Comparison and contrast between Chinese culture and English culture

Teaching Plan

Teaching Contents:

• 1. Definition of culture from different views • 2. The relationship between language and culture • 3. Cultural Correspondence (Cultural Similarities) • 4. Cultural Non-correspondence (Cultural Inclusion, Cultural Parallel & Cultural Conflict) • 5. Cultural Zero (Cultural Vacancy / Gap) • 6. Cultural Integration (Cultural Globalization)

Teaching Aims:

• To make students get the knowledge about culture • To make students get the knowledge about the relationship between culture and language in different countries • To make students get the knowledge about cultural similarities and differences between Chinese and English

Teaching Plan

Teaching Focus:

• Definitions of culture from different views • Relationship of culture and language • Characteristics of Chinese culture • Characteristics of English culture

Teaching Methods:

• teacher-oriented lecturing • Discussion (group work, then class work)

Teaching Approaches:

• Multi-media aided.

Teaching Procedures:

Cultural Comparisons & Transformation (I)

Translation is a cross-linguistic, cross-cultural and cross-social communication event.

I. Language & Culture

•

1. The definition of culture

• Culture ---- the deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, actions, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and artifacts acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving. (Samovar, Porter & Stefani)

• In cultural anthropology, culture is normally regarded as comprising, with some • slight variations, the following four subsystems: • (1) Techno-economic System (Ecology & Material Culture) • e.g. ecology; ways of production, exchange, and distribution of goods; crafts, technology, and science; artifacts.

• (2) Social System (Social Culture) • e.g. social classes and groups; kinship system; politics and the law; education; sports and entertainment; customs; general history.

• (3) Ideational System (Religious Culture) • e.g. cosmology; magic and witchcraft; folklore; artistic creations as images; values (moral, aesthetic, etc.); cognitive focus and thinking patterns; ideology.

• (4) Linguistic System (Linguistic Culture) • e.g. phonology and graphemics; grammar (morphology and syntax); semantics and pragmatics.

I. Language & Culture

•

2. The relationship between language and culture

• Language and culture are inextricably intertwined / intrinsically bound together.

• (1) Language is a part of culture.

• (2) Language is a manifestation of culture. (Culture manifests itself both in patterns of language and thought and in forms of activity and behavior.) • (3) Language is the stimulus of culture (A flourished language can promote the development of culture.)

II. Cultural Correspondence (Cultural Similarities) • 1) Pears are as sweet as dates are crisp.

• 2) Asharst's lips twitched. Garton seemed to him an ass just then.

• 3) The essence of pearl mixed with essence of men a curious dark residue was precipitated.

• 4) Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtitle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.

• 5) It was wonderful to see his face shinning at us out of a thin cloud of these delicate fumes, as he stirred, and mixed, and tasted, and looked as if he were making, instead of punch, a fortune for his family down to the latest posterity.

• 6) 熟能生巧 / 水滴石穿 / 浑水摸鱼 / 眼见为实 / 远亲不如近邻 • 7) 欢乐的人群宛如大海的波涛，从街道上汹涌而过。 • 8) 冬去春来，大地万物俱苏，一切的一切充满了新的活力。 • 9) 客人一走进大门，扑鼻的是一阵幽香，入目的是绿蜡似的叶子和红 霞或白雪似的花朵 …… • 10) 鼓动吧，风！咆哮吧，雷！闪耀吧，电！把一切沉睡在黑暗怀里 的东西，毁灭，毁灭，毁灭呀！

Cultural Comparisons & Transformation (II)

I. Cultural Non-correspondence (Cultural Inclusion, Cultural Parallel & Cultural Conflict)

• 1) My grandfather is his cousin, so he’s kith and kin to me somehow, if you can make that out, I can’t.

• 2) Her mother is a real dragon. / She is a bit of a dragon around this place.

• 3) She has always been an idealist. So you can understand why she turned down • a good job offer to work among refugee immigrants and low-income groups after she got her degree in social studies.

• 4) I read some of my poetry aloud to them, but it was casting pearls before swine. They obviously didn't understand a word of it and soon started yawning, looking at their watches and fidgeting in their chairs.

• 5) The employers found that extreme sweating, like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, was not the best way to make business pay.

• 6) 一箭双雕 / 瘦得像猴一样 踏两只船 • 7) 你红光满面。 / 吹牛 / 水中捞月 / 脚 • 8) • 9) 一见面是寒暄，寒暄之后说我“胖了”，说我 “胖了”之后即大骂其新党。 贾母因笑道：“外客未见，就脱了衣裳，还不 去见你妹妹！” • 10) 闲愁万种，无语怨东风 《西厢记》 • I am saddened by a myriad petty woes.

• And, though I speak not • At the breezes from the east. (translated by Menry Mart) • (Note: The east wind is symbolic of spring, with its urge to love and mating)

• Sweet and low, sweet and low, 轻轻地，柔 和的，轻轻的，柔和地 • Winds of the Western sea, 西风吹来海风 • Low, low, breath and blow, 轻轻地，轻轻地 吹拂 • Wind of the Western sea! 西风吹来海风 (Alfred Tennyson)

II. Cultural Zero (Cultural Vacancy / Gap)

• 1) The young girl thumbed her way to the passing car.

• 2) “You should not be discouraged” Mother said to us gently. We all shook our • heads.

• 3) John can be relied on. He eats no fish and plays the game.

• 4) I've let the cat out of the bag already, Mr. Corthell, and I might as well tell you • the whole thing now.

• 5) Next to health, heart, home, happiness for mobile Americans depends upon the automobile.

• 6) 一个和尚挑水吃，两个和尚抬水吃，三 个和尚没水吃。 • 7) 巧媳妇做不出没米的饭来，叫我怎么办 ?

• 8) 她师父极精演先天神数，于去冬圆寂了。 • 9) 母亲接言道：“我们绍生学习可用功啦， 还是两道杠呢，年年考试得奖状。” • 10) 一个人躺在地上，伸展四肢，仰面朝天， 像个“大”字。

Exercise

： • 坚持“二为”方向，贯彻“双百”方针， 促进社会主义文化建设。要坚持正确的舆 论导向，加强舆论监督。完善新闻媒介的 自律机制。深化文化管理体制改革。整顿 和规范文化市场，继续开展“打黄扫非” 斗争。

Cultural Difference between English and Chinese

• • • • • • • Definition of culture 文化背景上的不同 风俗上的不同 联想上的不同 制度、信仰和世界观不 同 社交礼节 翻译方法

Culture

（

1

）

•

The New World Encyclopedia

• "It is the totality of the spiritual ， intellectual ， and artistic attitudes shared by a group ， including its tradition, habits, social customs ， morals ， laws ， and social relations, Sociologically ， every society ， on every level ， has its culture ； the term has no implications of high development."

Culture

（

2

）

• "…… 翻译者必须是一个真正意义的文化人。人们 全说：他必须掌握两种语言，确实如此；但是， 不了解语言当中的社会文化，谁也无法真正掌握 语言。 " ———— 王佐良 《翻译中的文化比较》， 1984 ． 1 ．《翻译通讯》 • " 翻译中对原文意思的理解，远远不是单纯的语言 理解问题。语言是文化的组成部分，它受着文化 的影响和制约。 理解与表达。” …… 有关文化的了解。 在翻译过程中，译者对某段 文字理解的正确与否，在很大程度上取决于他对 …… 对于译者来说，没有两种 文化的对比知识，就无从谈起对语言文字的正确 ———— 谭载喜

Culture

（

3

）

• Learning a language is a kind of learning the culture and habit of the country where the language is spoken.

文化背景 （ 1 ）

• • • • • 骨瘦如柴 be as lean as a rake 对牛弹琴 to cast pearls before swine 滚石不生苔 a rolling stone gathers no mass 众人拾柴火焰高 many hands make light work.

竹篮打水一场空 drawing water in a bamboo basket means drawing nothing.

文化背景 （ 2 ）

• • Hoist your sail when the wind is fair.

好风快扬帆 • Still waters run deep.

静水流深 • In a calm sea, every man is a pilot.

海面平 静，人人都可当舵手。 • A small leak will sink a great ship.

小洞不堵 要沉大船。

风俗上的不同（ 1 ）

• You are a lucky dog .

• 你是一个幸运儿。 • Every dog has his day.

• 凡人皆有得意日。 • Old dog will not learn new tricks.

• 老人学不了新东西。 • sick as a dog • dog tired

风俗上的不同（ 2 ）

• • • • • • • • • 天生有福 俄国人：“穿着衬衣生下来的” 英国人：“生来嘴里就含着一把银勺”（

born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth

） 德国人：“梳好了头才出世的” “一箭双雕”或 “一举两得” 法语：“一块石头打两处” 英文：“一石打死二鸟”（

to kill two birds with one stone)

俄语：“一枪打死两只免子” 德语：“一个拍子打两只苍蝇”

联想上的不同

(1)

• Mr. White is a very white man.

• He was looking rather green the other day.

• He has been feeling blue today. • When I saw him, he was in a brown mood.

• I hope he'll soon be in the pink again.

联想上的不同

(2)

• • • • • • • • 山中无老虎，猴子称霸王 • In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king .

如鱼得水 多如牛毛 一箭之遥 like a duck to water as plentiful as blackberries at stone’s throw 水中捞月 石沉大海 半瓶子醋 蠢得象猪 to fish in the air remain a dead letter half-baked as stupid as a goose

• • • • • • • • • • • 守口如瓶 挥金如土 烂醉如泥 画蛇添足 热锅上的蚂蚁 湿得像落汤鸡 瘦得象猴子 吹牛 如履薄冰 棋逢对手 挂羊头卖狗肉

联想上的不同

(3)

dumb as an oyster to spend money like water drunk as a sailor gild the lily like a cat on a hot tin roof as wet as a drowned rat as thin as a shadow talk horse to tread upon eggs diamond cut diamond cry up wine and sell vinegar

制度、信仰和世界观不同

• • • • • • • 关于颜色词语的理解

Red Green Yellow Blue White Black

• • • • • • • • 红旗 red flag 红糖 brown sugar 红茶 black tea 红榜 honor roll 红豆 love pea 红运 good luck 红利 dividend 红事 wedding

Red (1)

• red wine 红酒 • red ruin 火灾 • red battle 血战 • red sky 彩霞

Red (2)

• 贾宝玉神游太虚境，警幻仙曲演 红楼梦 • Jiao Baoyu visits the Land of Illusion; 。 • And the fairy Disenchantment performs the Dream of Golden Days .

• 贾宝玉品茶栊翠庵，刘姥姥醉窝 怡红院 。 • Jia Baoyu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage; • And Grannie Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green Delights .

Green (1)

• “ 嫉妒、眼红” • green with envy • green as jealousy • green -eyed monster

Green (2)

• • “ 钱财、钞票、有经济实力” • In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them.

在美国政治竞选中获胜的候选人通常都是 些有财团支持的人物。

Green (3)

• • • “ 没有经验、缺乏训练、知识浅薄” • The new typist is green at her job.

刚来的打字员是个生手。 • You cannot expect Mary to do business with such people. She is only eighteen and as green as grass.

你不能指望玛丽同这样的人做生意，她只 有十八岁，还毫无经验。

Yellow (1)

• • “ 胆小、卑怯、卑鄙” • a yellow dog 可鄙的人，卑鄙的人 • a yellow livered 胆小鬼 • He is too yellow to stand up and fight.

他太软弱，不敢起来斗争。

Yellow (2)

• 特定颜色 • Yellow Pages 黄页 （电话号码簿，用黄纸 印刷） • Yellow Book 黄皮书 （法国等国家的政府 报告，用黄封面装帧） • yellow boy （俗）金币

Yellow (3)

• 象征低级趣味、色情庸俗、下流猥亵 • pornographic （色情的） • vulgar （庸俗下流的） • obscene （猥亵的） • blue jokes （下流的玩笑） • blue films （黄色电影）

Blue (1)

• “ 情绪低落”、“心情沮丧”、“忧愁苦闷” • They felt rather blue after the failure in the football match.

• 球赛踢输了，他们感到有些沮丧。 • ——She looks blue today. What’s the matter with her?

• • • ——She is in holiday blue.

她今天显得闷闷不乐，出了什么事情？ 她得了假期忧郁症。

Blue (2)

• “ 黄色的”、“下流的” • blue talk 下流的言论 • blue video 黄色录像

Blue (3)

• 社会地位高、出身名门的意义，如 blue blood （贵族血统） • others • out of blue 意想不到 • once in a blue 千载难逢 • drink till all’s blue 一醉方休

White (1)

• 英语中的 white 有时表达的含义，与汉语中 的“白色”没有什么关系 • a white lie 善意的谎言 • the white coffee 牛奶咖啡 • white man 善良的人，有教养的人 • white -livered 怯懦的 • white elephant 昂贵又无用之物

White (2)

• • • • • • 汉语中有些与“白”字搭配的词组，实际 上与英语 white 所表示的颜色也没有什么 联系，而是表达另外的含义 白开水 plain boiled water 白菜 Chinese cabbage 白字 wrongly written or mispronounced character 白搭 no use 白费事 all in vain

Black (1)

• 象征气愤和恼怒 • black in the face 脸色铁青 • to look black at someone 怒目而视

Black (2)

• • • • • • • “ 阴险”、“邪恶” 黑心 evil mind back stage manipulator 黑幕 inside story 黑线 a sinister line black sheep 害群之马 black day 凶日 black future 暗淡的前途

Others (1)

• 历史方面： • to raise to the purple 升为红衣主教 • to be born in the purple 生于帝王之家 • to marry into the purple 与皇室或贵族联姻

Others (2)

• 社会方面： • blue -collar workers 蓝领阶层，指普通体力劳动 者 • grey -collar workers 灰领阶层，指服务行业的职 员 • white -collar workers 白领阶层，指接受过专门技 术教育的脑力劳动者 • pink -collar workers 粉领阶层，指职业妇女群体 • golden -collar personnel 金领阶层，指既有专业 技能又懂管理和营销的人才

Others (3)

• 经济方面： • red ink 赤字 • in the black 盈利 • white goods 白色货物，指冰箱、洗衣机等 外壳为白色的家电产品 • brown goods 棕色货物，指电视、录音机、 音响等外壳为棕色的电子产品

社交礼节上的不同 (1)

– 你辛苦了 • You must have had a tiring journey. You must be tired from a long trip?

• Well done! That was a hard job. You’ve got a hard job.

社交礼节上的不同 (2)

• • • • • • • 饭桶 吃不开 吃不了兜着走 吃不消 吃不住 吃老本 good- for-nothing be unpopular land oneself in serious trouble be unable to stand be unable to bear or support live off one's past gains 吃软不吃硬 be open to persuasion but not to coercion • • 吃闲饭 吃香 lead an idle life be very popular • • He has taken the bread out of my mouth ． 他砸了我的饭碗

• • • 直译 意译 其他

翻译方法

直译（ 1 ）

• Easy come, easy go.

• 来得容易，去得快 • Strike while the iron is hot.

• 趁热打铁 • Practice makes perfect.

• • 熟能生巧 • Example is better than precept.

身教胜于言传

直译（ 2 ）

• All roads lead to Rome.

• 条条大道通罗马 • 雪中送炭 • to offer fuel in snowy weather • 一人得道，鸡犬升天 • even the dog swaggers when its master win favor • “ 瓜田李下” “瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠” • Neither adjust your shoe in a melon patch ， nor your hat under a plum tree 。

意译（

1

）

• When in Rome ， do as the Romans do.

• “ 入乡随俗” “到什么山，唱什么歌” • 望子成龙 • to expect one’s son to become an outstanding personage • a cat on hot bricks • 热锅上的蚂蚁 • 天有不测风云 • Something unexpected may happen any time.

意译（

2

）

• Achilles’ heel • “ 阿克勒斯的脚后跟” • “唯一致命的弱点”更恰当。 • The dog that will fetch a bone will carry a bone.

• 你说别人坏话，他也会说你的坏活。 • We still love each other very much ， but we fight like cat and dog.

• “ 我们常吵吵闹闹，但仍很相爱。”

Cultural Comparisons & Transformation (III)

I. Cultural Integration (Cultural Globalization)

• Cultural integration is an inevitable and ongoing trend.

• (1) Culture is an open mechanism • (2) Culture is a non-perpetual mechanism • (3) Cultural acceleration. (economic globalization; the information era) 1) sour grapes / a stick-and-carrot policy / ivory tower / black humor / soap opera/ 功夫 饺子 / 元宵 / 旗袍 / 太极拳 / 炒杂烩 / / 麻将 豆腐 /

• 2) While it may seem to be painting the lily, I should like to add somewhat to Mr. Alistmir Cookke's excellent article.

• 3) Leonard is no Luddite. He knows that the growing use of digital technology is good for the industry.

• 4)

她有沉鱼落雁之容，闭月羞花之貌。

• 5) 一共住着多少家子，谁说得清？住两间房的就不多， 又搭上今天搬来，明天又搬走，我没有那么好记性。大 家见面招呼声“吃了吗”，透着和气，不说呢，也没什 么。 ① Who on earth could tell how many families live there? Those who occupy two rooms are very few. Besides, guys keep moving in and out everyday. I haven't got such a good memory as to remember all this. People greeted each other with "Have you eaten?" to show their neighborlyfeelings. But if they don't, nobody would care. ② How many families live there, only God knows. Those who occupy two rooms are very few. Besides, they are always on the go. I haven't got such a good memory as to remember all this. People greeted each other with 'Hi' to show their neighborly feelings. But if they should cut each other dead, nobody would care.

）

Exercise

• 意大利著名旅行家马可 · 波罗曾这样叙述他 印象中的杭州：“这是世界上最美妙迷人 的城市，它使人觉得自己是在天堂。”在 中国，也流传着这样的话：“上有天堂， 下有苏杭。”杭州的名气主要在于风景如 画的西湖。西湖一年四季都美不胜收，宋 代著名诗人苏东坡用“淡妆浓抹总相宜” 的诗句来赞誉西湖。在杭州，您可以饱览 西湖的秀色，也不妨漫步街头闹市，品尝 一下杭州的名菜名点，还可购上几样名特 土产。