The National Culture Differences Reflected In English And Chinese Idioms

As the essence of language, idiom is a kind of language form which has been used for a long time and steeled over and over again before it is shaped, depending on certain specific social cultural background to a great extent. In this way, it is certain to say that idiom is the part of language which contains the richest cultural connotation. Idiom originates from culture and in return, reflects all aspects of culture. In his work Sociolinguistics, Linguist Hudson demonstrates explicitly:"Many characteristics of language are also the characteristics of culture." Through the research on the idioms in the language of a nation, many characteristics of the nationa's culture can be comprehended. Nida (1993) once pointed out that culture exerts profound influence on the meaning of words and idioms; Without careful study of culture background, it is difficult to get deep understanding of the profound implications of the idioms. Idiom is just like a mirror through which colorful national culture can be seen distinctively. By the comparison of English idioms and Chinese idioms in this thesis, the differences between the British nantion and the Chinese nation will be unfolded in the following aspects as natural environment, historical development, religious belief, traditional moral values, customs, etc, through which the cultural differences between the two nations will be expounded profoundly. It is of high value for English teaching and Chinese teaching for foreigners. At the same time, to understand and master the cultural connotations of English idioms and Chinese idioms contributes to our better understanding and grasping the exact meaning of the English and Chinese idioms, and thus improving our cross-cultural communicative abilities.