A Comparative Study of English and Chinese Idioms —-especially in culture exchanges开题报告

 2022-07-13 15:22:41

1. 研究目的与意义

With increasing development of globalization, exchange and communication cross culture, especially between English-speaking countries and China have become more frequent than before. Since idioms have become an essential part of language communication, either in daily communication or extensive use in diplomatic speech of national leaders, it is of necessity for speakers to be well aware of or even master idioms to avoid conflicts and troubles. Despite the fact that English has been included in each stage of Chinese education, ranging from compulsory education to higher one, it is noticeable that the way a great number of students speak and write in English is still awkward and not decent. Date back to the reasons, the lack of knowledge of origin and relative background of English can fully account for this. Idioms for nations are just like a mirror, rooting in life. Both English and Chinese idioms have their own national characteristics. Idioms are lively and pellucid expressions which reflect the specific national cultural background. Taking the perspective of cross-culture, this essay is a comparative study on English and Chinese idioms by demonstrating the origins of idioms, illustrating the similarities they share with and the differences they alienate from each other as well as the reasons that can account for these. As a vital part of language, idioms, a kind of set phrase with specific meanings, have been used extensively, playing a crucial role in communication. Due to popularity and concision of idioms, both English and Chinese speakers are partial towards idioms. Idioms can be viewed as essence of language, which bear the typical characteristics of nations and demonstrate geometrical, religious and cultural differences between different countries. Additionally, as the quintessence of human wisdom, idioms have been simplified and refined into set phrases that are easier and more applicable in communication. Better understanding of the differences between English and Chinese idioms, their historical background as well as the profound meanings is beneficial for smoothing cross-cultural communication. The purpose of this research is to deepen people#8217;s understanding of two different cultures and promote the exchange of Chinese and Western culture.

2. 研究内容和预期目标

Content: For the sake of long history of English and Chinese people, both of them are endowed with abundant idioms that are applied extensively in communication. Thus, it is essential to gain the knowledge of the difference between English idioms and Chinese ones as well as the reasons behind them. This essay will be divided into four main parts. The first part will focus on the definition and characteristics of idioms, demonstrating the general knowledge of idioms, emphasizing the significance of idioms in cross-cultural communication as well as indicating the recent progress in the world of studies on idioms. The similarities and differences of English idioms and Chinese ones will be illustrated in the second part, including typical idioms easy to misunderstand and misuse with some specific examples. The third part will analyze the reasons accounting for the differences between English and Chinese ones from various aspects, such as differences in geographic environment, differences in history, differences in cultural traditions and differences in religious believes. The last part will pay much attention to practical use of idioms in communication that is related to the translation between English idioms and Chinese ones and also summarize the whole essay. Key problems needed to be solved: As we all know, English and Chinese are endowed with a large number of idioms because of their rich and long history. However, as a result of this, it is difficult for both English and Chinese are well aware of their counterparts#8217; culture and history, let alone the origins and cultural background of idioms, which can partly explain the misunderstanding and misuse of idioms. Hence, this essay will attach much importance to two major parts. One is the possible reasons explaining the differences between English and Chinese idioms, that is to say, analyzing the invisible reasons that contribute to the diversion of them to remove the unnecessary troubles and conflicts as more as possible. The other one is giving decent explanation to some idioms that are simple, common but easy to misunderstand and misuse to smooth the communication between English and Chinese. I do hope the elucidation of these intractable problems can be referenced by readers and give them some valuable hints who are innocent of the English and Chinese idioms and their differences and those who further the study on differences of English and Chinese idioms and practical use in cross-cultural communication and exchanges. Outline: 1. Introduction 2. The definition and characteristics of idioms 2.1 The definition of idioms 2.2 The characteristics of idioms 2.2.1 Fixed structure 2.2.2 Meaning integrity 2.2.3 Concise language 2.3 Recent progress in the field of studying idioms 3. Similarities and differences between English and Chinese idioms 3.1 General similarities 3.2 Differences 3.2.1 Differences in wording 3.2.2 Differences in figure of speech 3.2.3 Differences in loan images 4. The reasons accounting for the differences 4.1 Differences in geometrical environment 4.2 Differences in history 4.3 Differences in cultural traditions 4.4 Differences in religious believes 5. Conclusion 6. References

3. 国内外研究现状

Idioms came into being during the process of use, gradually forming a kind of unique and concise set phrases, which is an important part of language communication. As a result, studying English and Chinese idioms as well as find out their similarities and differences are of vital significance in study English. Starting from 1920s, researches on idioms have been carried out by numerous eminent specialists and scholars, analyzing origins of idioms, their developing path as well as their impact on cross-cultural exchanges and communication. Their achievements have exerted profound influence on the study of idioms. At the outset, idioms were studied as a single symbol that was separated from society and culture. Then relative social elements have been involved in studying idioms, which has achieved satisfying results. The research on the function of idioms launched by Strassler has laid solid foundation for theoretical study on idioms. Yet, his study had great limitations for it was restricted in oral field. Later, C.Fernando initiated the study on idioms under cultural situation. Based on abroad research methods and theoretical results, domestic scholars have also made marvelous contributions to the study on idioms, combining the precious experience they learnt with Chinese cultural characteristics.

4. 计划与进度安排

Studying methods Based on former academic results achieved by scholars and specialists, this essay will follow the train of thought from putting up questions, analyzing questions to answering questions, illustrating the origins of English and Chinese idioms, their background as well as the similarities they share with and the differences they alienate from each other. In this essay, many specific examples will be cited to support the study of idioms. Arrangements 1. The first step is thinking about the direction of study thought after reading and analyzing a large amount of materials and documentations. Then, under the guidance of tutor, specific study content can be determined through further and deeper reference to materials. 2. The second step is developing the research plan, that is to say, more detailed contents that would be studied will be determined in this part as well as the research methods need to be adopted. At the same time, the relative materials collected should be sorted out, in order to maximize work efficiency. Apart from this, the brief time, the division of time and the work procedure should also be planned properly. 3. The third step is starting composing the thesis, which also means the materials collected before and the methods studied should be applied into composing it. 4. Last but not least, the composed thesis should be revised cautiously under the instruction of tutor. Plans 1. At the planning stage (week 11of the seventh semester) Students, tutors and other faculties are motivated to get involved in the work. 2. At the stage of choosing title of thesis (from week 12 of the seventh semester to week 13) After referring to large amounts of documentations, the title of thesis should be determined as well as the outline has been formed and then hand it in for tutor examining. Only when the title has been confirmed can student start next step to gather information and writing thesis proposal. 3. At the stage of proposing thesis (from week 14 of the seventh semester to week 20 ) In this period, thesis proposal should be accomplished and hand in for tutor to examine it. 4. At the stage of first draft (from week 1 of the eighth semester to week 7) 1) During week 1 of the eighth semester and week 4, the first draft of thesis should be accomplished and hand it in. 2) During week 5 of the eighth semester and week 7, tutor will look over the submitted draft and put up with some revision suggestions. 5. At the stage of mid-term checking(from week 5 of the eighth semester to week 7) Interim supervision will be carried out over students#8217; preparation for thesis at this stage. 6. At the stage of revising thesis(from week 8 of the eighth semester to week 10) In these three weeks, students should make constant modification on their thesis and turn the second and third draft in. Also, foreign literatures and their translated version should be submitted. 7. At the stage of finalizing thesis (from week 11 of the eighth semester to week 12) 1) The final draft of thesis should hand in in week 11. After tutors#8217; cautious examination, they will give correspondent scores to each thesis according to scoring standards. 2) The thesis defense qualification of students will be checked and students should collect all the materials they refer to and create PPT in the preparation of oral defense of their dissertation.

5. 参考文献

[1]Brook, G.L. A History of the English Language [M]. London: Ander Deutsch, 1958 [2]Dilys Parkinson,Ben Francis. Oxford Idioms Lodon,Oxford press,2007. [3]Fromkin, V. Rodman, R. An Introduction to Language[M]. New York: Holt Rinehart Winston Inc,1947. [4]Lee, Iving J. Language Habits in Human Affairs[M]. N.Y. amp; London: Haper amp; Brothers Publishers, 1941. [5]Nida.E.A.amp;Taber,C.The Theory and Practice of Translation.Bill Lyden,1974. [6]Protctor, Paul. Longman Contemporary English-Chinese Dictionary [M].北京：现代出版社，1995. [7]Samovar, Porter. Intercultural Communication[M]. New York: Wasworth Publishing Company, 1997. [8]Zeng, H.M. From the perspective of cultural differences between English and Chinese idioms, in 2004. [9]丁立福. 习语谚语体现中英文化差异[J]. 英语周报大学版,2007年12月. [10]邓炎昌. 语言与文化[M]. 外语教育与研究出版社, 1989. [11]李存龙. 英汉习语文化内涵比较研究[J]. 青海师范大学名族师范学院学报, 2001.01. [12]李桂玲. 英汉谚语的语音结构与修辞[J]. 重庆交通学院学报. 2002, (2): 48-52. [13]彭庆华. 英语习语研究--语用学视角[M]. 北京: 社会科学文献出版社,2007. [14]邵杰. 汉英习语的对比研究及翻译[J]. 考试周刊, 2007年13期. [15]殷莉、韩晓玲. 英语习语与民俗文化[M]. 北京: 北京大学出版社, 2007. [16]余文. 英汉成语谚语习语的文化对比[J]. 中州大学学报, 2001.01. [17]张若兰. 英汉习语的特点及其文化差异[J]. 西安外国语学院学报, 2003年第11 期. [18]周敏. 英汉习语的文化特征对比[J]. 考试周刊, 2005年8期.

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