The Contrastive Study Between English And Chinese Number Idioms In Cultural Differences

The development of economic globalization and the comprehensive nationalstrength enhanced indicate that China is playing an increasingly important role in theworld. Also, the level of dialogue and exchange between China and the whole worldwill be deepened. Recently, the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bankhas been regarded as the ambitious and revolutionary action by the whole world. Thefoundation of it has become the unique link between economy and culture. Language,especially English, as the main tool of communication and the bridge of cooperationwith other countries, has its core and dominating status.As a special symbol and main tool of intercultural communication, language hasbecome an important and special component to reflect the characteristics and natureof culture. Simultaneously, culture has an impact on languages. Therefore, theinteraction and influence between language and culture is mutual. One active way tounderstand the culture of a nation is to understand its language. During the process ofintercultural communication, languages vary because of the differences in the culturaland social background, life style, education, beliefs, the outlook towards life, values,ethics, moralities and customs, political and economic conditions. Among all theexpressing forms of languages, idioms connect with geographical environment,historical background, economic life, customs, religious belief, psychological state,and values more tightly. Analyzing idioms is the most appropriate way to study thecultural connotations of a nation. Contrastive research on Chinese and English idiomscan help language learners realize the differences between Chinese and Englishcultures. Analyzing and clarifying the differences between the two cultures can avoidpragmatic failures appearing in the process of communication effectively andsuccessfully. The basic intercultural theory, Hall’s high-context and low-contextculture, provides the solid theoretical basis for the research on the differences about cultures.American cultural anthropologist Edward T. Hall put forward his famousintercultural communication theory-the high-context and the low-context culture,which provides the theoretical basis for analyzing cultural differences and culturalconflict. William B. Gudykunst, another famous scholar in the field of interculturalcommunication, pointed out that Chinese culture and English culture belong tohigh-context and low-context culture respectively. In this thesis, differences betweenthe two cultures can be concluded through the contrastive study of number idioms inEnglish and Chinese on the basis of this theory. Then, the following three researchquestions will be solved: Firstly, What are the typical characteristics of numberidioms in Chinese and English? Secondly, what are the similarities and differences oncultural connotative meaning between number idioms in Chinese and English?Thirdly, what are the reasons that causing the differences in English and Chinesenumber idioms? In addition, the research can help the second language learnersdeepen the recognition of cultures, and avoid communication conflicts andmisunderstandings effectively. At the same time, progress can be achieved inimproving learners’ reading and writing ability, broadening their mind, effectivelyenhancing their communicative competence and communication ability, enrichingcommunication skills, and strengthening communicating flexibility.