自考00838语言与文化串讲5

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自考00838语言与文化串讲5

Chapter 4. Cultural Differences in Everybody Conversations

  1. Vocatives and culture

Names(English people have given names, surnames, full names, with or without a title, and nicknames or pet names.)

Name related to the plant and flowers

Name related to the weapons

Names related to knowledge, authority, fame are also quite common in English

But we can hardly find personal names in English that are related to historical events and date of the birth, English names more related to the Pikes, and Chinese names related to the “剑””盾”often. Personal names related to the place of birth and natural phenomena. are also popular in Chinese. And we seldom found the personal names in Chinese that are related to religion.

  And English: (Mr[adult male], Mrs(for married women), Miss(for unmarried women), Ms(for women whose marital status is unknown or is not indicted))+surname

   Chinese: in Chinese the terms that can be used as titles are numerous. For example”局长” “处长”etc.

          In Chinese titles can be used in combination with the addressee’s given name, surname or full name. For example: “林同志” “德清同志” “林德清同志.”

standard appellatives

“mother” ”father” ”grandmother” etc can be used alone both in English and Chinese

“aunt” “uncle” are often used together with the addressee’s give name, but not in Chinese. For example, Uncle Tom, Aunt Mary

English speaking people can named their relative by using their name, but we can’t do like this in Chinese, even between brothers and sisters. For example: “大哥” “二哥” “二姐”

When addressing strangers, the Chinese people resort to “同志” “师傅” “先生” “小姐” “老爷爷” “伯父” “阿姨” “伯母” “大哥” “大嫂” “大兄弟” “大姐” “小朋友”

  2. Greetings and farewells

2.1 Greetings

English : use these sentences “how do you do” “how are you” , “hello” or “hi” are frequently used greeting among colleagues, classmates, friends and family members. For Chinese learners of English it is important to note that many casual greetings in Chinese cannot be carried over into English used as greetings when they meet English speakers. “吃饭了吗”, “上哪儿呀” “去哪了” etc.

2.2 Farewells

English people: when they meet first time: I’m pleased to meet you or it’s nice to meet/know you. It’s nice to have met you. And when they part, they usually say “good-bye, Bye-bye, so long” or “see you later/ tomorrow/on the next Monday.”

Chinese people: usually “再见” “再会” “一会儿见” “明天见” “下星期一见”. And when the visit is over and the guest is seen to the door or gateway by the host, and exchange of utterances like “请留步” “请走好”

  3. Introduction

  English: introduce a young person to an older one, a man to woman, an inferior to a superior, the guest to the host, and a individual to a group. We mention the woman’s name first unless the man is much older than the woman or very famous. When shake hands, the man should take off the gloves, but the women needn’t. women first extends her hand if they shake hands at all. And add a sentence to descriptive note to bring them closer to each other. Use “how do you do” or “nice to meet/know you”

  4. Compliments and responses

English:  the response to compliments are almost use “thank you” “I am glad to hear that” “I am glad you like it .”

Chinese: but in Chinese. Modest is a virtue. So although they glad to hear the compliments. But they tend to refuse the compliments.

  5. Making telephone calls

  English: when they make a call, we must tell the person who answer the call the name, company and what you will do. If the person answer is not available, you can leave a message to him. And when we receive the call, we must tell people the company’s name and ask if there is anything we can do to help.

   Chinese: we just said”喂”, we don’t want to tell other our private information

   Hello, this is Mary speaking. Who’s calling?

   Good morning. James here

 This is Toky Electronics. What can I do for ?

 Stone Company. What can I do for you ?

 Reception. Can I help you?

 Who’s calling, please?

 May I have your name, please?

 Would you tell me your company’s name, please?

  Just a moment, Sir

  Yes, just a second.

  Hold on a moment. I’ll see if he’s in

  Hold the line. I’ll find out if he’s in his office.

  If you do not mind waiting for a while, I’ll see if he is available.

  I’m sorry he is out. May I take a message, so that he can call you?

  I’m sorry he is occupied right now. Would you like to leave a message?

  Thank you for calling.

Thanks and replies

  In both English and Chinese there are expressions of gratitude.

  E: thank you, Many thanks, thank you very much, thank you all the same, I’m really appreciative of your time, it’s very kind of you to offer help, I’m grateful for what you have done for me, I can’t thank you enough etc. English people speaks more frequently than Chinese. Even used among the family members. The reply is often used “Not at all” “don’t mention it” “you’re welcome” “it’s my pleasure” “it’s ok”

  C: “谢谢” “谢谢你” “非常感谢” “万分感谢” “真不知道该怎么感谢你才好” “多谢了”“谢谢你的好意。” 而中国常用的是“没什么” “不用谢” “不客气” “没什么，这是我应该做的” “这是我的职责。”

  7. Apologies and replies

  E：english people apologize more often and on more occasions than the Chinese people. “excuse me” “I’m terribly /awfully sorry” “it’s O.K., It’s all right” or “Never mind”

  8. Invitations and replies

  E: when they want to invite relatives, friends or colleagues to dinner, they send a formal letter of invitation a week or so in advance. Invitation:

         Dr and Mrs Thomas Mathew Benton

request the pleasure of your company

         At lunch

         Friday, the eleventh of November at one’s o’clock

 The Willows, 109 River Avenue

  Reply:

         Mr John Colan Hobart

        Accepts with pleasure the kind invitation of

        Dr and Mrs Thomas Mathew Benton

        For luncheon on Friday, the eleventh of November at one o’clock

        The Willows, 109 River Avenue

   Informal invitation:

        Dear Mrs Benton

        John and J would be very happy if you and Mr Benton could come to dinner on Saturday the twentieth at seven o’clock. We do hope that you could join us.

                                                          Sincerely yours

                                                          Mrs Hobart

  Reply

        Dear Mrs Hobart

        Mr Benton and J shall be delighted to accept your kind invitation to dinner on Saturday the twentieth at seven o’clock. We shall be looking forward to seeing you and John

                                                         Sincerely yours

                                                         Mrs Benton

   Native speakers of English normally prepare food and tableware according to the number of people at table. It is important for them to know whether the invitation is accepted or not. The person who has received the invitation is expected to indicate definitely whether the invitation is accepted or not.

   Chinese: to respond to invitations, to postpone the acceptance of an invitation until it is reinforced, is inappropriate when we interact with English speakers.

  9. Miscellaneous social amenities

9.1 The term “please”

E: use it more frequently than Chinese.

9.2 Gift giving and responses

E: at many occasions, English people just give a card, a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, or a bottle of perfume. Don’t give them expensive gifts, for they will not know how to return the kindness. And when they receive the gifts, they will unwrap it in the giver’s presence and say a few good words about it . such as “this vase is very nice, I’ll get some flowers for it/ this is really what I want/what beautiful flowers, I’ll put them in the sitting-room.”

9.3 Conversations at the table

E: these are the best dishes we can supply. Please feel at home and help yourselves. We should compliment with the following sentences:

This is really delicious/this meat is beautifully tender/this dish is very tasty

Response with

Thank you. I’m glad that you like it/ would you like some more of this dish/thank you/ yes, please/ no, thank you.

C: “饭菜不好，请大家随便吃/ 招待不周，请多原谅”

Topics for consideration

Chapter 5. Idiom, Proverbs and Allusions

Idioms(it is a construction, expression. Having a meaning different from the literal one or not according to the usual patterns of the language.)

Phrasal verbs.(phrasal verbs are one type of idioms, consisting of a verb and a particle, either an adverb or a preposition or of a verb, a noun and a preposition. It is difficult to learn. First  some very simple verbs can be combined with particles to form quite a number of phrasal verbs. The second, most of these phrasal verbs are polysemic.)

Phrasal verbs correspond in meaning to single words from French or Latin.

Generally, phrasal verbs occur often in colloquial English, while their corresponding single words are frequently found in writing.

Idioms other than phrasal verbs(they are closely related with English culture. To understand them properly one needs to attain familiarity with English culture from which they have developed.)

Idioms in relation to mannerisms

To split one’s side with laughter   当心笑破了肚皮

To keep a straight face 不动声色

To pull somebody’s leg 开某人的玩笑/捉弄某人

To ride one’s high horse 趾高气扬

To hold one’s head high 昂首挺胸/充满自信

To make a cat laugh 把死人逗笑了

To make one’s flesh creep 使人汗毛真竖/让人直起鸡皮疙瘩

To make a face 作个鬼脸

Not to bat an eyelid  眼不眨，心不跳/处之泰然

Idioms in relation to life philosophy

A big fish in a small pond 鹤立鸡群/

Milk and water 平淡如水

Mind one’s p’s and q’s 注意言行举止

No man is an island 没能人是一座孤岛

Just what the doctor ordered  医生的话不能不听，也不能全听

To keep one’s nose clean  保持一身清白

Not for all the tea in China 给我一座金山，我也不干

Idioms in relation to love and marriage

A male chauvinist大男子主义

A marriage of convenience 功利婚姻

The marriage of true minds 真诚的结合

To love at first sight 一见钟情

Mr/Miss Right 白马王子/绝色佳人

Others

Not to mince one’s words 直言不讳

To miss the boat 坐失良机

A nine days wonder昙花一现

Not in a hundred years 永远不能成功/一辈子也干不成

To keep one’s own company 独来独往

To know something like the palm of one’s hand 了如指掌

To know one’s onions

A nine to five job 朝九晚五

To move heaven and earth to do something 费了九牛二虎之力/连吃奶的力气都用上了

To make bricks without straw 做无米之饮

Between Scylla and Charybdis 腹背受敌/进退两难

 2. Proverbs（a preverb is a brief familiar maxim of folk wisdom, usually compressed in form, ofen involving a bold image are frequently a jingle that catches the memory）

2.1  proverbs related to Christianity

Man proposes, God disposes.谋事在人，成事在天

Mills of God grind slow but sure 天网恢恢，疏而不漏

God help those who help themselves自助者天助之

Whom God would ruin, he first deprives of reason 上帝要毁灭谁，必先夺其理性

Whom the Gods love die young 上帝的宠儿早夭折

Each cross hath its own inscription 每个十字架都有自己的铭文

God sends meat and the devil sends cooks. 上帝赐给食物，魔鬼派来厨师

He that serves god for money will serve the devil for better wages.为金钱而侍奉上帝的人会为更多的报酬服侍魔鬼

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