Abstract The mutual understanding and toleration of Chinese culture and English culture can benefit the relationship between the two nations. Animal words in both Chinese and English play an important role in daily life and literary works. Thus, animal words are worth researching.53822

The essay first states the relationship between culture and language, then analyzes four factors related to culture that lead to the differences of the connotations of animal words, namely, history, region and convention and aesthetic value-oriented and social mentality. For example, dragon means “龙” in Chinese. To Chinese people, 龙is something sacred and powerful and has been regarded as the symbolization of the Chinese nation. That’s why the Chinese like to call themselves the descendants of the dragon. However, this is not understood by the English-speaking people, because in their minds, dragon represents evil. Next, the essay analyzes two similarities of the connotations of animal words between Chinese and English. It also points out the significance of the research for English learning and translation activities, as well as the promotion of the relationship between the two nations. 

Key words: animal words; differences and similarities; culture

摘要中英文化之间的相互理解与包容对两国之间的关系意义非凡。而在中英两国人民日常生活中以及文学作品中，动物词汇扮演十分重要的角色。因此，动物词汇十分值得研究。本文首先陈述了文化与语言之间的关系，然后分析了导致中英动物词汇具有不同文化内涵的四个原因，即历史、地区、习俗以及审美价值取向和社会心理。例如，英语中的“dragon”一词同汉语中的“龙”是对应词汇，对于中国人而言，龙是神圣的，拥有无穷的力量，他们认为龙是自己的象征，这也就是为什么中国人自称是龙的传人。但对英语国家的人民来说，“dragon”却象征着邪恶。接下来本文分析了中英动物词汇内涵相似的两个原因，并给出一些例子。本文同时也指出了该研究的对于英语学习、翻译以及促进两国关系的重要性。

毕业论文关键词：动物词汇；异同；文化

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

3. Culture and Language 2

4. Animal Words in Chinese and English 5

4.1 Differences in Cultural Connotations 5

4.1.1 History 5

4.1.2 Region 6

4.1.3 Conventions 7

4.1.4 Aesthetic Value-orientation and Social Mentality 8

4.2 Similarities in Cultural Connotations 10

4.2.1 Living Environment 10

4.2.2 Animals’ Features 11

5. Conclusion 12

Works Cited 13

1. Introduction 

A well-known English saying goes like that no context, no text. It lays great emphasis on the importance of the context when one tries to understand the text. Likewise, we can also say that no knowledge of the culture of the target language, no understanding of the text. Text is generated in certain language environments which are the production of culture conventions, ways of thinking, anything that is closely related to culture. Communications in daily life, a meeting with foreign people and translation for educators are all indispensable to a better understanding of related cultures. Little knowledge of culture tradition of the target language will easily cause embarrassments between people from different culture backgrounds or confusion even misunderstanding of another culture, which may lead to serious conflicts between nations or ethics. To a successful English learner, being familiar with two cultures is more important than mastering the two languages, because words have not only the literal meanings but also the figurative meanings due to different culture backgrounds.  从文化视角浅谈中英动物词汇语义异同:http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_57984.html