Chapter 1 Language culture and thought1 properties of languageLanguage is systematic :which means that it is rule governedLanguage is arbitrary :Language consists of arbitrary symbols There is no logical relationship between words and the objects actions or concepts these words are used to refer to(onomatopoeic words and compounds)Language is symbolic :Words are associated with objects actions and ideas through convention Language is vocal :This statement means that speech is the primary medium of language Language is uniquely human :Language is human specific Only human beings possess what can be called language in the true sense of the termLanguage is used for communication :Communication is the primary function of language Language is used to understand and describe the world :Language is the carrier and container of cultural information :Human beings have been interacting with the world and accumulated their experience and knowledge about the world which are interpreted as cultural information2 Definitions and properties of culture2.1 Definitions of cultureIn English "culture"is a loan word from Latin in which it mainly meant"cultivating or tilling the land"2.1.1 Culture in its broad senseCulture in its broad sense is also called "large C culture" or "academic culture"Materials man has got to satisfy his needs :Everything manufactured in factories or grown on farmlandSocial institutions and organizations man ha establishedKnowledge about nature and man himself and artistic developmentLanguage and other communication systemsCustoms habits and behavioural patternsValue systems world views national traits aesthetic standards and thinking patterns2.1.2 Culture in its narrow senseCulture in its narrow sense is also called "small c culture"or "anthropological culture"Culture can be defined as lifeway of a population2.2 Properties of cultureCulture is human specialCulture is a social phenomenon :This statement emphasizes the contrast between society and natureCulture is a national phenomenon :Each nation has been living in its unique geographical and historical framework in which a unique culture has been establish and is developingCulture is also a historical phenomenon ;Each generation inherits the culture established by its forefathersCulture is general and abstract3 Relationship between language culture and thought3.1 Relationship between language and cultureLanguage is part of cultureLanguage is the carrier and container of cultureAs a mirror of culture language is strongly influenced and shaped by cultureLanguage also exerts its influence on cultureLanguage and culture is closely related each influencing and shaping the other3.2 thoughtThought is the function and product of the human brainThought also refers to patterns of ideas characteristic of a social group3.3 Relationship between language and thoughtLanguage is an instrument used in the communication of thoughtLanguage is closely related to thinkingLanguage is influenced and shaped by thoughtLanguage is used for conveying ideas its structure and function must reflect these ideas Language also exerts strong influence on thought3.4 Concluding remarks on the relationship between language thought and cultureThe three aspects interact each influencing and shaping the other two4 Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication is concerned with communication among people from different cultural backgroundsIntercultural communication mainly deals with verbal and nonverbal interacting and related factors in intercultural communicationChapter 2 Words and Meaning1 What are words and meaning1.1 WordWords are units of expression which language users can intuitively recognize in either speech or writing1.2 Meaning1.2.1 Conceptual meaningConceptual meaning is the basic meaning presented by meaningful linguistic units,the central factor in linguistic communicationThe relationship between a word and an object in the real world or a concept in our mind to which the word refer is the conceptual meaning of the word1.2.2 Connotative meaningConnotative meaning is the communicative value an expression has in addition to the purely conceptual meaning (woman statesman politician)1.2.3 Social meaningSocial meaning or stylistic meaning is what a piece of language conveys about the social circumstances (language users settings topics) (domicile residence abode home)1.2.4 Affective meaningAffective meaning is communicated when the feelings or attitudes are expressed in language1.2.5 Reflected meaningReflected meaning arises in words of multiple conceptual meaning (the Comforter the Holy Ghost intercourse ejaculation erection)1.2.6 Collocative meaningCollocative meaning consists of associations a word gets from those words that are often used together with it (pretty handsome)1.2.7 Thematic meaningThematic meaning is what is communicated by the way in which a speaker or writer organizes a message ordering focus emphasis1.2.1--1.2.6 :heading associative meaning2.words and conceptual meaning2.1 Words and culture-specific conceptual meaning2.1.1 Words and geographyThe United States of America 美利坚合众国The Mississippi 密西西比河Superior 苏必利尔湖Niagara Falls 尼亚加拉大瀑布Rocky Mountains 落基山脉Washington 华盛顿poke 美洲商陆terrapin 北美泥龟The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国The Thames 泰晤士河the Channel 英吉利海峡England 英格兰London 伦敦The Commonwealth of Australia 澳大利亚联邦New South Wales 新南威尔士州Great Barrier Reef 大堡礁Great Victoria Desert 大维多利亚沙漠Canberra 堪培拉koala 考拉熊kangaroo 袋鼠2.1.2 Words and historyAmerican historyThe May flower五月花号The Revolutionary war or War of Independence 独立战争Continental Congress 大陆会议Emancipation Proclamation 解放宣言Homestead Ac 宅地法案Scalp 波代发头皮Lynch 私刑Cowboy 牛仔Hippie 嬉皮士British historyDuck a nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family 公爵Knight a man given the rank of knighthood by the British monarch in recognition of merits in public service 骑士Glorious Revolution 光荣革命Castle 光荣革命Fort 要塞或壁垒式的贸易站2.1.3 Words and politicsPresident 总统the elected head of the government in the USACongress 国会the federal legislature of the USASupreme Court 最高法院the highest judicial body in the USADemocratic Party 民主党Republican Party 共和党Queen 女王the female monarch of the UK Prime Minister 首相the leader of the British government Parliament 议会the supreme legislative body of the United KingdomLabour Party 工党Conservative Party 保守党Governor-General 总督2.1.4 Words and the ChristianityTrinity Bible Catholic Orthodox Eastern Church Reformation Protestant Puritan Mass2.1.5 Words and HolidaysChristmas box(圣诞节礼) Christmas Card(圣诞贺卡) Christmas tree(圣诞树) Christmas pudding(圣诞布丁) Christmas rose(圣诞玫瑰) Christmastide(圣诞节节期) Thanksgiving Day(感恩节) Boxing Day(节礼日) Easter(复活节) St. Valentine’s Day(情人节) April Fool’s Day(愚人节) Anzac Day(新澳军团日)2.1.6 Words and living stylesHot dog(热狗) Hamburger(汉堡包) Sandwich(三明治) Pudding(布丁) Salad(沙拉) Whisky(威士忌) Cocktail(鸡尾酒) Drive-ins 汽车的Diners (用餐) Baseball (垒球) Rugby(橄榄球)Hockey(曲棍球) Water skiing(滑水) Polo(马球) Golf(高尔夫球) Striptease(脱衣舞)Lovestore(色情商店) X-rated sexploitation movies() Late-late TV shows2.2 English words that correspond partially in conceptual meaning with their translation equivalents in Chinese.Intellectuals (知识分子) Social sciences (社会科学)A Yard(院子) Quadrangle Courtyards (四合院)Drugstore(AE) Chemist’s shop (BE)(药店)Chauvinist pig :a guy who believes that woman are inferiorDude athlete macho stud hunk Don Juan playboy egotist fratty bagger :guys who think they are really cool woman-pleaser types conceited type of peopleTurkey nerd jerk prick bastard pimp skinhead redneck dog :they are people a woman may not want to be seen with or want to talk toW imp, sissy, homosexual, queer, gay, hippie: 奇怪的, 同性恋者.Couchwarmer:Ladies’ manMan, boy, guy, fellow, gentleman, boyfriend, fiancé, lover, sweet heart: 指男性的2.3 English words and what may be mistaken for their equivalents in Chinese.Greenhouse(温室) Busywork(耗时而无价值的工作) Busman’s holiday(消磨于与日常工作类似这活动的假日) Busybody(爱管闲事的人) Housewarming(乔迁之喜) Donkeywork(单调的日常工作) Police action(维和行动) Lowboy(矮脚抽屉柜) Free love(公开同居) First Lady(第一夫人) High school(中学) Rest room(公共建筑物内的洗水间,厕所)Equalitarianism or egalitarianism(平均主义) Lover(情人) Disinterested(公正的,不偏不倚的) Cooker(炊事用具)Wester(西风)Chinese, even between brothers and sisters. For example: “大哥” “二哥” “二姐”When addressing strangers, the Chines e people resort to “同志” “师傅” “先生” “小姐” “老爷爷” “伯父” “阿姨” “伯母” “大哥” “大嫂” “大兄弟” “大姐” “小朋友”2. Greetings and farewells2.1 GreetingsEnglish : use these sentences “how do you do” “how are you” , “hello” or “hi” are frequently used greeting among colleagues, classmates, friends and family members. For Chinese learners of English it is important to note that many casual greetings in Chinese cannot be carried over into English used as greetings when they meet English speakers. “吃饭了吗”, “上哪儿呀” “去哪了2.2 FarewellsEngl ish people: when they meet first time: I’m pleased to meet you or it’s nice to meet/know you. It’s nice to have met you. And when they part, they usually say “good-bye, Bye-bye, so long” or “see you later/ tomorrow/on the next Monday.”Chinese people: usua lly “再见” “再会” “一会儿见” “明天见” “下星期一见”. And when the visit is over and the guest is seen to the door or gateway by the host, and exchange of utterances like “请留步” “请走好”3. IntroductionEnglish: introduce a young person to an older one, a man to woman, an inferior to a superior, the guest to the host, and a individual to a group. We mention the woman’s name first unless the man is much older than the woman or very famous. When shake hands, the man should take off the gloves, but the women needn’t. women first ex tends her hand if they shake hands at all. And add a sentence to descriptive note to bring them closer to each other. Use “how do you do” or “nice to meet/know you”4. Compliments and responsesEnglish: the response to compliments are almost use “thank you” “I am glad to hear that” “I am glad you like it .”Chinese: but in Chinese. Modest is a virtue. So although they glad to hear the compliments. But they tend to refuse the compliments.5. Making telephone callsEnglish: when they make a call, we must tell the person who answer the call the name, company and what you will do. If the person answer is not available, you can leave a message to him. And when we receive the call, we must tell people the company’s name and ask if there is anything we can do to help.Chinese: we just said”喂”, we don’t want to tell other our private informationHello, this is Mary speaking. Who’s calling?Good morning. James hereThis is Toky Electronics. What can I do for ?Stone Company. What can I do for you ?Reception. Can I help you?Who’s calling, please?May I have your name, please?Would you tell me your company’s name, please?Just a moment, SirYes, just a second.Hold on a moment. I’ll see if he’s inHold the line. I’ll find out if he’s in his office.If you do not mind waiting for a while, I’ll see if he is available.I’m sorry he is out. May I take a message, so that he can call you?I’m sorry he is occupied right now. Would you like to leave a message?Thank you for calling.Thanks and repliesIn both English and Chinese there are expressions of gratitude.E: thank you, Many thanks, thank you very much, thank you all the same, I’m really appreciative of your time, it’s very kind of you to offer help, I’m grateful for what you have done for me, I can’t thank you enough e tc. English people speaks more frequently than Chinese. Even used among the family members. The reply is often used “Not at all” “don’t mention it” “you’re welcome” “it’s my pleasure” “it’s ok”C: “谢谢” “谢谢你” “非常感谢” “万分感谢” “真不知道该怎么感谢你才好” “多谢了”“谢谢你的好意。