ABSTRACT：This paper explores animal words from a cultural perspective. It aims to study the different cultural connotation of animal words between Chinese and English. A successful communication is supposed to require a lot of linguistic knowledge to improve its performance. It focuses on the cultural connotation of animal words in both English and Chinese. By comparing and contrasting, the paper mainly discusses animal words from the following four aspects: 1) the same animal words and expressions have the same cultural connotation in English and Chinese; 2) the same animal words and expressions have different cultural connotation in English and Chinese; 3) one animal word or expression has no corresponding expression in the other language; and 4) two different animal words and expressions have similar meaning in the two languages. As a result, we can find that animal words are not only the representations of animal images, but also the embodiment of cultural differences. Therefore we can draw a conclusion that in order to use a language properly, the cultural backgrounds and its connotations should be understood first. In this way, the obstacles and misunderstandings in the inter-cultural communications can be avoided.
Keywords: animal words; cultural connotation; cultural background
摘要：该论文从文化角度入手研究动物词语，旨在研究英汉动物词语内涵的差异。成功的交流活动应该掌握许多的语言知识以增强其体现。该论文着眼于英汉动物词汇的文化内涵。通过比较与对比的方法，本文从以下四个方面对动物词汇进行研究：1）相同的英汉动物词汇文化内涵相同；2）相同的英汉动物词汇文化内涵不同；3）一种语言的动物词语在另一种语言中没有相对应的文化内涵；4）两个不同的动物词语内涵相似。我们可以看到动物词语都不仅仅是动物形象的符号代表，也是文化差异的体现。因此我们可以得出一个结论，为了正确地使用一门语言，我们首先应该了解这门语言的文化背景和文化内涵。只有这样才能避免跨文化交际中障碍与误解的发生。
关键词：动物词语；文化内涵；文化背景
Organized into five chapters, it starts with an introduction to lead the readers in, followed by the literature review to provide the present situation and relevant theories. Then cultural connotation of animal words and cultural influences are separately discussed in Chapter Three and Chapter Four, supported by the typical examples and relative analysis. Conclusions are provided in the end.
In doing the research, the author compares and contrasts the connotations of animal words, focusing on the aspects of similar connotations, different connotations, no corresponding connotations, and equitant connotations. The cultural influences include many factors. Animals’ character is the major one which leads to the similar connotation in English and Chinese; and other factors are mainly manifested by different thinking mode, esthetic psychology, traditional culture and natural environment as well as different imagination towards the same animal.
Based on the above facts and discussions, it aims to state that animal words are not only the representations of animal images but also the connotation caused by cultural differences. We can draw a conclusion that different cultures cause both generality and individuality in the cultural connotation of animal word.
