Cultural Differences in Conversation(中西文化常识2).ppt

Cultural Differences in Communication (交流中的文化差异） Case One Flattering Case Two : Lover =爱人？？？ Language Culture Language is a part of culture and plays a very important role in it. Some social scientists consider it the keystone of culture. Without language, culture would not be possible. On the other hand , language is influenced and shaped by culture; It reflects culture. In the broadest sense, language is the symbolic representation of people , and it comprise their historical and cultural backgrounds as well as their approach to life and their ways of living and thinking. Words: Same or Different? High school=高等学校？ Service station=服务站？ Rest room=休息室？ Political campaign=政治运动？ 改善生活=improve one’s standard of living? 自食其言=to eat one’s own words? Towards male and female animals Semantic differences grouped: A term in one language that does not have a counterpart in another language. Words or terms in both languages that appear to refer to the same object or concept on the surface, but which actually refer to quite different things. Task Two : Give one example for each of the groups Things or concepts that are represented by one or perhaps two terms in one language, but by many more terms in the other language; that is, finer distinctions exist in the other language. Terms that have more or less the same primary meaning, but which have secondary or additional meanings that may differ considerably from each other. Cultural Distinctions Case one Towards individual achievement and success Case Two Towards “Self” Cultural Connotations For example, peacock(孔雀) represents “arrogance” in English, but it stands for “beauty” in Chinese. The Chinese think “owl”(猫头鹰) means “ill-omened”, while in English culture, it is viewed as “wisdom”. “鸳鸯” means that husband and wife in Chinese, but “mandarin duck” has not such cultural connotation in English. “dragon” and “龙” In the Chinese culture, “龙” has been a symbol of “power, being sacred” from ancient times to now.