including its tradition, habits, social customs, morals, laws, and social relations.
Sociologically, every society, on every level, has its culture;
the term has no implications of high development.
7
(今天承蒙各位光临，不胜荣幸。我们略 备粗馔，聊寸心，没有什么可口的东 西，不成敬意，请大家多多包涵……)
I am very happy to have all of you here today. Though these dishes are coarse and not delicious and good enough to show my respect for you, I hope you will enjoy them…”
Literally, Li’s words are inappropriate, but they do convey the meaning of respect.
Here the language form is different from its content, a phenomenon which can only be found in eastern culture.
5
Language is not isolated.
Every language belongs to a certain culture.
It is difficult to separate language and cultural identity.
How different peoples express what they see is determined by how they perceive and interpret and react to reality.
8
The next day, the English version of his words was shown in the local newspaper. To his shock, the restaurant owner flew into a rage. He thought it was an insult and insisted that Li should show him the evidence of which dish was not well-made and which dish was not delicious. Otherwise, Li intentionally damaged the reputation of the restaurant, and he should apologize. All the fuss made Li rather embarrassed.
2
What is culture?
3
A total way of life of a people
4
The New World Encyclopedia:
Culture is the totality of the spiritual, intellectual, and artistic attitudes shared by a group,
Translation & Culture
1
翻译对文化的促进作用 季羡林先生在谈到翻译的作用时，曾以中华文
明的发展为例，作了如下精辟的阐述:“为什么 中华文化竟延续不断一直存在到今天呢?我想， 这里面是因为翻译在起作用。我曾在一篇文章 中说过，若拿河流来作比较，中华文化这一 条长河，有水满的时候，也有水少的时候， 但却从未枯竭。原因就是有新水注入，注入 的次数大大小小是颇多的，最大的有两次， 一次是从印度来的水，一次是从西方来的水。 而这两次的大注入依靠的都是翻译。中华文化 之所以能常葆青春，万应灵药就是翻译。翻译 之为用大矣哉！”
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Comment
What Li said is just some formulaic polite expression common in type. Almost all Chinese people know this and could hear that nearly everywhere.
6
Li Hongzhang, one of the top officials in the Qing Dynasty, was invited to visit the U.S. He was warmly welcomed. One day, Li was hosting a banquet for the American officials in a popular restaurant. As the banquet started, according to the Chinese custom, Li stood up and said, “今天 承蒙各位光临，不胜荣幸。我们略备粗馔，聊 表寸心，没有什么可口的东西，不成敬意，请 大家多多包涵……”
10
America is a country with highly valued individualism.
They express themselves rather directly. They tend to hear words literally, therefore they
cannot understand easterner’s over-modesty. The reaction of the restaurant is nothing unusual. Li may change his words like this: “The cuisine of your country is really great. It is