roman Church and Pope dominated both religious and secular life Scholarlistism (经院主义) -Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Crusades : 十字军东征 -Knighthood (gentleman hood ) 骑士精神,Renaissance (文艺复兴),late 13th century- early 17th century （approx. 400 year
9、s） humanism(人文主义) prosperity in arts,. Religious Reformation宗教改革,purification of Christianity / upholding the Bible authority against Papal authority教皇权威) Schism of Christianity (three branches of Christianity) 1）Catholicism ：天主教 2）the Eastern Orthodoxy ：东正教 3）Protestantism：新教 3. pursuit of rational
10、ism and scientism,Enlightenment(启蒙运动) (17th18th century),3 masters of thinking: Voltaire (1694-1778) Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) Montesquieu (1689-1755) Montesquieu s theory of power separation. the legislative power : Congress (USA) the executive power: President (USA) the judicial power : Su
11、preme Court (USA),Western culture in 19th century,The theory of Evolution (进化论) -Charles Darwin - The Origin of Species 物种起源 -survival of the fittest (acting as the theoretic guideline for overseas invasion by the Western powers),Western culture in 19th century-2,-debating on origin of humankind * e
12、volution vs. creation Marxism -Communism and its practice in Russia & China-success & failure,Western culture in 19th century-3,Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) 尼采 “homelessness and rootlessness” resulting from the loss of faith in God “alienation”（异化）or “fameless persons” (无名的人)loss of individual id
13、entity and ego；men are institutionalized in the modern society.,Western culture in 20th century,Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) theory of psychoanalysis Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) -Existentialism (存在主义) *Freedom of choice. ( man has individual freedom. If one does not follow his own will but that of oth
14、ers, he would lose his own identity and ego. Such a man does not have a real existence.),Western culture in 20th century-2,Modernism Post-modernism : Jacques Derrida (1930-) - relativity of rationality - deconstruction,Western culture in 20th century-3,Three books worthy of reading : 1. 寂静的春天蕾切尔卡逊 1
15、962 The Silent Spring 2. 增长的极限德内拉梅多斯 1972 Limits to Growth 3. 文明的冲突1993 Conflicts of Civilizations By Samuel Huntingdon,Aspects of English Learning,In Context of Culture,Paradoxical thinking pattern of the Westerners反合性思维,Socrates: The only thing I know is that I know nothing Hegel: 历史给人最大的教训就是人从来不从
16、历史吸取教训。 Jesus : If you say you can see, you are really blind.,英语词语的隐喻性,The metaphorical property in English words Original meaning associative meaning For example : Crane : 鹤 起重机（similar in form） mouse : 老鼠鼠标 Fall : 落下秋天 Heart : 心 爱情 Back : 背部 支持 （back up）,英语词语的隐喻性-2,Backbone : 脊椎骨 支柱/骨干 Eg. They ar
17、e the backbone of the football team. Crucifixion : 钉十字架-痛苦的折磨 Grind : 磨磨-苦差 Mushroom :蘑菇迅速增长 Spring up like mushrooms 雨后春笋般涌现,I. Three Major Origins of English Words,1. Native words (of Anglo-Saxon origin) 2. Latin words 3. French words,Examples, ask1-interrogate 2-question 3 belly1-abdomen 2-stomac
18、h 3 rise1-ascend 2-mount 3 holy1-consecrated2-sacred3 ： 神圣的 fire-flameconflagration eat-dine-ingest,I. Three origins of English words-2,buy1-purchase3 house1-mansion 3 answer1-reply 3 friendly1-amicable3(friend = ami/amie) might1-power3(mighty = powerful) brotherly1-fraternal 2 bodily1-corporal 2 身体
19、的；生理的,I. Three origins of English words-3,55BC Caesars (凯撒大帝 Julius Caesar 约前100-前44, 罗马将军, 皇帝, 政治家, 历史学家) invasion into Britain brought Latin language into English 1066ADNormans Conquest introduced French into English,Greek mythology &Roman mythology vs. English words,Homer : Iliad Odyssey (1) Zeus
20、: the chief god 宙斯 ( = Jupiter in RM) Cf. 玉皇大帝 (2)Hera : Zeuss wife赫拉 ( = Juno in RM) Cf 王母娘娘,Greek mythology &Roman mythology vs. English words,3) Eros :爱神 （ = Cupid 丘比特 in RM） Eg. Cupids bow Cf. 月下老人 (4) Artemis : the goddess of the moon and hunting ( = Diana in RM) 月亮与狩猎女神。Cf. 嫦娥,Greek Mythology
21、vs. Roman Mythology,GM - RM *Apollo -Apollo : 阿波罗；太阳神；美男子 Zeus son, the god of the sun, in charge of truth, light and medicine *Artemis-Diana *Ares-Mars( a warring god ) *Aphrodite-Venus(维纳斯),Greek Mythology vs. Roman Mythology-2,Aphrodite 阿佛洛狄特: the goddess of love and beauty, Zeus daughter,Greek M
22、ythology vs. Roman Mythology-3,Venus,Greek Mythology vs. Roman Mythology-4,*Hephaestus-Vulcan Hephaestus : the husband of Aphrodite; the god of metal-working technology *Hermes-Mercury Hermes the son of Zeus; Zeus messenger; the god looking after merchants, touists & thieves.,Greek Mythology vs. Rom
23、an Mythology-4,* Poseidon -Neptune Poseidon Zeuss brother; in charge of the seas 波塞冬；海神 Cf 海龙王/ 龙王爷 * Hestia - Vesta Zeus sister, the goddess for kitchen and home. Cf. 灶神,Greek Mythology vs. Roman Mythology-5,* Hades-Pluto (cf. 阎王 in Chinese culture) *Persephone- Proserpina the wife of Hades. 冥后 *Di
24、onysus-Bacchus the god of wine & drama 酒神,Cupid,Cupid,Cupid is the love child of Venus and Mars,Origins of Culturally loaded words 文化负载词来源,Language as part of culture Nine planet names and its Origins 1. Neptune : 海王星P9(=Poseidon ) 2. Pluto: 冥王星(= Hades ) 3. Venus: 金星(= Aphrodite ) 4. Mars 火星 (= Are
25、s ) 5. Mercury 水星 (= Hermes ) 6.Jupiter:木星P5/the largest planet (= Zeus) 7.Saturn :土星P6 8. Uranus :天王星,Kinship words in English and the Chinese equivalents,Brother : 兄；弟 ? Sister : 姐；妹 ？ Aunt ：伯母；婶；姨；舅母；姑妈 ？ Uncle：叔；伯；舅；姑父；姨夫 ？ Grandfather : 祖父；外祖父 Grandmother : 祖母；外祖母 Nephew : 侄子；外甥,Kinship words i
26、n English and the Chinese equivalents,Niece : 侄女； 外甥女 Brother-in-law : 小叔子；大伯子；小舅子；大舅子 ？ Sister-in-law ? 结论：英语文化中不重视长次关系以及以性别差异来划分的亲属关系：因此英语中如一定强调长次关系必须以复合词来体现。 而汉语中的亲属词语特别强调 “长幼有序”， 因此，汉语中的亲属词特别丰富。,颜色词语的文化意义,1. black Evil : a black deed Illegal : black gasoline Gloomy : black mood 2. white pure : a
27、 white soul Honorable : it is white of you,颜色词语的文化意义-2,3. yellow Sensational : yellow press Cowardly : be too yellow to stand up and fight. 4. grey Mature : grey wisdom Dull; difficulty : grey situation; grey man 4. red Violent : red hands,颜色词语的文化意义-3,5. blue depressed : a blue mood Sexy : a blue jo
28、ke 6. purple Blushed : be purple with anger Royal power : raise sb. To the purple 7. green Inexperienced : a green hand,Taboo & Euphemism in English,Categories of taboo(禁忌语) When say it directly ,it will be offensive in normal social communication Euphemism : indirect and pleasant expressions to sub
29、stitute for direct and unpleasant ones 1. sex ： make love = have sex 2. some body organs She is expecting = she is pregnant.,Taboo & Euphemism in English-2,3. physiological excretion ：washroom 4. death : pass away 5. crime : correctional center = prison elderly people = old people,Taboo & Euphemism
30、in English-3,needy/ underprivileged / disadvantaged = poor love child 私生子 adult film : 色情电影 private parts: human reproductive organs,英语动物词的文化内涵,Goat : 好色；淫荡 Dog : 含褒义 watchdog; lucky dog Like me, like my dog Dragon : in Chinese, an legendary auspicious animal in English, an evil monster A leopard ca
31、nt change its spots. 本性难改。,3 major styles of English,Style : different words and expressions in different situations: Formal style：正式语体 Neutral style：中间性语体 Informal style：非正式语体 buddy-friend (哥们-朋友) gentleman-man-chap pass away-die-pop off,Loan words in English,Besides Latin, Greek and French, Englis
32、h has kept borrowing words without ceasing from other languages : 1 from Italian (chiefly art terms) fresco (壁画)；sonata (奏鸣曲); opera scenario (=plan) 2. from Spanish plaza (广场 = square); cargo (货物); guitar,Loan words in English-2,3. from German dock (码头 = wharf) plunder (抢劫 = rob / loot) 4. from Por
33、tuguese cobra (眼镜蛇)；veranda (阳台 = balcony) 5. from Dutch booze (酒宴),Loan words in English-3,6. from Arabic sultan(苏丹)； harem(闺房); ; algebra; zero; jihad; Al-Qaeda 7. from Japanese tycoon; typhoon; judo(柔道)；sushi(寿司：一种日本点心); karaoke ; tatami 8. from Chinese fengshui; yin; yang; kung fu 9. from Indian
34、 guru(宗教教师；领袖/头头),British English & American English: 英语的地域变体（regional variety）,1. 同一个词在英美语中表示不同概念 Eg. billion : 十亿(AE)；万亿(BE) first floor : 一楼（AE）; 二楼(BE) 2. 同一个概念在英美语中用不同词表达 Eg. sidewalk (AE)-pavement (BE) movie (AE)-film (BE) can (AE)-tin (BE),British English & American English,mail (AE)-post (BE
35、) muffler (AE)-silencer (BE) 消声器 truck-lorry fall-autumn couch (AE)-sofa (BE) biscuit-cracker ring-call,British English & American English,Blow ones own trumpet (BE)- blow ones own horn (AM) 自吹自擂 Sweep sth. Under the carpet (BE) - sweep sth. Under the rug（AM） 遮盖某事,English person names & their cultur
36、al origins,I : Christian name 教名 (= Nom de Bapmete) = forename (BE) = first name / given name (AE) Origins of Christian names : 1) Anglo-Saxon origin: Brand; Baldwin; Harald; Herold; Barbell; Read; Reid; Reed, etc. The meanings of these names are now vague because of long time.,English person names
37、& their cultural origins,2) Germanic origin Robert; Richard; William 3) Latin origin: Celia (from “Caelum” 天) Charles; Caroline; Carol Carola (from Carolus),English person names & their cultural origins,4) from common words: Shakespeare : shake + spear Dickens : 恶魔 Shelly : 贝壳 5）from celebrated pers
38、ons Alexander Milton Homer Franklin Jefferson,English person names & their cultural origins,2) Biblical origin : Each biblical name has its unique story A. 11 disciples of Jesus Christ (except Judas) Peter; Andrew; James; John; Philip; Thomas; Simon B. 4 authors of Gospels : Matthew ; Mark; Luke; Jo
39、hn,English person names & their cultural origins,C. other Biblical figures : Daniel; David; Stephen; Paul; Solomon; Timothy; Rebecca; Isaac (Isaac Newton 牛顿); Christina ( female Christ); Abraham Lincoln(16th President of the USA) : the first patriarch of Jews Benjamin Franklin : the youngest son of
40、Jacob Jacob : son of Isaac, who is son of Abraham,English person names & their cultural origins,II. Middle name (中间名 or 2nd Christian name) : following Christian name; it is usually named after the name of ones mother, god-father, god-mother. The use of middle name grew popular in 19th century. Eg.
41、George Bernard Shaw,English person names & their cultural origins,III. Surname (= family name/ last name AE) a . Occupational names (职业的姓) Eg. John the Blacksmith John Blacksmith John the Cook John Cook b. Patronymic names (从父名的姓)：即在父亲的教名后加上“son”(儿子)。 Eg . Peterson; Wilson; Thomson, etc.,English per
42、son names & their cultural origins,C. local names : named after local place / landscape /terrain/plant/color Shore/ Pool/ Brook/ Forest / Stone/ Hill/ Marsh / Cliff /Wood/ Cotton/ Flower/ Green/ Brown/ Black/ White IV. Full name (register name): used only in formal occasion Christian name +Middle na
43、me + Surname,English person names & their cultural origins,父子同名：son and father share the same name Eg. Martin Luther King Jr.( Junior) In China, it is absolutely forbidden to have son and father share an identical name. 名讳传统 St. Augustine : St. = Saint 圣徒 Sir Winston Churchill ：爵士 Christina Christop
44、her,III. English idioms & its cultural origins,Major sources: 1. from ancient Greek & Roman myths 2. from the Bible 3. from classic literatures 4. from lifestyle and other aspects,III. English idioms & its cultural origins,1.Achilles heel : a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength,唯一致命的弱点 Accor
45、ding to the Greek myth :Achilles mother, Thetis, had dipped the infant Achilles in the river Styx(冥河), holding onto him by his heel, and he became invulnerable（刀枪不入） where the waters touched him - that is, everywhere but the areas covered by her thumb and forefinger - implying that only a heel wound
46、 could have been his downfall. Later, Achilles died from a heel wound as the result of a poisoned arrow by Paris,III. English idioms & its cultural origins-2,2. Swan Song (天鹅之歌):最后杰作；绝笔 Swan Song字面译做源于希腊成语 Kykneion asma. 在古希腊神话中，阿波罗(Apollo)是太阳神、光明之神，由于他多才多艺，又是诗歌与音乐之神，后世奉他为文艺的保护神。天鹅是阿波罗的神鸟，故常用来比喻文艺。传
47、说天鹅平素不唱歌，而在它死前，必引颈长鸣，高歌一曲，其歌声哀婉动听，感人肺腑。这是它一生中唯一的，也是最后的一次唱歌。因此，西方各国就用这个典故来比喻某诗人，作家，作曲家临终前的一部杰作，或者是某个演员，歌唱家的最后一次表演。即a last or farewell appearance; the last work before death之意.,English idioms & its cultural origins,Eg1: All the tickets have been sold for the singers performance in London this week-the
48、 public clearly believes that this will be her swan song Eg2 :The Tempest was W.Shakespeares swan song in 1612,English idioms & its cultural origins-,Odysseys : long-distance adventurous journey (from Homers Odysseus ) Trojan horse : 内部颠覆者 Mentor : friend of Odysseus, who entrusted his son to him. 良师益友 Sword of Damocles : 随时可能发生的危险。 Pandoras Box Promethean fire,III. English idioms & its cultural origins,God knows = I dont know Man proposes, God disposes. 谋事在人，成事在天 Make bricks without straw（from Exodus 出埃及记） 做无米之炊 In sackcloth and ashes : 处于悲痛之中,English idioms & its