1、Chapter 4Verbal CommunicationLanguage Definition Language is a set of symbols and the rules for combining those symbols that are used and understood by a large community of people.Functions of language It enables people to communicate:to transmit information,exchange ideas and feelings.It makes rati
2、onal thought possible.It is the means of cognitive development for children and conceptual development for adults.It records,stores and disseminates knowledge.Properties of language Language is symbolic.Language is systematic.Phonology,morphology,semantics,syntax Language is arbitrary.Any concept ca
3、n be mapped onto a symbol.All linguistic symbols are merely agreed-upon conventions to represent a certain thing by users of that language.Language is ambiguous.The meanings we exchange by speaking and writing are not only given in words but also constructed partly out of listeners and readers inter
4、pretations.To communicate,we have to jump to conclusions based on two main sources:the language we use and the knowledge about the world.The more we share assumptions and knowledge about the world,the better we communicate.Kangaroo The relation between word and its meaning is arbitrary a house in En
5、glisha casa in Spanisha ban in ThaiIn a physics class Professor:What is matter?Student:Never mind.Professor:Then what is mind?Student:It doesnt matter.Questions:1.Try to translate it into Chinese.Can your translation be as humorous as the original?2.Do you know anything in Chinese that may defy tran
6、slation into other languages?Language and Culture Language most shows a man.Speak,that I may see thee.Ben Johnson 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 l
7、iving and thinking.Language and Thought Language not only gives us freedom to express ourselves,but also tends to confine our thoughts.The limits of my language are the limits of my world.Ludwig Wittgenstein Sapir-Whorf hypothesis It suggests that language is more than a way of communicating,and it
8、offers hints to cultural differences and similarities among people.Culture and Word Meaning denotation:the surface meaning,or explicit meaning connotation:the implications,or implicit meaninge.g.politician a person whose business is politics a person who doesnt usually keep his promises,often cheats
9、 for his own selfish purposePhoenix English Chinese Words with different associated meanings Dragon English Chinese Bat English Chinese Words without counterparts in another language American Hippies in the 1960sConfusing translation Chinese WordsConfusing translationEnglish words Connotation 单位unit
10、A thing,person or group that is regarded as one single whole part of something larger.物质主义/唯物主义materialism(1)The belief that money and possessions rather than things of the mind such as art or religion.(2)The belief that only physical things really exist.平均主义/平等主义equalitarianThe belief that everyone
11、 is equal and has the same chance to do something.Proverbs Proverbs are fruits of wisdom.Proverbs reflect religion,morality,values,and life experience.Chinese culture has been greatly influenced by Confucian philosophy emphasizing the social relationships.In contrast,there are more proverbs describi
12、ng the preference of independence,freedom and self-fulfillment in western cultures.liberalism/自由主义 individualism/个人主义 bureaucracy/官僚 privilege/特权 loyalty/忠 filiality/孝 intellectual/知识分子 peasant/农民 human rights/人权 propaganda/宣传 work/工作 leisure/休闲In groups discuss what the following words and their Ch
13、inese translation mean to the majority of people in both Chinese and Western cultures.Then think of more words that have different connotation in Chinese or English translation.Language difference between Chinese and English Please look for more examples to compare English and Chinese.Phonology(soun
14、ds)Morphology(forms)Semantics SyntaxPhonology Monosyllabic/Polysyllabic?Open syllables/Closed syllable?开（/kai/）;Kate Tone/Stress?妈，麻，马，骂 content,content To be or not to be,that is the question.Morphology Hieroglyphics Alphabetic language汉语言文字是一种立体的建筑型的因素，而西方的文字是单维的流线型的因素多一些；汉语象形性因素比较多，而西方是符号化因素比较重；汉
15、语的自然性比较强，且是多向综合性的，而西方是单向推理性的；同时由于语言文字跟自然界是贯通的，汉语言文字很容易与自然界沟通，是情感性的文化，而西方语言文字所诱导出来的往往是理智性的因素；中国文化的科学性比较弱，而西方比较强，造成西方人思维的轨迹感很强；中国的文化时间上是视觉型的文化，西方的则是精确型的文化；中国的文化以语形为主，西方的则是以语法为主，因此中国几千年来文字学特别发达，而西方的语法学特别发达；中国文化的灵活性强，西方文化比较死板，容易走到极端；中国的文化是文字导向型文化，西方的文化是语言导向型文化。这就是中西语言文化的基本差异。Problems in translation Voca
16、bulary equivalence Give the English equivalents of the following Chinese:杯子 cup,glass,mug 疼痛 ache,sore,pain,hurt（足球、篮球、高尔夫球等）场 the football field,the tennis/badminton/basketball court,the golf course,the skating rink,the hockey arena,the baseball diamond,the ring(for boxing or wrestling)a heavy rain
17、 大雨 a heavy responsibility 重大责任 heavy food 油腻/难消化的食物 a heavy heart 沉郁的心情 heavy music 严肃音乐Idiomatic equivalenceE.g.“the old man kicked the bucket”Grammatical-syntactical equivalence“plan a table”,“table a plan”“book a place”,“place a book”“lift a thumb”,“thumb a lift”Experiential equivalence 四合院 Comp
18、ound with rooms around a square courtyard 雍和宫 The Yonghe Temple/the Lama Temple of Peace and Harmony 武术 Gongfu,Chinese martial arts 三八妇女红旗手 March 8th Red Banner/outstanding woman pace setter Zeus 宙斯 Monarchy 君主制 Hippie 嬉皮 individualism/个人主义 intellectual/知识分子 peasant/农民 human rights/人权 propaganda/宣传
19、loyalty/忠 filiality/孝Conceptual equivalenceColor termsChineseEnglishREDYELLOWWHITENow we see that the use of color terms varies from language to language,and from culture to culture.A particular color term may be associated with different things and emotions in different language communities.Work to
20、gether to make a tentative summary of the potential cultural implications of the following color terms.Try to translate the following Chinese phrases into English and English ones into Chinese.红糖 红茶 眼红 开门红 红白喜事 清白 白眼 青天 背黑锅 黄色书刊 a blue Monday a white lie a green wound yellow journalism a black eye r
21、ed-letter daysHow do you explain the underlined parts in the following sentences?1.It may cost over a week to go through all the red tape to get the permission.2.No wonder he got promoted this timehe is the presidents blue-eyed boy!3.She was tickled pink when she learned that she was the only person
22、 who was offered such a chance.4.I tried to call her many times but she was in a brown study and didnt hear me.5.Im afraid we should go on chatting like this.The department head could arrive out of blue.6.The new office block has unfortunately become an expensive white elephant.7.Mary was always reg
23、arded as the black sheep of the family.8.Look at the lovely garden!I bet your father has green fingers.9.My wife will wear no yellow nose.10.Can you see the green in her eyes?11.I got some black looks from the shopkeeper when I cancelled my order.12.Whats the matter with her?Shes in holiday blue.Col
24、or Words:Red The color RED is usually associated with celebrations and joyful occasions(喜庆场合).This is true in English-speaking countries as well as in China.red-letter days 纪念日，喜庆的日子 反义词：black-letter day 倒霉的一天 paint the town red 狂欢 roll out the red carpet for 隆重地欢迎某人 红双喜 double happiness written in
25、red 开门红 to begin well,to make a good start RED is also associated with certain emotions.to become red-faced 脸红（embarrassment）to see red 激怒，突然发怒（to be made angry,to become angry suddenly）waiving a red flag 某事能迅速激怒某人e.g.The mere mention of his hated cousins name was like waving a red flag in front of
26、him.RED is the color associated with revolution and socialism(革命和社会主义).e.g.红卫兵 又红又专(both socialist minded and professionally qualified)一颗红心(as loyal to the Party,having socialist virtues)The English word Red with a capital“R”,is often used as a synonym for a communist,usually in a derogatory sense.r
27、edneck Used as a disparaging term for a member of the white rural laboring class,especially in the southern United States.One who is regarded as having a provincial,conservative,often bigoted sociopolitical attitude.Red Nose Day Red Nose Day refers to a day on which an appeal is made for donations f
28、or research into sudden infant death syndrome,marked by the distribution of plastic red noses to donors.Red Light District a neighborhood where prostitution and other businesses in the sex industry flourish 红灯区 Some Westerners take RED as an evil omen(不祥之兆)or RED for danger(危险),stemming from the spi
29、rits of bullfighters(斗牛士).RED further develops to be the synonym for political radical.Furthermore,RED has some extended meanings,such as cruelty,disaster,trivial formalities,etc.Examples red alert:alarming in emergency a red battle:a cruel battle in which a lot of lives have been lost be caught red
30、-handed:be caught on site have red hands:commit a murder Examples red tape:bureaucratic writings 官样文章，繁文缛节 in the red:in debt 赤字，亏损 to give the red light to 亮红灯Color Words:white To most Chinese and Westerners,WHITE has certain similar connotations:purity,innocence,洁白,清白无辜.a white lie a harmless lie
31、无恶意的谎言 a white man 忠实可靠的人 红白喜事 weddings and funerals(婚礼和葬礼)White is the traditional color for brides(新娘)at Western weddings.To have white at funerals would be offensive;to have funerals described as happy occasions would be absolutely shocking to Westerners.红人 In Chinese,those who are popular and fi
32、nd favor with their bosses are called 红人.In English,they are blue-eyed boys.Other“white”proverbs the white area:an anti-revolutionary area 白区 White Day:白色情人节（3月14日）white light district:ever-bright area a white elephant:something burdensome and valueless;huge burden show the white feather:show fear 露
33、出胆怯 a white slave:someone who is forced to be a slave 沦为奴隶的白人 days marked with a white stone:happy days 幸福的日子 a white war:a war without a bloodshed;an economic competition bleed white:extort every cent from someone 敲骨入髓，榨干最后一滴血 有一些中文词组中有“白”字，但与颜色无关，译成英文时不要出现white：白菜：Chinese cabbage 白熊：polar bear 白蚁：
34、termite 白费事：in vain,a waste of time and energy 白送：free of charge,for nothing More examples 白开水：plain boiled water 坦白：to confess 白痴：idiot 白话：CantoneseColor Words:Black In both English and Chinese there are various terms indicating that black is often associated with negative qualities:blacklist 黑名单 b
35、lack market 黑市 black-hearted 黑心的，恶毒的 However,in business English,in the black has a good meaning;i.e.,running a business profitably（盈利）.The opposite of this is being in the red,meaning running a business at a loss,not making profit（亏损，赤字）.Besides,BLACK implies gloom(忧郁),disgrace(耻辱),misfortune(不幸),e
36、xtreme anger(极端愤怒),etc.black and blue:full of bruises 遍体鳞伤，身上青一块，紫一块 black day:unlucky day black dog:unhappy 沮丧，意志消沉 a black look:an angry look;glare at somebody in a black mood:in a low spirits 沮丧 black sheep:害群之马，败家子 a black stranger:不折不扣的陌生人 turn black white:颠倒黑白，混淆是非Color Words:Blue It seems tha
37、t blue is a favorable word to Chinese:蓝天：the blue sky,can arouse us to yearn for a better future.蓝色的大海：the blue sea,full of uncertainty indices boundless imagination In Western culture,however,BLUE is not associated with happiness and imagination,but gloom and depression.in a blue mood;having the bl
38、ues:a sad,gloomy,or depressed mood a blue Monday:the first day of work or school after a pleasant,happy weekend BLUE is also associated with high social position or being aristocratic(贵族的).He is a really blue blood.He is from an aristocratic family.他确实出身豪门。blue book:a book with the names of well-kno
39、wn persons,especially government officials.名人录 blue chip 篮筹股在赌博游戏中，蓝色筹码的分值最高。20世纪初，blue chip被用于股市，指那些业绩良好，分红和收益稳定的上市公司发行的普通股。有blue的其他词组：blue about the gills:沮丧，垂头丧气 blue devil(bluebird,blue angel):沮丧的人 blue film:黄色电影 once in a blue moon:千载难逢 out of the blue:突然地 blue in the face:脸色发青，（气得，累得）说不出话来 blu
40、e murder:可怕的谋杀（like blue murder风驰电掣般地，以最快的速度，发疯似地）sing the blues:very depressed 垂头丧气 out of the blue:a thunder from the clear sky;the sudden coming of something unexpected 突然地，晴天霹雳 blue pencil to censor:校订、审查、删改Color Words:Yellow Yellow appears in such Chinese expressions as 黄色电影，黄色书刊，黄色音乐.For 黄色,on
41、e might use pornographic,trashy,obscene,filthy,or vulgar,as in pornographic pictures,obscene movies,filthy books,and vulgar music.Yellow Journalism In English,yellow journalism is a journalism with heavy emphasis on scandals(丑闻),or presenting ordinary news in a sensational(耸人听闻的，过分渲染细节的)manner,somet
42、imes even distorting the facts to create a sensational(哗众取宠的)effect.Yellow Pages This is a book with the telephone numbers of different shops,businesses,organizations,etc.,arranged according to different categories;for example,all the food stores,all the radio shops,all the amusement parks,all the a
43、irlines,all the hospitals.黄页 Generally speaking,YELLOW is to some extent derogatory(贬义)that carries the connotations of cowardice(怯懦，胆小),jealousy(忌妒),suspicion(猜疑),and contemptibility(卑鄙).yellow alert:alert in advance yellow boy:gold coin 金币 a yellow dog:a contemptible person 不参加或不协助工会的人，卑鄙之徒 the se
44、ar and yellow leaf:an old age yellow looks:suspicious looks 阴沉多疑的眼神 yellow streak:tending to be coward and chicken-hearted 胆怯Color Words:Purple In the eye of Westerners,PURPLE is the symbol of emperor and power.In particular,the purple refers to the throne of the emperor(皇帝)or the pope(教皇).to be bor
45、n in the purple:to be born in a royal family 出身于皇族 to be raised to the purple:to be promoted to the position as a pope 成为教皇 In Chinese,PURPLE indicates the degree of popularity.红得发紫:popular to the extreme 其他词组：marry into the purple:marry into a family of high social position purple patches:pompous m
46、essages 辞藻华丽的段落 turn purple with rage:fly into a fury 大怒 Purple Heart:(US)an insignia awarded to those wounded in the battle 授予战争伤残者的勋章Color Words:Green GREEN associated with plants and spring A person with a“green finger/thumb”(指园丁)must be skill at gardening.A“greenbelt”is an area of open land arou
47、nd a city,where building is strictly controlled.People“go to the green wood”(成为绿林好汉)refer to those choose to become forest outlaws.greenhouse effect green winter:a warm winter with no snow 没有雪的暖冬 汉语里“苍”意思是“dark green”；“青”常常作为“绿”的代名词。GREEN associated with freshness and health(新鲜和健康)green cheese:fresh
48、 cheese green beer:the beer before processing green goods:fresh vegetables green meat:fresh meat a person in the green:a teenager or youngster green signs:signs of renewal One who is“in the green tree”is in his advantage.To“keep ones memory green”means not letting someone(dead)to be forgotten.Someon
49、e in his“green old age”may refer to a senior citizen who is still sound and healthy despite his age.In Chinese“闺房”可称作“绿窗”。近年来出现很多新词：绿色冰箱、绿色食品、绿色家俱、绿色物流 GREEN associated with permission and safety(准许，放行和安全)to get the green light:to get the permission to do something 亮绿灯 绿色通道 GREEN associated with sic
50、kness(疾病)Green is the most common color of poison(绿色是最常见的毒药的颜色),which may lead to its association with sickness.The passengers turned quite green with sea-sickness.那些乘客由于晕船，脸都变绿了。green about/around the gills:used to describe a pale person 面色青黄 GREEN associated with evil(邪恶)墓地磷火是绿色的，恶毒的王后给白雪公主有毒的那半苹果
