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1、Chinese and English Kinship TermsThesis statement：This paper is intended to make a comparison between Chinese and English kinship systems to see their differences and similarities, and a tentative explanation is given to the differences of these two systems from the aspect of culture as to illustrat
2、e the communicative functions they play in their own societyOutline： 1. Introduction 2. Comparison between Chinese and English kinship terms 2. 1 Similarities 2. 2 Differences 3. Cultural connotation of Chinese and English kinship terms 3. 1 Cultural connotation of Chinese kinship terms 3. 1. 1 The
3、background of Chinese economy and society 3. 1. 2 The family relationship based on marrige and blood 3. 2 Cultural connotation of English kinship terms 3. 2. 1 The development of Western culture 3. 2. 2 The character of British people 3. 2. 3 The structure of Western family 4. Conclusion Works cited
4、Chinese and English Kinship Terms1.Introduction: When it comes to the language. People cant help thinking of the culture. Similarly, when it comes tothe culture. People will connect it with language. There are many different versions about the definition of language all the time. Now the Chinese lan
5、guage academic circles widely believe that language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Concept of culture is very wide scope. The entire human civilization includes food, architecture, art, religion, customs, ideas and language etc that belong to the category of cul
6、ture. In this paper, Id like to make a comparison between Chinese and English kinship systems to see their differences and similarities, and then Ill try to give a tentative explanation to the differences of these two systems from the aspect of cultureFrom the comparison, maybe we can know the commu
7、nicative functions they play in their own society.2. Comparison between Chinese and English kinship termsAs we know, since the different culture and philosophical basis. China and Western countries have different interpretations on the interpersonal relationship systems. In China, there are many dif
8、ferent kinds of relatives of the terms. However the relationship among the English-speaking countries will have a much simpler kinship terms. The following diagrams show the comparison between some English and Chinese kinship termsGrandfather（grandpa）祖父（爷爷）、外祖父（姥爷）或社交称谓Grandmother（grandma，granny）祖母（
9、奶奶）、外祖母（外婆、姥娘）或社交称谓Father（dad，daddy）父亲（爸、爹等）、岳父（岳丈、泰山等）Mother（mom，mum，mummy）母亲（妈、娘等）、岳母Brother兄、弟、姐夫、妹夫、内兄、内弟、大伯哥、小叔子或社交称谓Sister姐、妹、嫂子、弟媳、内兄妻、内弟妻、小姑子、小姨子或社交称谓Cousin堂（表）兄弟、堂（表）姐妹Son儿子、女婿或社交称谓Daughter女儿、儿媳或社交称谓Grandson孙、外孙或社交称谓Granddaughter孙女、外孙女或社交称谓Wife妻子（日常称谓很多Husband丈夫（日常称谓很多）Uncle伯、叔、舅、姑父、姨夫或社交称谓
10、Aunt伯母、婶母、舅母、姑、姨或社交称谓Nephew侄子、外甥Niece侄女、外甥女Mr.先生（可用于尊敬的外亲）Miss小姐（可用于尊敬的外亲Mrs.女士（可用于尊敬的外亲）From the above diagrams, a brief comparison between English and Chinese kinship terms points to more differences than similarities2.1 SimilaritiesOne hand we call by sex, such as “grandmother”, “mother”, “brothe
11、r” etc. On the other hand call by direct relationship, especially from parents to the child generation. For example, both languages use such kinship terms as “grandfather”,” father”, “son”, “grandson” and so on. Whats more, calling by Seniority in the family, both follow a common principle, For inst
12、ance, “uncle”, “cousins”, “ father” and “daughter” show different generational relationships.2.2 DifferencesEnglish and Chinese in the connotation of kinship terms are not completely equivalent. English kinship terms are far less specific and complex, performance is more general and vague.The differ
13、ence between the two countries mainly manifested in the following aspects. First Chinese usually use the figure to express ranking, such as big brother, third brother and so on. And in English, there is no such habit. Second, Chinese culture places great emphasis on the identity and status of the pa
14、ternal relatives, the “grandfather”, “grandma”, “aunt” and the maternal relatives are known as “grandpa”, “grandma “, “auntie” and so on. However, grandfather in English means yeye or laoye. The uncle is in addition to “bobo”, “shushu”, the more “yifu”,“gufu” and many other meanings. Finally, the Ch
15、inese kinship terms attach importance to sex, but the English word “cousin”, can refer to “biaoxiong” and “biaomei”.It is obvious that the Chinese language has more kinship terms than the English language. Actually, behind the kinship terms in the Chinese and English languages, there must be some re
16、levant influential factors of their cultures.3. The Cultural Connotation of Chinese and English Kinship Terms3.1 The cultural connotation of Chinese kinship termsIn ancient times, Chinese agricultural culture is determined by natural geographical position. People live on earth, developed with agricu
17、ltural economy. In the long-term background of self-sufficient agricultural economy and society, hundreds of people who are blood or in-laws relations live together, form the three generations or four generations of family so that a kinship based on patriarchal social organization have appeared. The
18、ir families related by blood and marriage within race form complicated kinship, it is not only indicates the relationship between blood and marriage, but also their status, authority and the distance of the symbol, it must be clear from the language symbols. Multifarious Chinese kinship terms system
19、 arise from now on.Relationship result from marriage, the various concepts which produced from marriage relationship will be reflected on kinship. China has been in the feudal society for a long time, the unit of social organization is the family or clan. Therefore, clan influence is very strong, bu
20、t the interior relationship within the clan is strictly differentiated by rating. In order to maintain and adapt to the feudal family system and the feudal ethics, many related terms appeared. Chinese kinship terms are complex and diverse. And it can accurately distinguish hierarchy, affinity, young
21、 and old, men and women. It is determined by thousands of years of feudal society. 3. 2The cultural connotation of English kinship termsAs we know Greece is the birthplace of Western culture, the earliest development of commercial economy, which created the western society business culture. Greeks w
22、ho were engaged in commercial activities had get rid of blood ties, and developed with contractual relationship of basing on society organization, democratic and equal social contract. Commercial economy determines structure of family, that is to say, there are only parents and young children, and r
23、elatives separate in different places. This family relationships and kinship make kinship terms between relatives simple, a few of kinship terms are enough to use. Society dont value blood, and pay more attention to the relationship and cooperation between people, and the importance of individual. E
24、veryone is equal. It would not attach importance to the terms with the clan or not clan. The best kinship terms which can reflect the equal social is cousin, it covers all the family relationship among the same generation besides brother and sister. British people have a unique national character si
25、nce ancient times, one of them is the British have a strong economic independence. Their family and clan have no attachment, and pursue personal struggle. They keep relative independent with blood, in-laws relatives in economy. When children are young, parents foster the spirit of independence. Afte
26、r they grow, they can make a living by themselves. In dealing with personal and family relations, personal interests and aspirations are main, the family is second (huangzifu 2000). Therefore, the English kinship terms are not so complicated. Even among relatives may not take age and seniority into
27、account, and call him by name.Westerners prefer family lifestyle, family structure is simple and family members are also scattered. Whats more, immigration is also very frequent. Therefore, the Western concept of the race is very weak. And it is rare to use family kinship terms to refer to people ou
28、tside. 4.ConclusionThe function of kinship plays an irreplaceable role in human society. Therefore, there is the same relationship in any nation and society objectively. The living environment in which various ethnic groups are and the different cost paid for development and survival in the social h
29、istorical process will make a direct impact on their understanding of the relationship of the family emphasis, leading to the differences in ethnic kinship. Therefore, the anthropologists of devoting into the national languages of the various existing kinship words put them into 6 types. The size of
30、 the world today has more than 2000 languages, although they are similar between ethnic and national cultural phenomenon, but similar does not mean exactly the same, these different culture is the key to identify. If we have cultural differences as the reason for the difference kinship terms, then,
31、the type of kinship may be far more than the 6 types.Works Cited李瑞华主编英汉语言文化对比研究上海：上海外语教育出版社1996田惠刚中西人际称谓系统,外语教学与研究出版社1998SAMOVAR,PORTER,STEFANI. Communication between cultures. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2000.英语谚语警句100句精选Proverbs are the daughters of daily experience.谚语是日常
32、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 never be bankrupt.天
33、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. Put ones foot in o
34、nes 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 rich year. 瑞雪兆丰年。19.
35、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 dies. 坏事传千年。26. Four
36、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. 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。/有生命就有希望。
37、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 time saves nine. 及时缝
38、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。 41. Things of a kin
39、d 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。50. Actions speak
40、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 cannot make a sea,
41、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 the unkind person.
42、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 friend without fault
43、s 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 thing. 一知半解，自欺欺人。73.
44、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 is better than sayi
45、ng. 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。86. Every day is
46、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 appearances.人不可貌相，海不可斗量
47、。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。