高中英语教学中的文化意识培养(1)(4)
2015-07-04 01:27
导读：3.3Color words Cultural differences are also evident in different implications associated with the same color. The color “red” in Chinese indicates happy events, joyous occasions and delightful th
3.3Color words
Cultural differences are also evident in different implications associated with the same color. The color “red” in Chinese indicates happy events, joyous occasions and delightful things. For example, in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony the bride wears red dress from head to toe, her head particularly covered with a piece of red cloth to express good wishes of her new life. Besides that, in Spring Festival one of the decorations Chinese people make to welcome the new year is to put red couplet out on each side of their door. What’s more, “red” is frequently associated with success and victories and words like “开门红”, “满堂红” are good examples in this case.
But the color “red” in English implies things of terror, fight and blood, and is frequently connected with anger and crimes, hence the phrases “a red battle”(a fierce, cruel struggle), “red rag”(something that excites great anger), and “red light”(signal of danger or warning).
Take “white” for another example, “white” in Chinese is connected with sorrow, misfortune and death. Folks taking part in a funeral dress in white, with white flower on the breast to mourn for the dead. What is different in English is that white indicates nobility, justice and purity. In an American wedding bride purposely dresses in white, symbolizing purity and perpetual loyalty and love between husband and wife. In English, there are phrases like “white man”, “white lie”, “white war” which respectively mean a just man, a lie without evil intention and a war during which no man bleeds.
In English study, Chinese students may be extremely confused about some sentences like “I’m feeling rather blue”(I’m feeling depressed.) and “He was born to the purple (He was born in a noble and wealthy family.)” [6] Students know the meaning of each word, but they have much difficulty in putting the whole sentence into Chinese, for the familiar words “blue” and “purple” here indicate more than their literal meaning. At the moment, teachers are expected to explain cultural factors hidden behind the words, otherwise, students will make mistakes when they communicate with foreigners.
（科教作文网http://zw.nseAc.com） 3.4Animals and their different connotations
Animals and their different associations are another aspect of cultural differences. For example, “Dragon is a totem in Chinese culture. In feudal society, dragon stands for the emperor.”[7] Dragon “being always considered a deity with inconceivable power in China, bringing people good luck. People born in the year of Dragon feel very proud. But in western culture, dragon is a crocodile-like monster which can gush smoke and fire from its mouth.”[8] Therefore, if a Chinese student who does not have this cultural knowledge in mind translates the Chinese idiom “望子成龙” into “to hope that one’s son will become a dragon”, the English man will be wondering what kind of person parents expect their child to be.
Chinese students will be somewhat annoyed if they hear “You’re really a lucky dog”. They clearly know that in China, “the implied meaning of a dog is usually pejorative, as in “狗仗人势 “(be a bully under the protection of a powerful person), “狗头军师”(a person who offers bad advice)”[9] But what they don’t know is that in western culture small animals like cats and dogs are considered as man’s pets, companions and loyal friends. In English, it has commendatory sense. “lucky dog” means “lucky person”, “a jolly dog” means “a happy man”.
