从英语习语看英美文化 --毕业论文.doc

【标题】从英语习语看英美文化 【作者】石金文 【关键词】习语；英语习语；英美文化 【指导老师】张海霞 【专业】英语 【正文】. IntroductionLanguage and culture are inseparable from each other. Language is the important carrier of culture and reflects cultural phenomena. It is used to serve and reflect cultural needs, through which we can get a glimpse of the culture forms of that nation such as customs, art, history, religion and literature. Some social scientists consider it the keystone of culture. Without language, culture would not be possible. Language is also influenced and shaped by culture. In the broadest sense, language is the symbolic representation of a people, and it comprises their historical and cultural backgrounds as well as their approach to life and their ways of living and thinking.But, as the fruit of wisdom, idioms have been described as the crystallization of human wisdom and gems of a language. Without idioms, our language would become dull and dry. Idioms are concise and comprehensive, and can convey more cultural meaning in life. Idioms are the idiosyncrasies of a language; they mirror the national culture which is embodied in a language and are always rich in cultural connotation.Therefore, we can know about the cultural features of Anglo-American countries, and understand the social and historical origins through understanding the cultural information in English idioms. English idioms mainly display the principle of ideology, the life style and historical culture from customs, art, history, religion and literature in Anglo-American countries. This paper will explore the English idioms relation with the Anglo-American culture from the perspective of etymology, original meaning and extended meaning. The Relationship between English Idioms and Anglo-American CultureA. The Definition of Idiom and CultureIdiom is a particular part of language. It is usually specialized in meaning and has cultural features and cultural attitude. Idiom is the reflection of the cultural concepts, and idiom embodies the cultural properties of a nation. According to Longman Dictionary of English Language& Culture, the word“idiom” in English is to describe the language which is peculiar to people，country，class，community，more rarely an individual; the structure of the usual patterns of statement, etc; a construction，statement, etc. Having a meaning different from the literal one or not according to the usual patterns of the language the special phrases that are essential part of a grammar rules in the language. 1 However, the Websters New World Dictionary of the American Language defines idiom as,“an accepted phrase, or expression contrary to the usual patterns of the language or having a meaning different from the language or having a meaning different from the literal.”2 According to Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary,“idiom” refers to“a group of words whose meaning is different from the meaning of the individual.”3 From the above definitions, we conclude that an idiom is an expression whose meaning is not compositional, and whose meaning does not follow the meaning of the individual words.Like the idiom, it is not an easy job to define the culture. Some social scholars offer us the classic definition of culture: Culture includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. But according to Longman Dictionary of English Language& Culture, culture is the customs, belief, art, music and all the other products of man thought made by a particular group of people at a particular time. 4 However, the Oxford Advanced Learners English-American Dictionary defines culture as,“the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group.”5 From the above definitions, we conclude that culture includes many aspects such as physical environment, ways of life, manners, history, beliefs, literature, folklore customs, religion ethics, ideology and language. Viewing English idioms and Anglo-American cultures through the definition of idiom and culture, they closely have relationship.B. The Relationship between English Idioms and Anglo-American CultureJust as language and culture are inseparable from each other, so are English idioms from English and Anglo-American culture. As the fruit of wisdom, English idioms are an effective device for expression. They are often described as a form of speech to a nation. They are attributed to peoples observation of the world and their participation in gregarious activities. They are culture-bound. Idioms, born in the soil of a certain culture, are mirrors of that culture. They are indicators of national character, the way that people observe, evaluate, and approach nature. So the best way to know about culture is to learn its idioms; meanwhile, the culture also influences on the development of English idioms.Thus, probing the sources of English idioms and studying the relations between English idioms and a few important cultural aspects, such as the life style, historical background and the ideology will help us to comprehend the Anglo-American culture in English idioms. The Anglo-American Culture in English IdiomsA. The Aspect of the Daily LifeThe way of daily life contains many aspects, which is concerned with English idioms in social life. Therefore, emergence of idioms is closely related to peoples geographical environment, the life style and the customs and habits, for people in a particular culture need to have words to name and explain objects and conditions that those need to experience in daily life.1. Geographical EnvironmentRegional culture refers to the culture of a nation being developed by its surroundings, its natural conditions and its geographical environment. Idioms, as the crystallization of language, vividly reappear the regional culture. Because Britain is an island country, the advantageous marine resource enables the shipping industry to become the important method of production. This has already facilitated the English own development, also has had the huge influence to English language formation. Thus, the sea holds the important status in the Anglo-American regional culture. People who live along seacoast and whose livelihood is dependent on the sea will have idioms about water, sailing, island and fish. For example, we speak in Chinese“挥金如土”, but we should render it into English as“spend money like water”. There are a lot of English idioms about ship,water and fish, such as:“to cast an anchor to windward”-the idioms meaning is“to take precautions before it is too late”,“at sea”-the original meaning of this idiom is that the boat is out of control at sea, but now it refers to“confused”,“to keep ones head above water”,“to take the wind out of somebodys sail”,“tower ones sail”,“in full sail”,“sail under false colors”,“half sea over”,“fish begins to stink at the head”,“never offer to teach fish to swim”,“dull fish”,“plain sailing”,“to trim ones sail to the wind”,“to be in the same boat”,“to burn ones boat”,“a big fish in a little pond”6,“to get into deep water”-the original meaning of this idiom refers to“Sb./Sth. is trapped into deep water”, and now its meaning is“sb. is in the trouble”,“in low water”-the original meaning of this idiom is“get stranded”, but now its meaning is“the lack of money”,“all fish that comes to ones net”-people, who live on the fishing, think no matter how the fish is small or big, its very useful. From the examples above, we can conclude that it is the living environment that contributes to development of English idioms, because English enjoy fishery and navigation and activities related to the water. Therefore, studying English idioms is very useful to learn the Anglo-American culture.2. The Life StyleAnglo-American nation develops its special life style in the special environment of society. By analysis of relate English idioms, their life style and life habit can be known about. For example:“a bus-mans holiday”;“a red-letter day”-Anglo-American people get used to mark the important day on Calendar in red pen in daily life;“a meal ticket” refers to“expect sb. to help sb. freely and endlessly” at present, but the original meaning of this idiom refers to“Some solder or people in company can have dinners without pay”;“Dear John Letter”-during The World War, man went to the front, but their wife or girlfriend were left. Those wives and girlfriends fell in love with other people, they wrote to their husband or boyfriend with beginning of Dear John;“to give the sack”-people took a sack with them when they worked in the past time. If the boss returned the sack to you, that meant you were laid off;“above the salt”(in a position of honor) and“below the salt”(in a relatively inferior position) come from the old custom at feasts when salt was expensive and regarded as a symbol of high social status. Those guests sitting above the salt were wealthy and important whereas those sitting below the salt were usually poor relatives or ordinary guests.A lot of idioms about life are made a conclusion:(1) Marry in haste, repent at leisure(2) A friend in need is a friend indeed(3) Mind/watch ones Ps and Qs(4) Fine feathers make fine birds(5) Diamond cuts diamond(6) Someone might as be hanged/hung for a sheep as a lamb(someone who stole a small sheep or a big sheep was to declare sentence of hanging in the old law.)(7) Good wine needs no bush(merchants hung something to show what goods was sold. However, the ivy or its picture was hung in the wine shop gate.)From the examples above, we can see that the Anglo-American life style develops the English idioms. Through all kinds of English idioms about the Anglo-American life, we can know about the Anglo-American culture.3. The Customs and HabitsThe customs and habits are a kind of cultural phenomenon, which is the product created collectively by social groups. Everyone, from the moment he see the world, is shaped by the social environment and customs in his feeling, action and experience. English idioms are closely related to the customs of the Anglo-American nation including etiquettes, habits, folkway, food, etc.In Anglo-American countries, especially in America, the development of industry has spoiled the traditional relationship among family members. With the declining social position of the old and the rising role of the young, the role of the young has become the center of social culture, which attaches importance to vigor. In American culture,“old” means the end of youth, the decline of vigor. Therefore, most Americans mentally resist the idea of becoming old and try to remain young. And the idiomatic expression such as“you dont look your age” is welcomed. However, the idiom expressions about folkway are: Cap in hand(When talking with someone, taking off ones cap is to show the respect for sb.); to carry/have/wear a chip on ones shoulder(The idiom originates in American in 19th century. At that time, most families cut the wood into chips, and there were lots of chips in most places. The young men, who liked to fight, would carry a chip on their shoulder. If somebody made the chip drop, he would cause to a fight); to throw down the gauntlet(In the Middle Age, if a knight challenged to other one, he would throw away his gauntlet on ground); to burry the hatchet(Hatchet refers to“American Indians battle-axe. It is said that burying the hatchet in underground meant the coming of the peace). Through idioms about folkway, we can see that American is an immigrant country. And there are lots of idioms about food, such as:“to know which side ones bread is buttered” is an interesting idiom implying“to know where ones interest lies”. To butter both sides of ones bread may satisfy a persons appetite better, so“to butter both sides of ones bread” is used to mean“to obtain an comfortable living”. It is certainly a bad luck if someone has to eat hard cheese, so“hard cheese” got its meaning“bad luck”7Therefore, just as what Hong Ping and Guoyang Zhang said:The living custom is the way of life for people living in a special region, including a variety of things that related to all aspects of social life. It is restricted to the nations politics, economy, religion, literature and arts and which in turn affect it. Language, as a special part of the nations culture, definitely reflects the living customs of the nation, and idioms are even greatly related to the living customs. 8B. The Aspect of the IdeologyDifferent life styles and different living circumstance develop different national ideology. Different nations have different ideologies, and form different national taboos and religions or beliefs.1. National TaboosUnder different cultural backgrounds, each nation has its taboos. Because of the influence of the special Anglo-American cultural background on Anglo-American people, English idioms show its special national taboos. For example, in the west, people often are afraid of the number 13. We know the idiom“Judass Kiss” from the Bible story. Judas was disloyal to Christ, and he was properly the 13th person at last supper. Therefore, there are no the 13th floor and the 13th room in hotel in the west world. Essentially, all taboos reflect the people of exception for health, luck.2. Religion and BeliefReligion, the main component of human culture, reflects different attitudes towards admiration and taboo of each nation. Different nations usually believe in different religions, and religion has great influences upon the lives of people. They penetrate into every possible aspect of peoples life. Therefore, idioms of diverse nations surely express various religious beliefs. Anglo-American culture is closely related to Christianity with a long history. And Christian religion as the main belief of Anglo-American people has already taken roots in their lives. Therefore, such words as“God”,“Devil”,“Hell” and“church” are frequently used in idioms.Here are a few examples:(1) God helps those who help themselves(2) God sends meat and the devil sends cook(3) Gods mill grinds slow but sure(4) Each for himself and the devil take the hindmost(5) As poor as a church mouse(6) Man proposes, but God disposes(7) The way to Heaven is by Weeping Cross(8) To ride hell for leatherThe religion is considered to be the major cultural treasure of the Anglo-American culture and it has inevitably contributed a great deal to English idioms. So, by the idioms above, we can clearly understand the Anglo-American culture. Of course, understanding the Anglo-American culture from the religious beliefs is not enough. We should study other aspects, such as historical allusion.C. The Aspect of Historical AllusionIn the long history of its development, a great number of allusions, myths, poems, ancient books and records were created and many idioms which based on them were produced. Among them, allusions are the most important ones, which reflect the national culture, while idioms from historical culture are the essence of human cultural heritage. Thus, it is really necessary for us to consider and analyze the historical cultural elements embodied in the idioms in order to understand Anglo-American culture.1. Literary WorksIdioms from literary works are also one of the main sources from which idioms are derived. In English literature, Shakespeare plays a very important role; his dramas are the major source of this kind:“applaud one to the echo”;“die in harness”;“make assurance doubly sure” and“at one fell swoop” come from Macbeth;“to have an old head on young shoulders” and“to claim ones pound of flesh” are from The Merchant of Venice;“to hoist with ones own petard” and“out of joint” are from Hamlet. Besides, the woks of other famous writers also store a great many idioms:“a nine-day wonder” appears in Troilus and Cressid written by Geoffrey Chaucer;“a fly on the wheel” derived from Aesops Fable, can refer to assuming a self-important air;“mind ones eye”-Charles Dickens Barnaby Rudge;“Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, writing an exact man”-Bacon Of Studies, Catch 22-Joseph Hellers Catch 22;“the ugly duckling” is from Han Andersons tales.So the literary works which were produced in special time reflect culture in special time. From the idioms about literary works, the politic and economic life of Anglo-American people is reappeared.2. Historical EventsIdiomatic expressions are closely related to a countrys historical culture. So the English language has much idioms from historical events, for example,“to meet ones Waterloo” is from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, which means to be completely defeated; The idiom“Dunkirk evacuation” comes from the Second World War and originally meant the retreat of the English-French troops forced by the German. Now the expression means to retreat in disorder.“When Greek meet Greek, then comes the tug of war” means“a fierce battle”. A story is told that, in 1936, Emilio Mola headed four columns to attack the capital-Madrid, before attacking, he delivered a speech that the four columns had surrounded Madrid, while the fifth column was in the city. That is how the idiom“the fifth column” came into being. Similar examples are“Columbuss egg”(In the famous story of Columbuss egg, the explorer, irritated at being told that his exploits were easy, challenged the guests at a banquet to balance an egg on its end. When all had failed, he succeeded by flattening one end by tapping it against the table, a trick that any would then have been able to repeat. Repetition is easier than innovation.) 9 and“to eat crow” which means to be forced to change hat one has said and admit that one is wron