A Comparative Study Of Some Prominent Cultural And Lexical Similarities And Dissimilarities Between Chinese And English

Language and culture are closely interrelated. As a component of a certain culture system, a language notes down, spreads and passes on the message evolved in that culture having developed generation upon generation. The glamour of Chinese culture or any other national culture most preponderantly comes to our awareness through the medium of its language. The body of lexical items accruing to a language is the fundamental of that language and its mainstay and is also the most active factor of that language, as it can most sensitively refiect the changes in social life and social ideology of the people using that language. Therefore, cultural distinction is most conspicuously reflected on the lexicalitem plane. Culture is nationally based, so is lexical item. On a lexicalitem plane, there exists a full spectrum of lexical vacancies and that of lexical-item crashes. The cultural connotation evolving during the course of usage of a lexical item usually pivots on its conceptual meaning enriched as a result of the process of repetitive uses. It is a deposit of cultural development through ages; it orients the workings of cogitation of a native speaker of a given language beyond one抯 consciousness. A good knowledge of the cultural difference of the lexical items between English and Chinese can reduce the misunderstanding of a certain language or pragmatic mistakes to a minimum. It will be beneficial to English language teaching, Chinese language teaching to non-Chinesespeaking natives, translation, and cross-cultural communication.My thesis consists of five parts: Apart from the parts of 揑ntroduction?and 揅onclusion? the thesis proper contains three chapters.The introduction part briefs on the discipline of lexical item of culture in its origin, present condition of its study and my research.Chapter I explains the concept and characteristics of culture, the relation between language and culture, the relation between translating and culture, and cultural elements reflected on the lexical items.2Chapter II focuses on the nationality of English and Chinese lexical items. It is caused by geographical factors, factors of tradition and convention, factor of historical background, factors of religious faith and values. It shows the similarities and dissimilarities of the lexical items borne on by these five factors.Chapter III mainly discusses the difference modes of English and Chinese lexical items from the view of semiotics. According to the theory of semiotics, any sign has three meanings. Lexical item, as a sign systern also possesses three meanings. Three difference modes in designative dimension and seven difference modes in pragmatic dimension of English and Chinese lexical items are covered here.Conclusion emphasizes the necessity of the comparative of study of the lexical aspect of culture and points out the shortcomings in my thesis.