You cannot eat your cake and have it
强扭的瓜不甜
You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink
Culture and expressions
a) Forms of address b) Greetings and farewells c) Compliments and responses to compliments a) Taboos and euphemism
c)
Compliments and responses to
compliments
Compliments and praises are of great social functions. Generally: American response to compliments is positive Chinese people are shy to compliment others and also shy to accept compliments.


Yes, I do. 2) Please don't say that. Yes I will. 3) I know what he wants by mentioning offers from other companies. Yes? Asking for a raise of his salary! 4) Waiter! Yes, sir. 5) Yes? I'd like two tickets,please. 6) Everything will be all right soon,yes?
American Hippies in the 1960s
Other examples?
English to Chinese
Chinese to English
Loan words
沙发 夹克衫 咖啡 柏拉图 乌托邦
toufu wonton Chow mein Feng shui Brainwashing
1. Language and culture
Verbal intercultural communication Relationship between language and culture
Culture and Word Meaning
a. Words with different associated meanings b. Words without counterparts in another language c. Confusing translation d. Proverbs
商务 跨文化交际
Verbal Intercultural Communication
Goals :
Listen to the lead-in case
Meanings of Words .
A dragon lady 以统治者身份行使权力的女人 The Dragon/The Great Dragon/The Old Dragon 指与上帝作对的魔鬼撒旦 亚洲四小龙：the four tigers in Asia To distinguish it from traditional Western “dragon”, some people now use the term “Chinese
猫头鹰 and Owl
汉文化：不祥之物 “夜猫子进宅，凶事 自来” 西方：智慧、博学的象征 as wise as an owl “A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?” —英国民间童谣
the final departure(最后离 去)， final sleep(最后一觉)， to go to one's long home( 回到永久之家)， to have found rest(得到安 息)，in heaven(在天堂)， with God(和上帝在一起)
Chinese Words 单位
Confusing translation unit
English words’ Connotation A thing, person or group that is regarded as one single whole part of something larger. (1) T h e b e l i e f t h a t m o n e y a n d possessions rather than things of the mind such as art or religion. (2) The belief that only physical things really exist. The belief that everyone is equal and has the same chance to do something.
蝙蝠 and Bat
汉文化：“蝠”与“福”同音，象 征吉祥、健康、幸福。 西方：丑陋邪恶的动物，与罪恶或 黑暗势力相联系，特别是vampire bat （吸血蝙蝠）。 As blind as a bat 有眼无珠 Crazy as bat 精神失常；发痴 Have bats in the belfry 异想天开
busboy 公共汽车？小男孩？ 难道是conductor?
餐馆勤杂工 busybody 大忙人？？ 爱管闲事的人 mad doctor 发疯的医生？太危险了。。。 精神病科医生
sweet water 甜水？ 糖水？
淡水 horse sense 马的感觉？ 常识 white man 皮肤白的人？ 忠实可靠的人
Chinese word English word Associated meaning in Chinese Associated meaning in English
凤凰 猫头鹰
孔雀
phoenix owl
Peacock
symbol of fortune and queen symbol of bad luck
（陆地）
奸诈 长寿 智慧 喋喋不休 脆弱与微不足道 坚韧和节操 轻信 欺骗
1.Can you find some cases in which “是” in Chinese does not mean "yes" in English? 2.How would you put the following into Chinese? 1) Do you like the new plan?
Commonly-Believed Traditional British Superstitions and Taboos
Black cat Breaking a Mirror
Euphemism
pass away(逝世) be no more(不在了)， depart(去世) be gone(走了) join the majority(会 见老祖宗去了) go to west(归西了) go to glory(升天了) go to meet one maker (见上帝) to be at peace(平静了)，
英语动物词汇的象征意义
与汉语动物象征意义相同/接近的例子 Bee Bull Camel Hen Pig Ox(犁地） Rabbit Swan 母爱 优雅 勤劳 耐心、力量和自尊 多产，生殖力强 力量和直来直去 顽固、肮脏和好吃 驯服
与汉语动物象征意义相异的例子 Crow Duck Fly toise
c. Confusing translation
Cultural distinctions lead to different connotations, so some expressions are really confusing when translated. For example: “unit”—“单位” “equalitarian” — “平均主义/平等主 义”, “materialism” — “物质主义/唯物 主义”.
a) Forms of address
b) Greetings
Chinese culture is relation-oriented. Maintaining or promoting relation calls for something interpersonal, so it is quite acceptable in China to greet each other by asking private questions, while English people have a very strong sense of privacy.
a. Words with different associated meanings Culturally-loaded words and expressions are good examples showing the cultural influence on the meanings of words.
物质主义/ materialism 唯物主义
平均主义/ equalitarian 平等主义
翻译中的假朋友
How to say “力大如牛” As strong as a horse How to say “挥金如土” water To spend money like _____