Language as a Reflection of Culture: On the Cultural Characteristics of Chinese and English Proverbs

Abstract

Language and culture are closely intertwined and shaped each other. Proverbs, gems of a language, are not only an important part of a language, but also a “window” through which one can observe the cultural facets of a nation. This paper attempts to compare and contrast Chinese and English proverbs in terms of their cultural sources and cultural implications so as to reveal their respective cultural characteristics, the causes of which are also touched upon. It is hoped that the discussion will not only facilitate deeper insights into Chinese and Western cultural differences that the proverbs manifest, but also better appreciation and use of proverbs as well as more effective intercultural interactions between Chinese and native English speakers.

Keywords

Chinese proverbs / English proverbs / language and culture / cultural characteristics

References

[1] Chan, Wing—tsit. (1963). A source book in Chinese philosophy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

[2] Chen, Guo—Ming. (2009). 跨文化交際學 [Foundations of intercultural communication]. Shanghai: East China Normal University Press.

[3] Chen, Guo—Ming & Starosta, William J. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

[4] Chinese Culture Connection. (1987). Chinese values and the search for culture—free dimensions of culture. Journal of Cross—Cultural Psychology, 18, 143-164.

[5] Cui, Xiliang. (1997). 漢語熟語與中國人文世界 [Chinese sayings and Chinese culture world]. Beijing: Beijing Language and Culture University Press.

[6] Deng, Yanchang & Liu, Runqing. (1989). Language and culture: Contrastive studies between English and Chinese. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

[7] Hall, Edward T. (1959). The silent language. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

[8] Hou, Guangxu. (1990). 漢英諺語結構與修辭比較研究 [On the language features of Chinese and English proverbs]. Harbin: Harbin University of Technology Press.

[9] Hu, Wenzhong & Grove, Cornelius L. (1991). Encountering the Chinese: A guide for Americans. Yarmouth: Intercultural Press, Inc.

[10] Irving, Kathy J. (1986). Communicating in context: Intercultural communication skills for ESL students. New Jersey: Prentice—Hall Inc.

[11] Li, Yongfang. (2009). 英漢雙解英語諺語辭典 (第二版) [A dictionary of English proverbs annotated bilingually (2^nd ed.)]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Languages Education Press.

[12] Lin, Yutang. (2000). My country and my people. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. (Originally published in 1935)

[13] Lu, Shuxiang. (1989). Foreword [序]. In Wen Duanzheng (Ed.) 中國俗語大辭典 [A dictionary of Chinese common sayings] (pp. 1—3). Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House.

[14] Ma, Changgang. (1986). 漢英諺語的對比 [A contrastive study of Chinese and English proverbs]. 外語教學 [Foreign Language Education], 4, pp. 28—32.

[15] Manser, Martin H. (2002). Facts on file dictionary of proverbs. New York: Facts On File, Inc.

[16] Mieder, Wolfgang. (1986). The Prentice—Hall encyclopedia of world proverbs: A treasury of wit and wisdom through the ages. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice—Hall.

[17] Mieder, Wolfgang. (1990). Not by bread alone: Proverbs of the Bible. Shelburne/Vermont: New England Press.

[18] Mieder, Wolfgang. (1993). Proverbs are never out of season: Popular wisdom in the modern age. New York: Oxford University Press.

[19] Mieder, Wolfgang. (1994). Wise words: Essays on the proverb. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.

[20] Mieder, Wolfgang. (2004). Proverbs: A handbook. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.

[21] Mieder, Wolfgang. (2009). International bibliography of paremiology and phraseology. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

[22] Mieder, Wolfgang. (2014). Behold the proverbs of a people: Proverbial wisdom in culture, literature, and politics. Jackson, Miss.: University Press of Mississippi.

[23] Mieder, Wolfgang & Dundes, Alan. (1981). The wisdom of many: Essays on the proverb. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press.

[24] Mieder, Wolfgang; Kingsbury, Stewart A. & Harder, Kelsie B. (1992). A dictionary of American proverbs. New York: Oxford University Press.

[25] Rohsenow, John S. (2002). ABC漢英諺語詞典 [ABC dictionary of Chinese proverbs]. Shanghai: Chinese Dictionary Publishing House.

[26] Samovar, Larry A.; Porter, Richard E. & McDaniel, Edwin R. (2007). Communication between cultures (6^th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Wadsworth.

[27] Sapir, Edward. (1921). Language: An introduction to the study of speech. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.

[28] Sapir, Edward. (1929). The status of linguistics as a science. Language, 5(4), 207-214.

[29] Saussure, Ferdinand de. (1983; translation of French original published in 1916). In Charles Bally & Albert Sechehaye (Eds.), Course in general linguistics. (Trans.) Roy Harris. La Salle, IL: Open Court.

[30] Stewart, Edward C. & Bennett, Milton J. (1991). American cultural patterns. A cross—cultural perspective. (Revised ed.). Yarmouth: Intercultural Press.

[31] Todd, Loreto & Hancock, Ian F. (1986). International English usage. London: Croom Helm Ltd.

[32] Wang, Dechun; Yang, Suying & Huang, Yueyuan. (2003). 漢英諺語與文化 [Chinese—English proverbs and culture]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Languages Education Press.

[33] Wang, Zuoliang et al. (1992). European culture: An introduction. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

[34] Wen, Dunzheng. (2004). 中國諺語大全 [A complete collection of Chinese proverbs]. Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House.

[35] Wu, Weishan & Yan, Huixian. (2009). 跨文化交際概論 [A survey of intercultural communication]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.

[36] Wu, Zhankun & Ma, Guofan. (1980). 諺語 [Proverbs]. Huhehaote: Neimenggu People’s Publishing House.

[37] Xu, Zhongning. (2003). 諺語的民族風格 [National styles of proverbs]. 修辭學習 [Rhetoric Learning], 117(3), 16—17, 36.

[38] Xu, Zhusheng. (2003). 英語諺語大詞典 [A dictionary of English proverbs]. Nanjing: Jiangsu Education Press.

[39] Yang, Fang. (2001). 漢語諺語與漢文化 [Chinese proverbs and Chinese culture]. Harbin: Harbin Press.

[40] Yum, June O. (2000). The impact of Confucianism on interpersonal relationships and communication patterns in East Asia. In Larry A. Samovar and Richard E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (9^th ed.) (pp. 63-73). San Francisco: Wadsworth.

[41] Zeng, Zili. (1983). 英語諺語概說 [An overview of English proverbs]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.

[42] Zhang, Xiangyang. (1996). 試論英漢諺語的文化差異 [Cultural differences between English and Chinese proverbs: A tentative study]. 江蘇外語教學研究 [Jiangsu Foreign Language Teaching and Research], 1, 50—52.

[43] Zhang, Xiangyang. (2016). Proverbs as a mirror of culture: American and Chinese values contrasted. China Media Research, 12(2), 42-51.

[44] Zhang, Yali. (1999). 英漢諺語比較 [A comparison between English and Chinese proverbs]. 福州大學學報 [Journal of Fuzhou University], 13(1), 49—52.

[45] Zhang, Ye. (1993). 漢語俗語英譯大全 [A complete English translation of Chinese common sayings]. Shenzhen: Haitian Press.

[46] Zhou, Xiqing. (1987). 英語諺語詞典 [A dictionary of English proverbs]. Beijing: Beijing Press.

[47] Zormeier, Shelly M. & Samovar, Larry A. (2000). Language as a mirror of reality: Mexican American proverbs. In Larry A. Samovar and Richard E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (9^th ed.) (pp. 225-229). San Francisco, CA: Wadsworth.