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1、The Comparison between English and Chinese Taboos Abstract: With the development of economic globalization, the needs of Intercultural Communication have been increased. As we all know, languages have tight connection with cultures, people with different culture backgrounds will run into kinds of pr
2、oblems, misunderstanding and collision. To solve the problem, many linguists have done a lot research. A great quantity shows that language is part of the culture and is also the carrier of culture, the use of language reflect the connotation of the culture. Language cant express the deep and compre
3、hensive meanings without culture backgrounds, social culture context and communicative context. Taboo exists in each culture as a special language phenomenon, there are huge differences of Taboo words among the different cultures and people seem offensive without knowing the taboo in other peoples l
4、anguage. So, the research and study become significant. This paper will focus on the difference between English and Chinese taboos, aiming at improving the sense of culture and improve the ability of intercultural communication. Key words: Intercultural Communication Taboo 1. EtymologyThe term taboo
5、 comes from the Tongan tabu, related to the Maori tapu. Its English use dates to 1777 when the British explorer James Cook visited Tonga (Encyclopdia Britannica Online 2012). Its Chinese use dates from ancient times. In the Book of Rites ,taboo was mentioned a lot of times, we can infer that ancient
6、 Chinese take taboo as important custom .The book was published in western Han dynasty, lasting from 206 BC to 24 AD. A taboo is a strong prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behavior is either too sacred or too accursed for common people to undertake, under threat of supernatural
7、punishment, which almost exists in each culture as a special language phenomenon.2 .Purpose and SignificanceThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the significance of taboo words and their usage in English and Chinese, as well as research on how they are used, or not used. Improve the sense of
8、culture and improve the ability of intercultural communication.3 .literatures reviewAccording to Franz Steiner (1967), in his classic study of taboos, “one might say that taboo deals with the sociology of danger itself, for it is concerned with the protection of individuals who are in danger” (pp, 2
9、0-21). Taboo makes a notice that danger lies not in all situations, but only in some specific situations. Different cultures have different histories, something bad happened, people dont mention it again, or some supernaturalism people want to avoid ,if someone say the taboos, other people may think
10、 bad luck will come. People obey some rules of taboo so that there was a steady order in Chinese society. (Ren cheng,2004)Sigmund Freud, a renowned psychologist, discusses the term taboo extensively in his book Totem and Taboo. He regards taboo as Restrictions that are distinct from religious or mor
11、al prohibitions, they are not based upon any divine ordinance, but may be said to impose themselves on their own account. (Sigmund Freud, 2005: 20) Li Zhongsheng, a Chinese sociologist makes a survey about the origin of taboo in his The Custom of Chinese Linguistic Taboo. He thinks that taboo origin
12、ated from the period of Yin and Shang Dynasties, but developed in Zhou Dynasty. Chen Beijiao in his Chinese Linguistic Taboo analyses the origins of taboo, its classification, the structure of taboo and various examples which unfold a general picture of the Chinese taboo. Freud said in his book: Tot
13、em and Taboo, I dare say that after hearing all that was said about taboo they are far from knowing that to understand by it and where to store it in their minds.( Freud,1986).It just something store in peoples conscience ,maybe not in minds.The restrain to people on taboo can not cause any actual u
14、se .The purpose of taboo is to avoid some results that are not expected to happen, which is a psychology custom.(Wang Jianzhong,2001)4. The comparison of taboos in English and Chinese.4.1 Social custom taboos4.1.1Make an appointmentIn western countries, people need to make an appointment before visi
15、ting, to avoid bringing inconvenience to others. But in China, people have no aware of bothering to visit without make an appointment.4.1.2Talk In western countries, people are not allowed to ask something related to privacy, such as age, income, marriage, property and figure, etc. In China, its nor
16、mal to talk about such things（Li Zhennan，1989）; However, there is a taboo in Chinese. People will be unforgivable to say something that brings shame to others. Western people are forbidden to make a noise in order to not bothering others in the public place, but Chinese people are always make a nois
17、e or laughing in some public places.4.2 Eating habits taboo4.2.1 ContentMoslem believers are forbidden to eat pork, Hinduism believers are forbidden to eat beef and Buddhism believers are forbidden to eat all kinds of meat .Western people avoid to eat the viscera of animals, and dogs, snakes, those
18、they keep as pets.4.2.2 PatternsIn western countries, people avoid to make a noise when they are drinking a soup, and gobble when eating, especially make a noise by using forks and knives. Avoid leaving food in the plates when eating buffet (Hu Wenzong, 1995).In China, People are allowed to insert c
19、hopsticks on the bowl that is full of rice, because thats the way people worship dead in the ancient time.4.3 Celebration of festivals taboosChristmas Day is an important festival in western countries .At the day, people will make puddings, each family member will make a wish when stirring the puddi
20、ng, here is the taboos: never stirring the pudding widdershins and tell the wish to others, or it will not come true. In New Years Day, western people think the first one who comes to visit decides the fortune through all year, so they will avoid someone ugly with red hair to visit.In China, spring
21、festival is the most important festival, and at the day, people are not allowed to say “game over”, “it has gone”, and break things up, If they did, they should say “it will bring lucky to us” .At the first day of new year, people are forbidden to take out the trash in case the good fortune will be
22、gone. (Yang Zong, Nie Jiaen,Guo Quansheng,1991)4.4 NumbersIn China, number 4 is regarded as bad luck number because it has the similar pronunciation with “death”, especially number 14, because it has the similar pronunciation with “want to die”. The taboo of age has 55,66,73,84 etc.In western cultur
23、es, Friday is a bad luck, day, because Friday is the day that Jesus suffered the death, besides, Adam and Eve were evicting to the Garden of Eden. Western people also avoid number 13, something relative to Judas and the death of Jesus. (Du Xuezeng, 1999)There are some similar and different taboos in
24、 Chinese and English, the reasons maybe are different culture backgrounds, different customs and so on. Taboo serves as a norm in language communications about things that should not be said, If you know little about taboos inter-countries, the international communications will be not smooth and suc
25、cessful. But the phenomenon of taboos is complex and complicated, either in home or abroad, it is hard for people to obtain the clear knowledge of them. In order to study taboos and effectively, stereotype is a way of learning culture and a perception strategy in daily lives. Because the environment
26、 around people, whether it is natural or social environment are too complicated, so not allow him to engage themselves in obtain experience and knowledge of all the people, all the things on the world one by one.We can infer that both Chinese and English taboos reflect peoples psychology for god wil
27、l, for safely and fortune. People want to build harmonious relationship with nature. Its important to improve the communication in different countries by learning their taboos. Taboo, as the part of language, is closely influenced by culture, history and other issues. When people communicate with ot
28、her people from other countries ,if they made some grammar mistakes , they tend to be forgivable but disobeying the rules of courtesy is considered to be not polite. If we learn the taboos of other countries, and its culture background, we can resolve the misunderstanding and embarrassment and more
29、easily communicate with each other.ReferencesEncyclopdia Britannica Online. Taboo Encyclopdia Britannica Inc. 2012. Accessed 21 Mar. 2012Swan, M.1995, Practical English usage, Oxford University Press.URL: .hk/books?id=iWd6AAAAIAAJDu Xuezeng: The comparison between Chinese and English custom M.Beijin
30、g: Foreign Language Teaching and Learning Press，2003Freud (W)Yang Yongyi(T):Totem and TaboosC. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Learning Press，1986Hu Wenzong: English Culture DictionaryC. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Learning Press，1995Li Zhenlan: Foreign Custom Knowledge C.Chengdu：S
31、ichuan Dictionary Press，1989.Ren Cheng, Chinese Folk Taboos, C.China Science and Society Press,2004Wang Jiansheng: Taboo and Chinese CultureC.The People PressYang Zong, Nie Jiaen,Guo Quansheng: China Practical TabooC.Shanghai：Shanghai Culture Press, 1991英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daughters of dail
32、y experience.谚语是日常经验的结晶。1. Look before you leap./Second thoughts are best. 三思而后行。/再想而后行。2. Great minds think alike; (heroes have similar views.) 英雄所见略同。 3. We shall never have friends if we expect to find them without fault.欲求完美无缺的朋友必然成为孤家寡人。4. What you sow, you must mow. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。5. A beggar can n
33、ever be bankrupt.天无绝人之路。6.A friend in need is a friend indeed.患难见真情。7. No news is good news. 没有消息就是好消息。8. No cross, no crown. 不经历风雨,怎么见彩虹。9. The more haste, the less speed. /Haste makes waste.欲速则不达。10. Victory belongs to the most persevering. 坚持就是胜利！11. A young idler, an old beggar. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。12.
34、Put ones foot in ones mouth. 说话不得体。13. It is no use crying over spilt milk.覆水难收/悔恨已晚/木已成舟,回天乏力。14. Content is better than riches. 知足常乐。15. No gains without pains. 没有辛苦就没有收获。16. The more a man knows, the more he is inclined to be modest. 大智若愚。17. All roads lead to Rome .条条大路通罗马。18. A snow year, a ric
35、h year. 瑞雪兆丰年。19. Never say die! 永不言败！20. The best mirror is a friends eye. 朋友的眼睛是最好的镜子。 21. Faith will move mountain. 精诚所至，金石为开。 22. A life without a friend is a life without a sun. 人生没有朋友，犹如生活没有了太阳。 23. Great wits have short memories.贵人多忘事。 24. Do well and have well. 善有善报。25. A bad thing never die
36、s. 坏事传千年。26. Four eyes see more than two. 人多识广/集思广益。27. Diligence is the parent of success. 勤劳是成功的根本。28. Water dropping day by day wears the hardest rock away.滴水穿石。29. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. 抱最好的愿望，做最坏的打算。 30. While there is life, there is hope. /Debt is better than death. 留得青
37、山在，不怕没柴烧。/有生命就有希望。31. Where there is a will, there is a way. 功夫不负有心人。/有志者事竟成。32. Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 哪里有真爱存在，哪里就有奇迹。33. Where there is smoke, there is fire. 无风不起浪。34. One boy is a boy, two boys half a boy, three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。35. A stitch in ti
38、me saves nine. 及时缝一针能省九针。/小洞不补，大洞吃苦。36. Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. 亡羊补牢，为时不晚。37. Dont claim to know what you dont know. 不要不懂装懂。38. Do in Rome as Roman do. 入乡随俗。39. Rome was not built in a day. 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。40. Sharpening your axe will not delay your job of cutting wood. 磨刀不误砍柴工。 4
39、1. Things of a kind come together, people a mind fall into a group. 物以类聚,人以群分。 42. One mans meat is another mans poison. 萝卜白菜,各有所爱。43. like author like book.文如其人。46. Like for like. 惺惺相惜。47. Like teacher like pupil. 有其师必有其徒。48. Gods that run many hares kill none.贪多必失。49. Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。
40、50. Actions speak louder than words. 行胜于言。51. You cannot eat your cake and have it. 鱼与熊掌，不可兼得。52. One loses by pride and gains by modesty. 满招损,谦受益。53. Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌。54. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 每日一苹果远离医生。55. Time past cannot be called back again. 时光不倒流。56. A drop of water c
41、annot make a sea, and a tree cannot make a wood. 滴水不成海，独木不成林。57. If you venture nothing, you will have nothing. 不入虎穴,焉得虎子。58.The tree is known by its fruit. 观其行知其人。59. All work no play makes Jack a dull boy. 只会用功不玩耍,聪明的孩子也变傻。60. The pot calls the kettle black. 五十步笑百步。61. Unkindness often reacts on t
42、he unkind person. 恶有恶报。62. Todays work should never be left over till tomorrow. 今日事今日毕。63. Nothing so bad but might have been worse. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 64. God helps those who help themselves. 自助者天助。65. Complacency is the enemy of study. 学习的敌人是自己的满足。66. A fox may grow gray, but never good.江山易改，本性难移。67. A fr
43、iend without faults will never be found. 没有十全十美的朋友。68. A good beginning is half done. 良好的开端是成功的一半。69. A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. 一本好书，相伴一生。70. A good medicine tastes bitter. 良药苦口。71. A leopard cannot change its spots.积习难改。72. A little knowledge is a dangerous thi
44、ng. 一知半解，自欺欺人。73. All good things come to an end. 天下没有不散的筵席。74. Justice has long arms. 天网恢恢，疏而不漏。75A man becomes learned by asking questions. 不耻下问才能有学问。76. A man can do no more than he can. 凡事都应量力而行。77. A man cannot spin and reel at the same time. 一心不能二用。78. Diamond cuts diamond. 强中自有强中手。79. Doing i
45、s better than saying. 与其挂在嘴上，不如落实在行动上。80. Do it now. 机不可失，时不再来。81. It is the unforeseen that always happens. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福。82. Dont put off till tomorrow what should be done today.今日事，今日毕。83. Do well and have well. 善有善报。84. Easy come, easy go. 来也匆匆，去也匆匆。85. Every advantage has its disadvantage.有利必有弊
46、。86. Every day is not Sunday. 好景不常在。87. Every man has his faults. 金无足赤，人无完人。88. Every man has his weak side. 人人都有弱点。89. Every potter praises hit pot. 王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸。90. Experience must be bought. 吃一堑，长一智。91. Far from eye, far from heart. 眼不见，心不烦。92. First come, first served. 先来后到。93. Judge not from appea
47、rances.人不可貌相，海不可斗量。94. Gold will not buy anything.黄金并非万能。95. He laughs best who laughs last.谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好。96. He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。97. Learn not and know not. 不学无术。98. It is never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。 99. It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百年树人。100. It is the first step that costs troublesome. 万事开头难。