跨文化交际中语言禁忌
India——To save disabled children with total solar eclipse
在印度卡纳塔克 邦古尔伯加地区 ,当出现日全食 时,一些瘫痪儿 童的身体被部分 埋入一堆肥料之 中。当地人相信 ,日全食能够治 愈他们的瘫痪。
Death
Death “安息”、“仙逝”、“夭 折”、“长眠”、“作古”、 “永别”、“辞世”、“逝 世”、“过世”、“走了”、 “老了”、“不在了”、 “出远门了”、“没了” “崩”“薨”“卒”“不禄” Funeral 人们特意加“寿”字以破不祥。 有些人忌讳说“棺材”而改 称为“寿材”、“寿器”或 “长生板”
She is in an interesting condition(1980) She is in a delicate condition.(1895) She is knitting little booties(1910) She is in a family way(1920) She is pregnant/anticipating/enceinte /expectant/expecting
Other taboos
Address
In Chinese, the ancestors’ and the older generation’s names cannot be referred directly. 爸爸,妈妈,爷爷,姥姥,姑 姑,阿姨,舅舅,叔叔 In the English culture, the younger generation can refer the elder generation’s name directly. It shows that they are equal, friendly and intimate.
Definition
Taboo is a certain expression or behavior that should be avoided in certain contexts. Some expressions related to social taboos are linguistic taboos.
pass away, go to another world, go to sleep forever, return to dust, be with God, expire, decease, perish, cut off
Linguistic Taboo in Crosscultural Communication
成员:苗茜茜
王慧婷
宋嘉
Introduction
Taboo, a complicated cultural phenomenon, exists in all human societies. Linguistic taboo, as an integral part of language, is not only a linguistic phenomenon but also a social phenomenon. In cross-cultural communication, it is impossible to be indifferent to linguistic taboo. Neglecting taboo will result in cultural conflict or even cultural shock.
Linguistic Taboo in Cross-cultural Communication
Linguistic taboos
Address
Pregnant Old Diseases Death
Sex Excretion
Daily life
Swearword Number
Discrimination Privacy
Old
complement “老当益壮”、“老骥伏枥, Sick, disable and 志在千里” useless Intelligent, authoritative and “Old ” can be knowledgable substituted by senior, “老中医” the long-lived, elderly “不听老人言,吃亏在眼前” men, a distinguished “老马识途”“姜还是老的辣” gentleman “老张”“老孙”是汉语中 特有的称呼方式,
Diseaபைடு நூலகம்es
“挂彩”(北方) “带花”(南方) “抱恙”“不适 ”“欠安” “腿脚不方便”“ 耳朵背”“眼睛不 太好” “吃药” “吃好茶 ”。 在香港探望病人时 ,忌送剑兰、梅花 等花束。
B.O. (Body Odor) ; C.C. (cancer) ; VD (venereal disease) ; SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) ; AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ) TB (tuberculosis); MD (Mental deficiency) a slow learner (a stupid student) ; a special student ( a disable student) ; a visually retarded student ( a blind student) ; the handicapped ( the crippled) He doesn’t feel well (He is ill)
总经理,董事长,厂长 王总,张局长,李处长
The words like god, heaven, Christ, Jesus are holy and respectable and can’t be referred directly.
Pregnant
•“有喜了” • 怀孕 • 孕妇 • 分娩 • 有了