Abstract
Due to different natural environment, history, economy and politics, every country has its own culture. Language is a cultural carrier. Culture-loaded vocabulary plays an important role in a language. Animal words keep close relationship with human beings. Gradually, animal words become a part of language. To some extend, animal words reflect cultural connotations. Therefore, knowing about the animal words can enrich our minds. It can help us to know more about foreign culture and communicate smoothly and correctly in across-culture. Moreover, throughout the comparison between the Chinese and English cultural differences, we know the advantages and disadvantages of our culture. In that case, we can better improve our culture.
The article reviews the definition of culture and the relationship between culture and animal words. Four kinds of cultural differences are displayed. They are religion and mythologies, literature, modes of production and ways of thinking. The paper summarizes what exactly the differences are in the four aspects and how these differences come about. Then it gives examples to represent the differences.
Based on the analysis and discussions above, the author put forward some suggestions to avoid the miscommunication: learn foreign culture by reading various books, surfing Internet, exchanging ideas with teachers, classmates and friends. Learners should respect each other’s culture.
Key Words: culture connotation animal words differences
摘 要
由于不同的自然环境，历史，经济和政治因素，每个国家都有它自己的文化。语言是文化的载体。载有文化意义的词汇，在语言中也起到很重要的作用。动物与人类有密切的关系，它逐渐成为文化的一部分。在很大程度上，动物词汇反映了文化内涵。因此，了解动物词汇可以开阔我们的视野。它让我们了解更多的外国文化，能在跨文化交际中能流畅正确地进行交流。并且，通过两国文化的对比我们可以了解自己本国文化的优势与劣势，以更好地发展自己的文化。
文章回顾了文化的定义及文化和动物词汇的关系，展现了两国文化中的四种差异—宗教和神话，文学，生产方式和思维方式。总结了到底这四方面存在什么不同点及为什么会出现这样的不同点，然后给了例子加以说明。
在此基础上作者归纳出避免差异产生的建议和方法：阅读各种各样的书籍，浏览因特网，与老师，同学和朋友多交流，并且尊重各国文化。
关键词：文化 内涵 动物词汇 差异
Contents
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………..……………i
Abstract (English)………………………………………………..……………………ii
Abstract (Chinese)……………………………………………………..……………..iii
Contents……………………………………………………………..………………..iv
- Introduction…………………………………………………………………………1
- Review culture and animal words………………………..….……………………..1
2.1 The definition of culture ………………………… .……………………………1
2.2 The relationship between culture and animal words. ..…………………………2
- Cultural differences………………..…….…………………………………… .. ….2
3.1 Differences in religions and mythologies…………………….…………………2
3.1.1 Differences……………………………………………….……………………3
3.1.2 Examples………………..………….……………………………………………………..5
3.2 Differences in literature………………..………………………….……………8
3.2.1 Differences…………………………………………..……..…………………8
3.2.2 Examples………………………………………………………………………9
3.3 Differences in ways of thinking………………………………………………10
3.3.1 Differences…………………………………………………………………..10
3.3.2 Examples……………………………………………………………………12
3.4 Differences in modes of production…………………………………………..13
3.4.1Differences…………………………………………………………………13
3.4.2 Examples……………………………………………………………………14
- Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….15
References………………………………………………………………..…………18
