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1、西方文化与英语学习,Western culture&English Learning,Language&Culture,Language is a part of cultureOne design feature of human language is cultural transmission(文化传递性)(by C.Hockett）So English is capable of transmitting the Western culture.,Geographic layout of the Western culture,1.Europe2.North America(the U
2、SA&Canada)3.Oceania(i.e.Australia&New Zealand),2 layers of culture,Physical culture(eg.architectural styles)Non-physical culture(eg.religion;morality),Why there are so many languages?,The story of building Babel 巴别塔Bible/Genesis 创世纪11:1-9:God confusing peoples languageGenesis 11:1:Now the whole eart
3、h had one language and the same words.(那时，天下人的口音言语都是一样。)Genesis 11:1:Therefore its name was called Babel,because there the LORD(God)confused the language of all the earth.,Babel 巴别塔,Two Major Foundations in Western Culture,1.the Greco-Roman foundation(古希腊罗马文化基石)The spirit of rationality 理性主义精神2.the
4、Judeo-Christian foundation（犹太-基督教文化基石）pursuit of God:the supernatural being,Ancient Greek Culture,Three masters of thinking:Socrates（苏格拉底）Plato（柏拉图）Aristotle（亚里斯多德）focusing on pursuit of freedom,democracy and truth in nature and in human being,Roman Laws,The Justinian law code(under the Emperor Just
5、inian)the most systematic and complete summary of laws.,Christianity,1.Birth&Development of ChristianityJesus Christ：the incarnation of God(God in huam flesh body 道成肉身的上帝)“Son of God”(the second person in the Trinity 三位一体),he came to provide salvation(救赎)for the sinners,Christianity-2,Other Christia
6、n beliefs Jesus virgin birth,His Crucifixion(put on the cross)for washing his believerssin“crucifying”-adj.折磨的 ascension into HeavenHis future Second Coming.,Christianity-3 major festivals concerned with Jesus Christ,1.Good Friday:耶稣受难日Jesus Christ died on Friday,a day before the Passover Day)2.East
7、er Day:复活节(Resurrection)Jesus Christ rose from death on Sunday3.Christmas Day(Xmas)on honoring Jesus holy birth,Bible:Christian Holy Scripture,The Old Testament:39 booksThe New Testament:27 books,The Middle Age,late 5th century-14th centuryThe age of ChristianityThe Roman Church and Pope dominated b
8、oth religious and secular life Scholarlistism(经院主义)-Thomas Aquinas(1225-1274)Crusades:十字军东征-Knighthood(gentleman hood)骑士精神,Renaissance(文艺复兴),late 13th century-early 17th century（approx.400 years）humanism(人文主义)prosperity in arts,.Religious Reformation宗教改革,purification of Christianity/upholding the Bi
9、ble authority against Papal authority教皇权威)Schism of Christianity(three branches of Christianity)1）Catholicism：天主教2）the Eastern Orthodoxy：东正教3）Protestantism：新教3.pursuit of rationalism and scientism,Enlightenment(启蒙运动)(17th18th century),3 masters of thinking:Voltaire(1694-1778)Jean-Jacques Rousseau(17
10、12-1778)Montesquieu(1689-1755)Montesquieu s theory of power separation.the legislative power:Congress(USA)the executive power:President(USA)the judicial power:Supreme Court(USA),Western culture in 19th century,The theory of Evolution(进化论)-Charles Darwin-The Origin of Species 物种起源-survival of the fit
11、test(acting as the theoretic guideline for overseas invasion by the Western powers),Western culture in 19th century-2,-debating on origin of humankind*evolution vs.creationMarxism-Communism and its practice in Russia&China-success&failure,Western culture in 19th century-3,Friedrich Nietzsche(1844-19
12、00)尼采“homelessness and rootlessness”resulting from the loss of faith in God“alienation”（异化）or“fameless persons”(无名的人)loss of individual identity and ego；men are institutionalized in the modern society.,Western culture in 20th century,Sigmund Freud(1856-1939)theory of psychoanalysisJean-Paul Sartre(1
13、905-1980)-Existentialism(存在主义)*Freedom of choice.(man has individual freedom.If one does not follow his own will but that of others,he would lose his own identity and ego.Such a man does not have a real existence.),Western culture in 20th century-2,ModernismPost-modernism:Jacques Derrida(1930-)-rela
14、tivity of rationality-deconstruction,Western culture in 20th century-3,Three books worthy of reading:1.寂静的春天蕾切尔卡逊 1962The Silent Spring2.增长的极限德内拉梅多斯 1972Limits to Growth3.文明的冲突1993 Conflicts of Civilizations By Samuel Huntingdon,Aspects of English Learning,In Context of Culture,Paradoxical thinking
15、pattern of the Westerners反合性思维,Socrates:The only thing I know is that I know nothingHegel:历史给人最大的教训就是人从来不从历史吸取教训。Jesus:If you say you can see,you are really blind.,英语词语的隐喻性,The metaphorical property in English words Original meaning associative meaningFor example:Crane:鹤 起重机（similar in form）mouse:老鼠
16、鼠标Fall:落下秋天Heart:心 爱情Back:背部 支持（back up）,英语词语的隐喻性-2,Backbone:脊椎骨 支柱/骨干Eg.They are the backbone of the football team.Crucifixion:钉十字架-痛苦的折磨Grind:磨磨-苦差Mushroom:蘑菇迅速增长Spring up like mushrooms 雨后春笋般涌现,I.Three Major Origins of English Words,1.Native words(of Anglo-Saxon origin)2.Latin words3.French words
17、,Examples,ask1-interrogate 2-question 3belly1-abdomen 2-stomach 3rise1-ascend 2-mount 3holy1-consecrated2-sacred3：神圣的 fire-flameconflagrationeat-dine-ingest,I.Three origins of English words-2,buy1-purchase3house1-mansion 3answer1-reply 3friendly1-amicable3(friend=ami/amie)might1-power3(mighty=powerf
18、ul)brotherly1-fraternal 2bodily1-corporal 2 身体的；生理的,I.Three origins of English words-3,55BC Caesars(凯撒大帝 Julius Caesar 约前100-前44,罗马将军,皇帝,政治家,历史学家)invasion into Britain brought Latin language into English1066ADNormans Conquest introduced French into English,Greek mythology&Roman mythology vs.English
19、words,Homer:IliadOdyssey(1)Zeus:the chief god 宙斯(=Jupiter in RM)Cf.玉皇大帝(2)Hera:Zeuss wife赫拉(=Juno in RM)Cf.王母娘娘,Greek mythology&Roman mythology vs.English words,3)Eros:爱神（=Cupid 丘比特 in RM）Eg.Cupids bow Cf.月下老人(4)Artemis:the goddess of the moon and hunting(=Diana in RM)月亮与狩猎女神。Cf.嫦娥,Greek Mythology v
20、s.Roman Mythology,GM-RM*Apollo-Apollo:阿波罗；太阳神；美男子Zeus son,the god of the sun,in charge of truth,light and medicine*Artemis-Diana*Ares-Mars(a warring god)*Aphrodite-Venus(维纳斯),Greek Mythology vs.Roman Mythology-2,Aphrodite 阿佛洛狄特:the goddess of love and beauty,Zeus daughter,Greek Mythology vs.Roman My
21、thology-3,Venus,Greek Mythology vs.Roman Mythology-4,*Hephaestus-VulcanHephaestus:the husband of Aphrodite;the god of metal-working technology*Hermes-MercuryHermes the son of Zeus;Zeus messenger;the god looking after merchants,touists&thieves.,Greek Mythology vs.Roman Mythology-4,*Poseidon-Neptune P
22、oseidon Zeuss brother;in charge of the seas 波塞冬；海神 Cf 海龙王/龙王爷*Hestia-Vesta Zeus sister,the goddess for kitchen and home.Cf.灶神,Greek Mythology vs.Roman Mythology-5,*Hades-Pluto(cf.阎王 in Chinese culture)*Persephone-Proserpina the wife of Hades.冥后*Dionysus-Bacchus the god of wine&drama 酒神,Cupid,Cupid,C
23、upid is the love child of Venus and Mars,Origins of Culturally loaded words 文化负载词来源,Language as part of cultureNine planet names and its Origins1.Neptune:海王星P9(=Poseidon)2.Pluto:冥王星(=Hades)3.Venus:金星(=Aphrodite)4.Mars 火星(=Ares)5.Mercury 水星(=Hermes)6.Jupiter:木星P5/the largest planet(=Zeus)7.Saturn:土星P
24、68.Uranus:天王星,Kinship words in English and the Chinese equivalents,Brother:兄；弟?Sister:姐；妹？Aunt：伯母；婶；姨；舅母；姑妈？Uncle：叔；伯；舅；姑父；姨夫？Grandfather:祖父；外祖父Grandmother:祖母；外祖母Nephew:侄子；外甥,Kinship words in English and the Chinese equivalents,Niece:侄女；外甥女Brother-in-law:小叔子；大伯子；小舅子；大舅子？Sister-in-law?结论：英语文化中不重视长次关系
25、以及以性别差异来划分的亲属关系：因此英语中如一定强调长次关系必须以复合词来体现。而汉语中的亲属词语特别强调“长幼有序”，因此，汉语中的亲属词特别丰富。,颜色词语的文化意义,1.black Evil:a black deedIllegal:black gasolineGloomy:black mood2.white pure:a white soulHonorable:it is white of you,颜色词语的文化意义-2,3.yellowSensational:yellow pressCowardly:be too yellow to stand up and fight.4.greyM
26、ature:grey wisdomDull;difficulty:grey situation;grey man4.redViolent:red hands,颜色词语的文化意义-3,5.blue depressed:a blue moodSexy:a blue joke6.purple Blushed:be purple with angerRoyal power:raise sb.To the purple7.greenInexperienced:a green hand,Taboo&Euphemism in English,Categories of taboo(禁忌语)When say
27、it directly,it will be offensive in normal social communicationEuphemism:indirect and pleasant expressions to substitute for direct and unpleasant ones1.sex：make love=have sex2.some body organs She is expecting=she is pregnant.,Taboo&Euphemism in English-2,3.physiological excretion：washroom4.death:p
28、ass away5.crime:correctional center=prison elderly people=old people,Taboo&Euphemism in English-3,needy/underprivileged/disadvantaged=poor love child 私生子adult film:色情电影private parts:human reproductive organs,英语动物词的文化内涵,Goat:好色；淫荡Dog:含褒义 watchdog;lucky dogLike me,like my dogDragon:in Chinese,an legen
29、dary auspicious animalin English,an evil monsterA leopard cant change its spots.本性难改。,3 major styles of English,Style:different words and expressions in different situations:Formal style：正式语体Neutral style：中间性语体Informal style：非正式语体buddy-friend(哥们-朋友)gentleman-man-chappass away-die-pop off,Loan words
30、in English,Besides Latin,Greek and French,English has kept borrowing words without ceasing from other languages:1 from Italian(chiefly art terms)fresco(壁画)；sonata(奏鸣曲);opera scenario(=plan)2.from Spanish plaza(广场=square);cargo(货物);guitar,Loan words in English-2,3.from German dock(码头=wharf)plunder(抢劫
31、=rob/loot)4.from Portuguese cobra(眼镜蛇)；veranda(阳台=balcony)5.from Dutch booze(酒宴),Loan words in English-3,6.from Arabic sultan(苏丹)；harem(闺房);algebra;zero;jihad;Al-Qaeda 7.from Japanese tycoon;typhoon;judo(柔道)；sushi(寿司：一种日本点心);karaoke;tatami8.from Chinesefengshui;yin;yang;kung fu9.from Indianguru(宗教教师
32、；领袖/头头),British English&American English:英语的地域变体（regional variety）,1.同一个词在英美语中表示不同概念Eg.billion:十亿(AE)；万亿(BE)first floor:一楼（AE）;二楼(BE)2.同一个概念在英美语中用不同词表达Eg.sidewalk(AE)-pavement(BE)movie(AE)-film(BE)can(AE)-tin(BE),British English&American English,mail(AE)-post(BE)muffler(AE)-silencer(BE)消声器 truck-lor
33、ry fall-autumn couch(AE)-sofa(BE)biscuit-cracker ring-call,British English&American English,Blow ones own trumpet(BE)-blow ones own horn(AM)自吹自擂Sweep sth.Under the carpet(BE)-sweep sth.Under the rug（AM）遮盖某事,English person names&their cultural origins,I:Christian name 教名(=Nom de Bapmete)=forename(BE)
34、=first name/given name(AE)Origins of Christian names:1)Anglo-Saxon origin:Brand;Baldwin;Harald;Herold;Barbell;Read;Reid;Reed,etc.The meanings of these names are now vague because of long time.,English person names&their cultural origins,2)Germanic origin Robert;Richard;William3)Latin origin:Celia(fr
35、om“Caelum”天)Charles;Caroline;Carol Carola(from Carolus),English person names&their cultural origins,4)from common words:Shakespeare:shake+spearDickens:恶魔Shelly:贝壳5）from celebrated persons Alexander Milton Homer FranklinJefferson,English person names&their cultural origins,2)Biblical origin:Each bibl
36、ical name has its unique storyA.11 disciples of Jesus Christ(except Judas)Peter;Andrew;James;John;Philip;Thomas;Simon B.4 authors of Gospels:Matthew;Mark;Luke;John,English person names&their cultural origins,C.other Biblical figures:Daniel;David;Stephen;Paul;Solomon;Timothy;Rebecca;Isaac(Isaac Newto
37、n 牛顿);Christina(female Christ);Abraham Lincoln(16th President of the USA):the first patriarch of JewsBenjamin Franklin:the youngest son of JacobJacob:son of Isaac,who is son of Abraham,English person names&their cultural origins,II.Middle name(中间名 or 2nd Christian name):following Christian name;it i
38、s usually named after the name of ones mother,god-father,god-mother.The use of middle name grew popular in 19th century.Eg.George Bernard Shaw,English person names&their cultural origins,III.Surname(=family name/last name AE)a.Occupational names(职业的姓)Eg.John the Blacksmith John Blacksmith John the C
39、ook John Cookb.Patronymic names(从父名的姓)：即在父亲的教名后加上“son”(儿子)。Eg.Peterson;Wilson;Thomson,etc.,English person names&their cultural origins,C.local names:named after local place/landscape/terrain/plant/colorShore/Pool/Brook/Forest/Stone/Hill/Marsh/Cliff/Wood/Cotton/Flower/Green/Brown/Black/WhiteIV.Full n
40、ame(register name):used only in formal occasionChristian name+Middle name+Surname,English person names&their cultural origins,父子同名：son and father share the same nameEg.Martin Luther King Jr.(Junior)In China,it is absolutely forbidden to have son and father share an identical name.名讳传统St.Augustine:St
41、.=Saint 圣徒Sir Winston Churchill：爵士ChristinaChristopher,III.English idioms&its cultural origins,Major sources:1.from ancient Greek&Roman myths2.from the Bible3.from classic literatures4.from lifestyle and other aspects,III.English idioms&its cultural origins,1.Achilles heel:a fatal weakness in spite
42、of overall strength,唯一致命的弱点According to the Greek myth:Achilles mother,Thetis,had dipped the infant Achilles in the river Styx(冥河),holding onto him by his heel,and he became invulnerable（刀枪不入）where the waters touched him-that is,everywhere but the areas covered by her thumb and forefinger-implying t
43、hat only a heel wound could have been his downfall.Later,Achilles died from a heel wound as the result of a poisoned arrow by Paris,III.English idioms&its cultural origins-2,2.Swan Song(天鹅之歌):最后杰作；绝笔Swan Song字面译做源于希腊成语 Kykneion asma.在古希腊神话中，阿波罗(Apollo)是太阳神、光明之神，由于他多才多艺，又是诗歌与音乐之神，后世奉他为文艺的保护神。天鹅是阿波罗的神
44、鸟，故常用来比喻文艺。传说天鹅平素不唱歌，而在它死前，必引颈长鸣，高歌一曲，其歌声哀婉动听，感人肺腑。这是它一生中唯一的，也是最后的一次唱歌。因此，西方各国就用这个典故来比喻某诗人，作家，作曲家临终前的一部杰作，或者是某个演员，歌唱家的最后一次表演。即a last or farewell appearance;the last work before death之意.,English idioms&its cultural origins,Eg1:All the tickets have been sold for the singers performance in London this
45、week-the public clearly believes that this will be her swan songEg2:The Tempest was W.Shakespeares swan song in 1612,English idioms&its cultural origins-,Odysseys:long-distance adventurous journey(from Homers Odysseus)Trojan horse:内部颠覆者Mentor:friend of Odysseus,who entrusted his son to him.良师益友Sword
46、 of Damocles:随时可能发生的危险。Pandoras Box Promethean fire,III.English idioms&its cultural origins,God knows=I dont knowMan proposes,God disposes.谋事在人，成事在天Make bricks without straw（from Exodus 出埃及记）做无米之炊In sackcloth and ashes:处于悲痛之中,English idioms&its cultural origins,Doubting ThomasThe old AdamThe patienc
47、e of JobGood SamaritanDavid and Jonathan:莫逆之交Paint the lily:画蛇添足（from Shakespeares play-King John）,English idioms&its cultural origins-,Much ado about nothing:无事生非A play of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark没有中心人物的活动。The slough of despond：绝望的深渊。Pilgrims Progress天路历程,English idioms&its cultural ori
48、gins,3.Cast pearls before swine（珍珠投在猪猡前面）：对牛弹琴；白费好意4.separate the sheep from the goats：区别好坏，分清良莠新约马太福音记述：“And before him shall be gathered all nations；and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats”carry coals to Newcastle（把煤送到纽卡斯尔）：多此一举,Top 10 recommended
49、 English readings-1,1.Of Studies(essay):Francis Bacon(1561-1626)2.Sonnet 18(poetry):William Shakespeare(1564-1616)3.Hamlet(Act III-Scene 1:monologue)(drama)William Shakespeare(1564-1616)4.I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud(poetry):William Wordsworth(1770-1850)5.The Gettysburg Address(speech):Abraham Lincoln,Top 10 recommended English readings-2,6.Stopping by Woods on a snowy Evening(poetry):Robert Frost(1874-1963)7.The Road Not Taken(poetry):Robert Frost(1874-1963)8.I Have a Dream(speech):Martin Luther King Jr.9.Genesis 创世纪:Old Testament/Bible10.Luke路加福音:New testament/Bible,
