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1、A Study on the Culture of English Idioms with Names1. IntroductionEnglish, as a universal language, is flexible and active, which has more than 20,000 idioms, with about 4,000 idioms used in daily life. English idioms derived mainly from culture, take historical events, ancient legends and religions
2、, for example. To understand exactly the culture of idioms enables us to use idioms appropriately.Studies about English idioms have a long history in home and abroad, which are focused on structures, semantics and functions; however, works on the culture of English idioms with names are relatively s
3、carce. This paper gives detailed information and organized views on English idioms with names and their cultural connotations, which is from diverse aspects: religions, historical figures, fairy tales, folk culture and current events and news. 2. Definitions of English idiomsIt is quiet difficult to
4、 give a clear-cut definition to the word “idiom”, for there are various views on this term, which might lead us to confusion. 2.1 Various definitions of English idioms in dictionaries In Websters New World Dictionary (1972), we find the definition of “idiom”: An accepted phrase, construction, or exp
5、ression contrary to the usual patterns of the language or having a meaning different from the language or having a meaning different from the literal. In Collins COBUILD Advanced Learners English Dictionary (2006), it presents that “ An idiom is a group of words which have a different meaning when u
6、sed together from the one they would have if you took the meaning each word separately. In Oxford English Dictionary (1970), it defines that “A form of expression grammatical construction, phrase ect, particular to a language; a particularity of phraseology approved by a usage of knowledge, and ofte
7、n have a significance other than its grammatical or logical one.2.2 A general definition of English idiomsGenerally, idioms are expressions in a language, which cover set phrases and short sentences and loaded with the native cultures and ideas. In addition, idioms can not be interpreted merely by t
8、heir literal meanings. 3. Definition of culture 3.1 Diverse views on cultureEnglish anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor formulated the definition of culture in his classic book Primitive Culture, “Culture. is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and any othe
9、r capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” Hoebel and Frost define culture as an “integrated system of learned behavior patterns which are characteristic of the members of a society” Bates and Plog proposes a descriptive definition: Culture is a system of shared beliefs, valu
10、es, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the member of a society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning. 3.2 Characteristics of cultureWe have examined various definitions, in Larry A. Samovars view (1998), there a
11、re seven major characteristics: (1) Culture is learned; (2) Culture is transmitted from generation to generation; (3) Culture is ethnocentric; (4) Culture is adaptive; (5) Culture is based on symbols; (6) Culture is subject to change; (7) Culture is integrated. 4. The relationship between English id
12、ioms and culture Culture exerts an enormous influence on English idioms. It is impossible to understand the meanings of idioms literally unless we put the idioms in the context. An idiom naturally reflects its culture. For example, Uncle Sam does not mean an uncle named Sam; Uncle Sam refers to the
13、United State, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812. “When you are communicating with someone from your own culture, the process of using words to present your experiences is much easier because within a culture people share many similar experiences. But when communication is
14、between people from distinct cultures, different experiences are involved and the process is more troublesome. Objects, events, experiences, and feelings have the labels or names they do because a community of people arbitrarily decided to so name them. If we extend this notion to the intercultural
15、setting, we can see that diverse cultures can have both different symbols and different responses.” As Larry A. Samovar has 98 words to explain that people learn and use language as they do because of their culture background. That is the reason why a native speaker uses English idioms frequently an
16、d correctly. Whereas an English learner finds that understanding and memorizing idioms are quiet difficult. Culture and idioms are intergraded. As long as idioms are in use, the culture they present will survive. Even if a culture is wiped out, it can be studied by looking at its idiom.4.1 The relat
17、ionship between culture and English idioms with names Language is associated with customs, and as a significant role in language, idioms reflect the customs in a community vividly. English idioms have a long history, which frequently occur in daily communication. Hence, numerous English idioms are f
18、rom customs and life. Innumerous English idioms are connected with personal names: soldiers, farmers, teachers, doctors, princes, lawyers, and even baggers. A majority of them have been accepted by average laboring people, even by government officials or professors, and part of them have been writte
19、n into dictionaries. It is impossible to explore all the English idioms with names; however, we can divide them into five aspects: religion beliefs, historical figures, fairly tales, folk customs and current events and news. 4.2 Religion belief and English idioms with names Christianity, as a religi
20、on from the Middle East, gradually gained importance on most English-speaking people. In western countries, Christianity is the main type of religion. As a fact, a majority of Americans believe in God. The Bible, as the only collection of writings of Christianity that persisted through the history,
21、undoubtedly has an immeasurable impact on the western culture. Paul Maier, in writing the forward to the book How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin J. Schmidt, states this about the profound impact Christianity has had on the development of Western Civilization:“No other religion, philosophy,
22、teaching, nation, movementwhateverhas so changed the world for the better as Christianity has done. Its shortcomings, clearly conceded by this author, are nevertheless heavily outweighed by its benefits to all mankind” (Schmidt 9)Take the well- known Adam; for example, this name is associated with m
23、any idioms. Adam was the first man created by God, whose wife is Eve. They were ultimately expelled from the Garden of Eden, were ceremonially separated from God, and lost their immortality after they broke Gods law about not eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is s
24、aid that from then on, peoples eyes are blight, and can see each others bodies. Man began to distinguish the good and the evil. For example, Old Adam, it refers to mans original sin. e.g. Ones real enemy is the old Adam. Adams apple is a feature of the human neck. e.g. Adams apple can be more clearl
25、y seen on men than womens throats. “and unto Adam he said, because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Fro
26、m Genesis 3:17 of The Bible, we find the term “Adams curse”, which means cultivation. Another instance is “raise Cain”. Cain, the first child of Adam and Eve, killed his brother because of envy. Subsequently, raise Cain means ask for trouble. e.g. He raised Cain when he found he had been cheated. Mo
27、ses staff refers to magical tool. In Genesis 4, Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, The Lord did not appear to you?” 2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the
28、ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of t
29、heir fathersthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacobhas appeared to you.” And then God demonstrated to him the miraculous potential in that seemingly insignificant staff. Doubting Thomas is a term that is used to describe someone who will refuse to believe something without direct,
30、physical, personal evidence. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus and demanded to feel Jesus wounds before being convinced (John 20:24-29). After seeing Jesus alive and being offered the opportunity to touch his wounds, he professed his faith in Jesus; on this account he is also called Thomas th
31、e Believer. The Bible presents the highest ideals known to men, ideals that have molded civilization. 4.3 Historical figures and English idioms with names Did heroes make history? Or did history make heroes? This question has confused people for ages; still we are quiet interested in discussing the
32、relationship between our famous figures and history. Ignoring who is the “maker”, it is believed that history exerts great influence on mankinds activities, language and art.Plenty of English idioms with names relate to historical figures. John Hancock (January 23, 1737 October 8, 1793), one of Bost
33、ons leaders during the crisis, led to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress for two years and was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. People remember him for his large and stylish signature on the United
34、 States Declaration of Independence. John Hancock, in the United States is a synonym for signature. e.g. Please put your “John Hancock” on this document. Another well-know idiom is from Sir Jack Robinson, the Constable of the Tower of London for several years from 1660 onward. It is said that he was
35、 in any way unusually quick in dispatching the Towers inmates. Therefore, before you can say Jack Robinson became an expression of a short time. e.g. “Done!” Lord Merton cried, “I take your odds.” “Will you?” returned he, “why, then, before George, Id do it as soon as say Jack Robinson.” The name, B
36、ob, is also commonly used in the idiomatic expression “Bob is your uncle.” in Britain. Dating back to 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury decided to appoint his nephew, Arthur Balfour to the prestigious and sensitive post of Chief Secretary for Ireland. Bobs your uncle is a way
37、 of saying youre all set. e.g. Dont worry. Bobs your uncle. Probably the most famous one is Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam personifies the entire United States, especially of the American government. He is often depicted as a serious elderly man with white hair and a goatee, dressed in clothing that recalls t
38、he design elements of the flag of the United States. In the year of 1812, war broke out between the United States and Great Britain. On October 2, a group of visitors came to Sams meatpacking plant. Among them was Governor Daniel Tompkins of New York State. He noticed the capitalized letters EAUS on
39、 the packages of meat and asked what they stood for. A worker replied that EA stood for Elbert Anderson, the businessman for whom Sam was working. And he added jokingly that US stood for Uncle Sam Wilson. In May 1813, the story appeared in a newspaper published in New York. Since Uncle Sam was a har
40、d-working man and a lover of America, his name became a personification of the United States. In 1961, the US Congress decided that Uncle Sam is the Americas national symbol. e.g. These smaller countries resent being so dependent on Uncle Sam for protections. Similarly, the term, Brother Jonathan, a
41、lso stands for America. Originally, from 1776 to 1783, Brother Jonathan was a mildly derisive term used by the Loyalists to describe the Patriots. e.g. The phrase We must consult Brother Jonathan appears on the graduation certificates of Yale Universitys Trumbull College, also named for Trumbull. An
42、other well-known Uncle is Uncle Tom, which comes from the title character of American writer Harriet Beecher Stowes 1852 novel Uncle Toms Cabin. Uncle Tom refers to a Black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to Whites. 4.4 Greek or Roman mythology and English idioms with names Greek or Roma
43、n mythology, the western classic mythology, is an indispensable part in English language. There are two main sources of the western civilizationone is The Bible and the other is the Greek and Roman tradition. That is the reason why, though the Greek and Roman civilization have declined, much attenti
44、on has been paid to the latter. As Wang Zhenya in Language and Culture puts “Westerners are heirs to Greco-Roman civilization. Many ideas now prevailing in western countries can be traced back to the thinkers in ancient Greece and Roman. Greek and Roman mythologies are well known in the west and hav
45、e beard on a strong influence upon peoples lives in western countries. It is natural that it becomes a common source of English proverbs.” Fables of particular people are a mirror of the ethnical features. There are enumerable English idioms with names coming from Greek and Roman mythology, or Aesop
46、s fables. For example, Pandoras Box refers to a box full of trouble. In Greek stories, Zeus gave Pandora a box and he told her not to open, but she opened it. From then on, all the troubles in the world escaped from it. e.g. The Senate investigation turned out to be a Pandoras box for the administra
47、tion. For another instance, judgment of Pairs is facing a difficult decision. It is recounted that Zeus held a banquet in celebration of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. However, Eris, goddess of discord, was uninvited. Angered by this snub, Eris arrived at the celebration, where she threw a golde
48、n apple (the Apple of Discord) into the proceedings, on which was the inscription the fairest one. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. They asked Zeus to judge which of them was fairest, and eventually Zeus, reluctant to favor any claim himself, declared that Paris. e.g. Y
49、ou have to choose one, dude, got the judgment of Paris? We are much more familiar with this term- Helen of Troy partly because of the movie Troy. As we know Helen is the most beautiful woman in the world, and the cause of the Troy War. Achilles heel is another famous term, which means a seemingly small but actually mortal weakness. Achilles, a Greek hero of the Trojan War, was dipped into the river Styx by his mother Thetis in order to mak
