英汉动物谚语的对比研究

A Comparative Study of English

and Chinese Animal

Proverbs

I. Introduction

In Longman Moder

n English Dictionary , proverb

・“

is “a

brief

familiar maxim of folk wisdom, usually compressed in form, often involving a bold image and frequently a jingle that catches the memory. ” A proverb, which succinctly sums up human experience and observation of the world, states a general truth and gives advice or warning. A proverb, often involving a bold image, musical rhythm and compressed form, can bring vividness to the readers and so they are easy to remember and spread. Proverbs are summing up of folk wisdom, they are usually pithy, and have universal appeals. People love to pick up proverbs when they try to reason things out and the proper use of proverbs can make their views more convincing. Proverbs are the crystal of the national wisdom. They are an important part of a national

language and they appropriately reflect the relation between culture

and language. They have been connected closely with the national characteristics ever since their coming into being and in their development. It is generally acknowledged that different peoples have

great differences in their cultures. But since different peoples live on the same earth with roughly similar needs and some of them have even experienced similar social

development stage, their experiences, emotional reflection and observation of the world are in many aspects similar. This shows that different peoples may have cultural generality besides cultural difference. Proverbs, as the cream of a language, inevitably carry the imprint of cultural difference and generality. The difference and generality respectively lead to the dissimilarities and similarities between English and Chinese animal proverbs and making a comparative study of them is of great significance.

II. Animals Proverbs with Identical Meanings

Some animal proverbs in English and Chinese are identical in meaning. The proverbs in this category are limited in number. They are the result of either coincidence or translation loans from one language to another. These proverbs are not hindered by national boundaries or culture barriers, instead they have take on universal significance. The following are some examples.

1. English: An ass is known by his ears. / Chinese: 见耳识驴，听话

知愚。

2. English: It is a sad house where the hen crows louder than the

cock.

Chinese: 牝鸡司晨，家之不详。

Many factors have contributed to the emergence of fully corresponding pairs in English and Chinese proverbs.

Firstly, although different nations live in varied natural environments and diversified geographic conditions, they still share quite a lot in common. They have more or less the same species of animals. And the common ground of human cultures is larger than the individual feature of each culture. Although, people 's concrete ways of

life are varied in different places, the fundamental ways of living and thinking are the same for the whole human race.

Secondly, owing to culture exchange, translation loans are borrowed from each other, which are not limited to the root ideas but sometimes include the “ clothing of the idea ”. As a result, some proverbs with identical animal image come into existence in different language, for instance,

“He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount ”and “骑虎难下” .