to call Steve. Steve didn’t seem very interested in talking to him. ? What was wrong in the relationship between Yaser and Steve? ? Americans have school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighborhood friends. These friends are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade.
In some cultures friendship means a strong life-long bond between two people. In these cultures friendships develop slowly, since they are built to last.
? Chinese expect friendships to be more lasting. ? Chinese can usually expect much from their friends.
? American friends like Chinese friends give each other emotional support in times of trouble, but they do it differently. A westerner will respond to a friend’s trouble by asking, ―What do you want to do?‖ The idea is to help the friend think out the problem and discover the solution he or she really prefers and then to support that solution. A Chinese friend is more likely to give specific advice to a friend
Unit 4
1. Relationship between Language and Culture:
1). As a mirror of culture, language is strongly influenced and shaped by culture.
It reflects the environment in which we live and cultural values.
Case 1
Patriarchal society
? 湖南岳阳临湘一带，只有男性称谓，没有女性称谓，爸爸是爸，妈妈也是爸，分别男女的办法是在前面加“大”或“细”（即小）。爸爸是大爸，妈妈是细爸。哥哥是哥哥，姐姐也叫哥哥。 Matriarchal society
? 云南丽江永宁纳西族，实行称为阿注婚姻的对偶婚姻制，男女相识结成阿注关系，但男女阿注不组成家庭，女阿注所生孩子留在女方家庭抚养。
? 母亲的阿注、自己的生父、舅舅都用一个词表示。母亲和母亲的直系、旁系的姐妹也只用一个词表示。 Case 2 Kinship terms in Chinese
? They help to reinforce the concept of kinship which is important to the Chinese people.
? 《尔雅》中对儿、孙以下的称谓作了详细的描述 儿之子： 孙 孙之子： 曾孙 曾孙之子：玄孙 玄孙之子：来孙
来孙之子：晜孙 （kun, 同昆） 晜孙之子：云孙
2). Language also exerts its influence on culture.
Each language can be used to express whatever its speaker wants to express. 2. Denotation & Connotation
Denotation （指示意义）: the primary, surface meaning, or explicit meaning, conceptual meaning
Connotation （隐含意义）: the implicit meaning, the implication of a word, the socio-cultural and personal association Case: Politician
? Denotation: a person whose business is politics (从事政治，关心政治，特别是以政治为生涯的人。)
? Connotation: a person who doesn’t usually keep his promises, often cheats for his own selfish purpose.
(不讲原则，当面一套，背后一套，能言善辩，言而无信。) 1). Overlapping words A、B概念意义相同，内涵意义相同或大致相同
? Head: most important ? Fox: clever and deceitful
? Parrot: parrot what other people say vs. 鹦鹉学舌 2). Conflicting words A、B概念意义相同，内涵意义不同
鹤 vs. Crane
Chinese: the symbol of longevity Japanese: the symbol of happiness
British: ugly bird
French: stand for stupid men and wanton woman Dragon Chinese: Totem
Descendants of the dragon which metaphors the Chinese nation Symbol of Emperor
In West: an animal like a big lizard, having wings and claws, and breathing out fire
3). Vacant words A、B概念意义相同，A有内涵意义，B无内涵意义 Totally vacant words
? 仁、义、礼、智、信; 功夫、阴、阳、节气、肾虚、经络 ? Karaoke ? Allusions
An Achilles heel --- the weak or vulnerable point of a person A Pandora’s box --- a present or something which may seem valuable, but which brings trouble and misfortune. Half vacant words
? 13: derogatory in English; Judas betray Jesus ? 4: derogatory in Chinese ? 9: commendatory in Chinese
? 梅兰竹菊 (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum)
4). Parallel words
? to describe a thin man: Chinese: 骨瘦如柴;
English: as thin as a shadow
? to describe a tiring and miserable life: Chinese: 当牛做马
English: to lead a dog’s life
? 牛 vs. horse: 气壮如牛，像黄牛一样干
As strong as a horse, work like a horse
3. Color Terms Red:
Chinese Culture
① festive, jubilant e.g. 红娘，红火 ② revolutionary e.g. 红军，红色政权 ③ successful, smooth e.g. 红人，走红 ④ beautiful, nice e.g. 红颜，红装 ⑤ envious, jealous e.g. 眼红 English-speaking Culture
① violent, cruel e.g. red revenge; a red battle ② armed revolution e.g. a red revolution③ danger, tension e.g. red alert; a red flag ④ profligate, immoral e.g. a red waste of his youth
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 wine红葡萄酒red ruin火灾red battle血战red sky彩霞red-carpet隆重的/上宾待遇的red-pencil修改, 检查, 删除red ball (俚) 货运快车/铁路特快货车red cent（口）一分钱/毫厘red gold（古）