英语论文 浅析中英语言禁忌.doc

XX农学院毕业论文中文题目浅析中英语言禁忌英文题目AComparisonofTaboosbetweenChineseCultureandBritishCulture学生姓名系别经济管理系专业班级2009级英语专业双学位指导教师成绩评定2011年12月AComparisonofTaboosbetweenChineseCultureandBritishCultureAThesisPresentedtotheFacultyofHumanitiesTianjinAgriculturalUniversityInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsfortheDegreeBachelorofArtsbyDecember2011Contents摘要IVAbstractVKeywordsLinguistictabooEvolutionSimilaritiesDifferencesVIIntroductionVIIITheevolutionoflinguistictabooVII21TheprimitivesuperstitiousstagesVII22ThefeudalpatriarchalstageVIII23ThemoderndemocraticstageIXIIIThesimilaritiesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooX31InpronunciationX32InvocabularyXI321InobscenitiesXI322InprofanitiesXI323InvulgaritiesXII324IntermsconcerningdiseasedeathandphysicaldisabilityXIII325IntermsconcerningpartsorexcretionofthebodyXIV326IndiscriminationXIVIVThedifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooXV41InsubjectsXV43InnamesXVIIVWaysofavoidinglinguistictabooXVIIVIConclusionXVIIIWorksCitedXIXAcknowledgementsXX摘要语言是人们在活动过程中产生和发展起来的一种社交工具其功能就是沟通信息但在特定的语言行为中却被赋予了它自身所没有的超人的感觉和超人的力量社会成员竟认为语言本身能给人类带来某种吉祥或不幸人为地设置了种种语言禁区他们相信谁要是违背这些语言禁忌谁就会受到应有的惩罚反之谁要是忠实遵循了语言禁忌的约束谁就会得到相应的庇护和保佑语言禁忌会随着社会的发展而变化本论文首先论述了语言禁忌的演变接着提出语言禁忌存在于人们生活的各个方面是一种普遍存在的社会现象在汉英两种语言中有些忌讳是一致的文中分析了中英语言禁忌在语音层面词汇方面的相似性但是由于汉英民族文化背景意识形态价值观念等的不同中英语言禁忌的内容和形式也有一些差异因此本论文还探讨了中英语言禁忌在私人话题数字和命名称谓方面的互异性这些异同和发展演进往往会给跨文化交际带来一些障碍为此有效避免使用禁忌语的方法主要是使用委婉语代替禁忌词并充分了解异国的文化背景希望本论文的研究能帮助英语学习者加深英汉两种语言和文化的理解提高跨文化交际能力避免交际失败达到理想的交际效果关键词语言禁忌演变相似点不同点AbstractLanguageasthecarrierofcultureiscreatedduringtheprocessofhumanbeingsproductivelaborandservesasthetoolofcommunicationtoconveythemessagebetweenpeopleHoweverithasbeenendowedwithmagicandpowerinparticularlanguageactsAstheoldsayinggoestroublescomeoutofthetongueSuperstitiouspeoplethinkthatthelanguageitselfcanbringaboutfortuneormisfortunesothattaboostorestricttheuseoflanguagearecreatedAnyonewhoviolatesthemwillgetpunishmentwhereasthosewhofaithfullyobeytherestrictionsoflanguagetaboowillgetprotectionFurthermorelinguistictabooschangewiththedevelopmentofsocietyThepaperfirstlyanalyzestheevolutionoflinguistictabooSecondlyitisindicatedinthepaperthatlinguistictabooexistsinalmosteveryaspectofpeopleslifeandisauniversalsocialphenomenoninChinaandBritainBothChineseandEnglishculturesareinagreementaboutlinguistictaboossuchaspronunciationtabooandvocabularytabooHoweverinfluencedbydifferentculturalbackgroundsideologiesandtheconceptsofvalueChineseandEnglishlinguistictaboosalsohavedifferencesasisdiscussedinthepaperfromtheaspectsoftaboosubjectstaboonumbersandnamesAtlastthispaperputsforwardtwoeffectivewaysofavoidingtaboothatisusingeuphemismandhavingagoodknowledgeofthetaboocultureAndthisdiscussionwouldhelpEnglishlearnersimprovetheirabilityofcrossculturalcommunicationandachievebettercommunicationaleffectsKeywordsLinguistictabooEvolutionSimilaritiesDifferencesAComparisonofTaboosbetweenChineseCultureandBritishCultureWangBowenEconomicManagementTianjinAgriculturalUniversityIIntroductionItismanifestedinlanguagepersonsthingsandactivitiesthataretabooshouldnotbetalkedaboutorshouldbementionedinaroundaboutwayinlanguageWordsandexpressionsrelatedtothesesocialtaboosarelinguistictaboosTheabovedefinitionshowsthatLinguistictabooasanintegralpartoflanguageisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenonbutalsoasocialphenomenonLikeotherpartsoflanguagetheoriginoflinguistictabooisdeeplyrootedintheprimitivesocialandculturalbackgroundanditschangeisgreatlyinfluencedbythedevelopmentofhumansocietyinordertosatisfyhumanbeingsneedsforsmoothcommunicationsWiththeadvancementofscienceandtechnologymanypuzzlesabouttheuniversearesolvedandwiththeincreaseofmaterialwealthhumandemandsforspiritualcivilizationarealsobecominghigherEvidentlylinguistictaboosareareflectionofthesesocialdevelopmentandthevalueconceptsandbeliefsofthecultureinwhichtheyarebornItexistsineveryaspectofpeopleslifeTherearesomesimilaritiesinEnglishandChineselinguistictaboobutdifferentculturesmaynotallagreeonwhatisorisnotatabooinaspecificcontextSothedifferencesalsoexistbetweenEnglishandChineselinguistictabooALackofknowledgeinthisfieldorimproperuseoflinguistictaboosmayleadtomisunderstandingsconflictsandotherunknownseriousconsequencesinthecrossculturecommunicationswhichisincreasinglyfrequentandwidernowThispaperintendstostudytheevolutionoflinguistictabootoanalyzethesimilaritiesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooinpronunciationandvocabularyandpresentthedifferencesfromtheaspectsofnamesnumbersaswellastaboosubjectsinbothculturesLastbutnotleasttwoeffectivewaysareproposedtoavoidlinguistictaboosIITheevolutionoflinguistictabooThewordtabooalsospelledastabutapuandkapuwasborrowedfromTongaanislandgroupinPolynesiaanditsfirstrecordeduseinEnglishwasbyCaptainJamesCook17291779aBritishnavigatorHecametotheArchipelagoofTongaduringhisexplorationsinthesouthernpartofthePacificOceanThereheheardthewordfromthelocalpeoplewhichoriginallyreferredtopersonsactivitiesincludingspeechorthingsunderprohibitionbecausetheywereconsideredontheonehandsacredandconsecratedandontheotheruncannydangerousanduncleanHeintroduceditintoEnglishinhisdescriptionofhisthirdvoyagearoundtheworldin1777ButtaboophenomenaarenotuniqueinTongaInsteadithaslongexistedinallculturesandlanguagethroughouttheworldAswehavementionedabovelinguistictabooisnotonlyalinguisticphenomenonbutalsoakindofsocialphenomenonThedevelopmentofsocietyhasinfluencedthedevelopmentoflinguistictabooSoifwewanttorevealthewholepictureoflinguistictaboowemusthaveareviewofthehistoryoflinguistictabooTheevolutionoflinguistictaboohasgenerallyexperiencedthreestagesaccordingtothehistoryofhumansocietytheprimitivesuperstitionsstagethefeudalpatriarchalstageandmoderndemocraticstageButthereisnoexplicitdemarcationlinebetweenthreestages21TheprimitivesuperstitiousstagesAsweallknowIntheprimitivesocietypeopledidntgettoknowwellaboutnaturemostnaturalphenomenasuchaslightningthunderstormearthquakewerebeyondtheunderstandingofhumanbeingsWhenthesephenomenahappenedtheythoughtthatcertainsupernaturalcreaturespossessedgreatpowerTheythoughtthatiftheywereloyaltothesesupernaturalcreaturestheywouldbesafeorrewardedIftheyactedagainstthemtheywouldbepunishedseverelyAsaresulttheprimitivepeoplecreateddifferentkindsofgodsTheyheldastrongreligiousconvictionthatthesegodscontrolledtheworldthattheywerelivinginSothefirstthingtheydidwastorespectthesegodsthroughlanguageThereisanexamplefromtheSeventhCommandmentoftheTenCommandmentinBibleYoushallnotmakewrongfuluseofthenameoftheLordyourGodfortheLordwillnotacquitanyonewhomisuseshisnameInawordtheearliestlinguistictabooemergedasaresultoftheignoranceandsuperstitionoftheprimitivepeopleinancienttimes22ThefeudalpatriarchalstageFeudalsocietyisrigidlystratifiedAcountryoffeudalismisusuallycontrolledbytheroyalsandsometimestogetherwiththoseconsideredwithgreatpowergivenbygodDuringthefeudaltimespeoplewerenotequaltotherulersandweresuppressedbytheirsuperiorsThedistinctionbetweentheupperandthelowerclasseswasalsoreflectedintheevaluationofthelanguageusedbythemrespectivelyThewordsofupperclassusedwereconsideredgoodandelegantwhilethoseusedbythelowerclasswereregardedasvulgarandindecentandshouldbeavoidedinthespeechofladiesandgentlemenForexamplewhenreferringto出汗duchessesusedthewordperspirebutthefemaleservantsusedsweatwhenreferringto吐痰theformerpeopleusedexpectoratebutthelatterusedspitThemaximHorsessweatmenperspireyoungladiesglowmoreorlesscanreflectthestratifiedusageofwordswhichhavethesamemeaninginthisperiodInChinaduringthefeudaltimesmenusuallyplayadominantroleinfamilyWecanseeitfromtheChineseexpressions三从四德三纲五常etcInordertostrengthentheirpositionandtopreventtheirsubjectsfromviolatingthemtheroyalsandkingsputforwarddifferentkindsofprohibitionsandbansForinstancetoshowtheirauthorityandmajestythenameoftheemperorandhisancestorsshouldnotbementionedAtthesametimepeoplealwaysavoidedspeakingouttheirparentsnamesoreventhecharactersintheirparentsnamesTheoldsaying古人闻父名而泣canprovethispointMostlinguistictaboosduringthisperiodwereputintoeffectbyrulersinordertomaintaintheirsuperiorsocialpositionandkeepthesocietyundertheircontrolHoweversomeofthembecauseoftheirdeeprootedinfluenceonpeoplesmindstillremaininlanguageevenafterthecollapseofthesocialsystem23ThemoderndemocraticstageInmodernsocietyasaresultofthedevelopmentofscienceandtechnologymanynaturalphenomenaarenolongermysteriousHumanbeingsnotonlyconstantlyimprovetheirabilitiestoexploittheworldwheretheyarelivingthroughtheirgreatwisdomandknowledgebutalsomakeeffortstoexploretheextraterrestrialworldSciencehasmuchmoresayintodayssocietyTherebythesuperstitiouselementsinlinguistictaboosdecreasewhilethosereflectingspiritualcivilizationincreaseDuringsuchanopenmindedperiodpeoplevaluefreedomequalityanddemocracyverymuchManyminoritiesstruggleforequalrightswiththemajoritiesAsaresultlinguistictaboosconcerningracialdiscriminationariseForexampleintheUnitedStatesniggerwaswidelyusedtocallblackpeopleinthe1960sbutnowitisforbiddeninnormalinteractionbecausesuchformofaddressingshowscontemptfortheblackandgoesagainstthespiritofhumanrightsInadditionmoreandmorewomenstepoutsidetheirhousestoworktogetherwithmenTheydontwanttodependonmenanylongerHoweverthetraditionalideasaboutwomenstiflethefulfillmentoftheirabilitiesandtheyareoftentreatedunfairlyinworkThisforceswomentoriseandfightforequalitieswithmenandmoreandmoremenbegintolearntorespectwomenwhichwillhaveaninfluentialeffectonthelanguageAsaresulttaboosonsexistlanguageincreaseBesidesinaneraofpeacetherelativestabilityofsocietyandthefastpaceoflifepeopledontbothermuchtoavoidthingsintheobjectiveworldInsteadtheypreferlivingapleasantandharmoniouslifeTheyenjoyspiritualentertainmentverymuchsotheytrytoavoidthosewordsandbehaviorsthatmaymakeothersfeelunpleasanttokeeptheharmoniousrelationshipThoseprofessionsthatwerelookeddownuponinthepastarebeautifiednowThesubstitutionofsanitationengineerforgarbagecollectorisagoodexampleforthisAsawholesincethethirdstagepeopletodayshowmorerespectforscienceandtechnologyandhumanrightsothatthesuperstitiousandfeudalelementsinlinguistictaboostendtoreducewhilethosereflectingtheadvancementofhumansocietyandspiritualcivilizationtendtoincreaseIIIThesimilaritiesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooTherearetaboosforreligionsexdeathdiseasesocialbiasetcinbothChineseandEnglishculturesandtheyarereflectedintheirrespectivelanguageandbecomeakindoflinguisticphenomenonThesimilaritiesofChineseandEnglishlinguistictaboomainlyembodyinthefollowingaspects31InpronunciationBothChinesepeopleandEnglishpeoplebelievethatsayingwordsthatimplymisfortunesordisastersmaybringthemtroubleandtheythoughtmisfortunescanbepreventedbyreplacingthewordswithhomophonesthathavebettermeaningsInChinamanytabooshavebeencausedbysuperstitionsInShanxiprovinceofChinathereisacustomthatmulberriescannotbeplantedinfrontofthehouseandwillowscannotbeplantedbehindthehousebecausetheChinesecharacter桑mulberrysoundsthesameas丧mourningand柳willowsoundsthesameas绺TheymayindicatethattherewillbeafuneralandsomethingwillbestolenGamblerswontsay书bookbecausetheChineseshu书booksoundthesamewithshu输defeatChinesepeoplewillnotpresentaclockasagiftinweddingsorotherceremoniesbecauseclockpronounceszhong钟whichhasthesamepronunciationaszhong终endmeaningdeathinChineseManyotherexamplesalsocanbefoundinChineseSomefishermaninSouthChinaavoidsayingsuchwordasfan翻turnoverorchen沉sinkandanyotherwordswithsimilarsoundsSomeevenchangetheirsurnamechen陈whichsoundsthesameaschen沉ItissaidthatthechopstickspeopleintheEastusewhenhavingmealswereoriginallycalledzhu箸inancientChinaSinceithadthesamesoundaszhu住stopitwasreplacedlaterbykuaizi筷子sincekuai筷soundslikekuai快quickInwesterncountriestherearealsomanysuchkindsofexamplesWhenawordsoundsthesameasatabooworditneedschangingintoanotherexpressionForinstanceinearlier18thcenturythefemaleinEnglishandAmericancountriesalwaystriedtoavoidusingthewordarsethebottompartofthebodyonesitsonwhichwasconsideredinelegantSopeoplecalledtheanimalassasdonkeyNeamanmadeaconclusionthatthereasonwhysomewordsdisappearedwererelatedtothefactthattheirpronunciationarethesameassometaboowords32InvocabularyRoughlyspeakingtaboowordsinEnglishfallintothreetypesnamelyobscenitiesprofanitiesandvulgaritiesBasedonthisclassificationthepartfirstlyanalyzesthethreetypesasfollows321InobscenitiesObscenewordsrefertowordsrelatingtosexinashockingandoffensivewayThatistosayobscenewordsmaycauseoffencetothesocialmoralprinciplesTheyusuallygooutofuseinpublicoccasionandcannotappearinliterarylanguageThesewordsarerelatedtohumanbeingssexualbehaviorsInbothEnglishandChinesethesewordsaretobeavoidedinpoliteconversationsbecausetheymaycausestrongdisapprovalInAmericatheSexualRevolutionin1960sand70smadepeoplemoreopentowardsexbutnowwordssuchasmakingloveandhavingsexstillseldomappeardirectlyinwritingletaloneinconversationWesternpeopleareserioustowardssextermstoacertaindegreesotospeakTheChinesepeoplealsotreattermsonsexseriouslyChinesepeoplealwaysusetheexpressionof作风问题or不正当关系toshowtheimmoralrelationshipbetweenamanandawomanAsweallknowpregnancyisanormalphysiologicalphenomenonbutindailylifepeoplewontsayitdirectlyasitisrelatedtosexIfsomeoneispregnantEnglishpeoplewillsaysheisexpectingababyorsheisinafamilywaySimilareuphemismscanbefoundinChinese有喜了行动不便了322InprofanitiesProfanitiesrefertoreligiouswordsusedinawaythatshowsalackofrespectforGodorholythingsReligionisafertilefieldofthistypeoftabootermsAtypicalexampleisthatChristiancannotrefertoGodorGodsnameTheTenCommandmentsforbidpeopletotakethenameoftheLordyourGodinvainSoitisconsideredveryrudetosaygoddameorgoddamnedThewordssuchasGodJesusdamnandhelletcareconsideredhollyandonlyproperlyusedinreligionIftheyappearindailycommunicationtheywillmakepeopleunpleasantanddisgustedSopeoplealwaystrytoavoidusingthesetaboowordsdirectlyTheywouldliketousetheireuphemismsGoshJeeperscreepersdashandheckSomepeoplealsoavoidreferringtothedevilwhichisconsidereddisrespectfulSotheyusethedeucethedickensoldNicktosubstitutethedevilWecanfindsimilarexamplesinChineseInreligionpeopleusesomecomplimentaryaddresstorefertoawesomegodseg大帝大圣佛陀BuddhaAnotherexampleisthattigerisregardedasthedivineanimalneartheChangbaiMountainsituatedintheNortheastofourcountryThereforetherewasthecustomoftigeristhegodinancienttimesPeopleavoidedcallingthetigerdirectlyandgavethetigeranothername山君or山佛爷323InvulgaritiesBothinEnglishandChinesethevulgarwordsareusuallyrudeandoffensiveandbringaboutunpleasantnessangerorconflictsSwearwordsinEnglishareoftencalledfourletterwordsbecausemostofthemareshortandmanyaremadeupoffourlettersegpissshitcrapThesesocalledfourletterwordsareconsideredvulgarSwearwordsformedbyemployingsomeoftheanimalsnamesarevulgaritiestooTheyareveryimproperexpressionsinmostconversationsespeciallywhentherearemaleandfemaleatthesametimesuchasbitchcowswinepigetcTheBritishParliamenthasoncepublishedawordlistThewordsonthelistareabusiveandwereunparliamentaryexpressionssuchascadcheekyliarprevaricatingfascistetcIngeneralsituationevenindailycommunicationsthesevulgarwordsareconsideredtaboowordsTheevolutionoflinguistictabooindicatesthattaboosinvolveinalmosteveryfieldoflifeThereforetheabovethreetypesoftaboowordsdontpresentacompletelistoftabootermsandtheauthorhasfoundothertypesoftaboowordsinotherreferences324IntermsconcerningdiseasedeathandphysicaldisabilityEitherinEnglishorinChineseculturediseasedeathandphysicaldisabilitymayhorrifypeopleSopeopledontliketomentionthesedirectlyinconversationThereforetheyareconsideredtaboosInbothEnglishandChinesedeathisviewedasdepartingInEnglishwecanfindmanyeuphemismsfordeathsuchasgodepartdepartfromthisworldgotoabetterworldgothewaysofallfleshpassawayetcInChinesewealsocanfindsimilareuphemisms去了离开了我们辞世去见马克思了归西升天上路etcInbothEnglishandChinesedeathiscomparedtosleepingsleepinEnglishcorrespondto正寝长眠or永眠inChineseWordsdenotingterriblediseasearealsosourcesofhorrorInEnglishpeopledontliketotalkaboutterriblediseaseordiseaserelatedtosexualorgansdirectlyForinstancetheyuseVDinsteadofveneraldiseaseusebigClongdiseaseorterminalillnesstoreplacecancerAbbreviationsareoftenusedtoalleviatetheshockingeffectForinstanceSARSisusedtosubstitutetheterriblenameSevereAcuteRespiratorySyndromesInChinesewhenwetalktoapatientwemaysay你今天不舒服别上班了Hereweuse不舒服insteadof病Asasoldierwemaysay挂彩了insteadof伤MentalillnessesarethoughtnottobementioneddirectlyForexamplewhenreferringtoamentalillnesswejustsayalittleeccentricoralittleconfusedEitherinChineseorWesternpeoplehavesympathyforonesphysicaldisabilityIfsomeonelooksuglywewillsayshehelooksplainordinaryandwewontusethewordfattodescribeamanWeonlyuseheavilysetorontheheavysideIfagirlisthinwewontuseskinnyWejustsayslenderandwhenwerefertoacrippledwewillsayphysicallyhandicappedInChineseifoneisdeafwewillsay耳朵背耳朵有点不好说话得近点InEnglishitiscalledhardofhearing325IntermsconcerningpartsorexcretionofthebodyInbothculturespeoplethinkthatcertainpartsofthebodyandtheexcretionofbodycannotbementionedindailyconversationsTheyareoftenconsideredtaboosForexampleinEnglishtherearesomanyeuphemismsforlavatorysuchaswashroomrestroombathroomcomfortstationIftheywanttogotolavatorytheywillsaygotothebathroomdotheirbusinessanswernaturescallInChinese厕所isalwaysavoidedinpublicoccasiononemaysay去一号or去方便一下326IndiscriminationInrecentyearsthereisagrowingtendencytoregardastaboolanguagethatreflectsademeaningattitudetowardscertainsocialorethnicgroupsRacistlanguageandsexistlanguageforexampleareoffensivetothesocialorethnicgroupsdiscriminatedagainstDiscriminationagainstwomanisauniversalandunreasonablephenomenoninthesocietyAnditsreflectiononlanguageissexistlanguageBothinEnglishandChinesetherearetracesofsexistlanguageUnlessoneiscarefulenoughwithhisherspeechonemayeasilyoffendothersunconsciouslyInChinaunderthecontrolofstricthierarchyfeudalsocietythefemaleswereregardedinferiorTheydependonmaleandweredominatedbymaleSothediscriminationandprejudiceagainstwomenisthelongtermaccumulationwhichisinevitablyreflectedinChineseForexamplethesayings妇人之见头发长见识短男子汉不和妇人一般见识长舌妇etcreflectthepejorativeattitudetowardwomenAndtherearealsomanyderogatorytitlesforwomensuchas贱人泼妇母老虎母夜叉娘儿们悍妇etcSincetheChinesewomenssocialstatuseshaveincreasedthesesayingsareusedmuchlessfrequentlyTheusingofthescornfulandpejorativewordsforwomeninpublicoftengetscriticismandresentmentInEnglishtherearealsomanysexistexpressionsForexampleapersonofunknownsexisreferredasheorhimratherthansheorherApersonwhopresidesameetingisthechairmanevenifsheisawomanTherearemanyotherexamplesaboutitcowmeansawomanwhohasmanychildrenmuttonmeansadissolutewomanhenmeansawomanwholikesgossipcatmeansamaliciouswomancronemeansanuglywitheredoldwomanetcNowadaysperhapsasaresultoftheWomansLiberationMovementinthe1960sand70sinwesterncountriesespeciallytheUSAandsocioculturedevelopmentmostnativeEnglishspeakerstrytoavoidsoundinglikeasexistForexampletheychangethewordchairmanintochairpersongentlemanintogentlepersonWhenreferringtohumanbeingspeoplebegintousehumankindorthehumanraceinsteadofmanormankindRacismisthebeliefthatcertainhumanracesareinherentlyinferiortoothersandracistlanguageisthatwhichshowsabiasedattitudetowardscertainracialorethicgroupsInEnglishnomatterintentionallyornotthefollowingwordsareagainstblackpeopleandannoyingthemunsatisfiedForexamplewhitemeanspurecleanbenevolentwhichhavepositivemeaningWhileblackisrelatedtoevilwrongdoinganddirtysuchasblackguardblacklistblackmarketcBesidesniggerandboyforablackadultmanoftenhaveoffensivemeaningInChinesethereisalsoracistlanguageForexampleusing小鬼子forJapanese洋鬼子大鼻子forwesternersMostofthesewordsarederogatoryItshowsoffthatChineseismoresuperiorthanotherracialorethicgroupsIVThedifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooAlthoughtherearemanysimilaritiesinEnglishandChinesedifferentviewsaboutwhatisorisnttaboocanbefoundintwoculturesDifferencesbetweenChineseandEnglishlinguistictabooembodythefollowingaspects41InsubjectsEnglishpeopleplaceahighvalueonprivacyTheEnglishhaveasayingAmanshomeishiscastlemeaningamanshomeissacredtohimnooneshouldcomeinwithoutpermissionSoitisalsowithhislifeandpersonalaffairsChinesepeopleoftenliketogreettootherslikeHaveyouhadamealThiscommongreetingindicateswebeginourconversationwithouracquaintancejustasforeignersaskHownicetheweatherButtheChinesegreetingwillmaketheforeignerssuspectthatyouwanttoinvitehimtojointhedinnerSometimeswhenwegettogetherandtalknaturallyaboutthesequestionsHowaboutyoursalaryAreyoumarriedWhatdoyourwifehusbanddoHowmuchisyourskirtInthiswayweexpressourcareforourfriendsGenerallyspeakingweneverfeelembarrassedabouttheseconversationsbutwhenweaskthewesternersthesamequestionstheywillthinkwemayinvolveintheirprivacyAnnoyinglyinwesterncountriesitisalsoimpropertoaskaboutotherpeoplesreligiousbeliefsAreyoureligiousWhatisyourreligionAreyouCatholicetcarequestionsthatmightbeoffensivetomostEnglishspeakersPeopledontlikeespeciallyfemaleotherstoaskthemHowoldareyoubecausetheyareverysensitivetotheirageEvenonabirthdaycallonemayfindthefollowingcongratulationYoumaynotliketoberemindedthatyouareayearoldertodaybutthatwouldnotkeepmefromsayinghappybirthdayButincontrasttherewasnosuchconceptofprivacyinChinesepeoplesmind42InnumbersInChinathenumber4andtheword死deathalmostsoundthesamePeopledonotlikethenumber4becauseitremindsthemofdeathAmongoldpeopletheythink73and84aretwokeyagesIfyouare73or84yearsoldyouwilldiebeforetheKingofhellinvitesyouSomanyoldpeopleavoidtalkingtheirexactagesWhileinwesterncountriesoneofthemostinfluentialtaboonumbersis13AccordingtothestoryofThelastsupperJudasthepersonwhobetrayedJesussatintheNo13chairthereforeNumberthirteenisuniversallyconsideredtobeunluckyNodoorsnumberisthirteennohotelhastheNo13Roomtheydontallow13peoplehavedinnertogetherAllinawordtheyavoidnumberthirteenineveryaspectOrdinarypeoplefeelupseton13thineverymonthThereforethirteenbecameataboowordinwesterncountriesAnothernumberconcerningtabooinwesternisFridayItalsohaslongbeenconsideredasanunluckydayThistabootermaffectspeopleprobablynotonlybecausetheybelievethatJesusChristwasputtodeathonthecrossonFridaybutalsobecauseFridayisformanyyearsthedayofexecutionofcriminalscommonlycalledhangmansdayAnotherstrikingcontrastisthatChinesepeoplelikeevennumbersForexampletheysay好事成双成双成对Chinesepeopleespeciallyliketheevennumber6and8Thesaying六六大顺canproveitButinwesterncountriestheylikeoddnumbersTheRomanpoetVirgilsaysThegoddelightsinanoddnumberInShakespearesplayMerrywivesofWindsorFalstaffsaysGoodluckliesinoddnumbersTheysaythereisdivinityinoddnumberseitherinnativitychanceordeath43InnamesHowtocallothersinverbalcommunicationisveryimportantInChinesetheancestorsandtheoldergenerationsnamescannotbereferreddirectlyForexamplebecausethesecondnameofSimaQiansfatherwas谈WhenwritingtheHistoricalRecordsSimaQianchanged赵谈into赵同and李谈into李同AsaresultwecannotfindsuchaChinesecharacter谈intheHistoricalRecordsButintheEnglishculturetherearenosuchnametaboosTheyoungergenerationcanrefertheeldergenerationsnamedirectlyItshowsthattheyareequalfriendlyandintimateIntheUnitedStatesmanyblackpeoplebearthenameLincolnapparentlyafterAbrahamLincolnthe16thpresidentofthecountryEnglishbabiesmaybenamedaftertheirgrandparentsorotherrelativestoshowrespectortohonorthemForexampletheBritishPrimeMinisterChurchillsfatherwasnamedRandolphChurchillandoneofthePrimeMinisterssonswasalsonamedRandolphChurchillThegrandfatherandgrandsonhadthesamenameTheAmericanpresidentFranklinDRooseveltssonalsohadthesamenamewithhisfatherThispracticewasquitedifferentfromChineseculturewhichwascharacterizedbyaclearlydelineatedstratifiedsocietyinwhichthenamesforexampleofonesrelativesoneortwogenerationsaboveorofficialsorotherinfluentialfiguresweretaboostotheordinaryChinesenoonedaredtonamehisbabiesafterthemVWaysofavoidinglinguistictabooFromtheabovediscussionweknowthatsomeharshbluntunpleasantoffensiveandtaboothingsoractsshouldnotbeexpresseddirectlyinourdailylifeSoitisveryimportantforustoknowhowtoavoidtheselinguistictaboosMostlinguistictabooscanbeavoidedbytheemploymentofeuphemismsInotherwordseuphemismisameansofexpressingthewordsorthingsthatareprohibitedEuphemismsareusedalmostinallfieldsoflifeForexamplewhenajudgegivesthecriminalasentencehewilldirectlysayIherebysentenceyoutofiveyearsinprisonButthecriminalhimselforhisrelativeswilltellothersSomebodyissenttothebighouseforthepurposeofsavingfaceAtthesametimewemustrealizethatlanguageisaliveandchangingallthetimeInfluencedbythesocialpsychologyanditscultureeuphemismschangeconstantlyAeuphemismmayquicklyacquirethestigmaoftheworditreplacedandbecomesatabooafterpeopleuseitforatimeForexamplethereisaseriesofexpressionsaboutthewordpoorAtfirstIwaspoorthenIbecameneedylaterIwasunderprivilegedNowImdisadvantagedIstilldonthaveacenttomynamebutIsurehaveagreatvocabularyAnotherexampleisthatinAmericanEnglisheuphemismsforthewordbuttocksarearseasspratcantailcheekscaboosefundamentandnowthenewestoneissittingdownplaceVIConclusionInshortbycomparisonwecanfindthatbothChineseandEnglishlinguistictaboosreflectpeoplespsychologyforgoodwillforsafetyandfortuneandpleasantnessTheChineseandEnglishpeoplerestricttheirwordsanddeedsthroughtaboostryingtokeepaharmoniousrelationshipbetweenhumanandnatureorbetweenpeopleandsocietyAlthoughthetraditionallinguistictabooscontainsuperstitionsignoranceandnegativeelementsthenewtaboosonracismbearpositivefeaturesTheyareareflectionofpeoplespursuitoffreedomandequalityTheauthorhopesthatthediscussionaboutlinguistictabooshelpsEnglishlearnersimprovetheircommunicativecompetenceandreducemiscommunicationsandconflictsincrossculturecommunicationsWorksCited周秀敏从礼貌角度对跨文化交际中禁忌语的动态研究山东大学硕士学位论文中国优秀博硕士学位论文数据库20055pi庄和诚英语禁忌语刍议J现代外语19902p45陈克中国民俗z天津人民出版社19935p107周淑清禁忌语和委婉语J佛山大学学报19962p72赫澎英美民间故事与民俗z南海出版公司20045p147庄和诚禁忌语词纵横谈J现代外语19913p28王振亚语言与文化M高等教育出版社200411p273刘润清邓炎昌语言与文化英汉语言文化对比M外语教学与研究出版社19955p101王振亚实用英语语言与文化M河北大学出版社20048p191郭学文浅析禁忌语在教学中的作用J乐山师范学院学报200310p114魏立英汉委婉语之对比研究黑龙江大学硕士学位论文中国优秀博硕士学位论文数据库p23转引自庄和诚英语禁忌语刍议J现代外语19902p43AcknowledgementsSpecialthanksshouldbegiventopeoplewhoinspiredsupportedandencouragedmethroughoutmystudyWithouttheirhelpthisthesishardlycanbedoneIwouldliketoextendspecialthankstomysupervisorprofessorMrsYuanYouqinforherwisdomguidanceandcommitmentIwouldalsoliketogivemygratitudetoallmyfriendsandclassmatesfortheirencouragementandhelpespeciallymyroommateswithoutwhoseunderstandingthispaperwouldnotbepossibleIdeeplyappreciatealltheteachersequippedmewithknowledgeneededforthisthesisFinallysincerethanksgotomyfamilyandfriendsfortheirpersistentsupportandencouragementThankyouverymuchfortheirsteadysupportalongsidethewayofcomposingthisthesis天津农学院毕业设计论文成绩评审表论文题目浅析中英语言禁忌学生姓名王博文系别专业班级经济管理系2009级英语专业双学位综合评价分数百分制指导教师评语签字日期2012年月日评阅教师评语签字日期2012年月日答辩委员会或答辩小组评语签字日期2012年月日综合评定分数X等级优良中及格不及格系毕业论文工作领导小组组长审核意见领导小组组长签字公章日期2012年月日注1此表一律评语签字和成绩均用黑签字笔或钢笔填写2成绩等级X90为优89X80为良79X70为中69X60为及格59X为不及格