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Sociolinguistics(6) Instructor: Hua Xianfa 4.5. Interdependence of language and culture 4.5.1.Cultural influences on language and linguistic behavior a. Interpretation and comprehension e.g. dog dragon east wind west wind 1）It’s a warm wind, the west wind, full of birds’ cries; I never hear the west wind but tears are in my eyes, For it comes from the west lands, the old brown hills, And April’s in the west wind, and daffodils. More examples 2）How many winter days have I seen him, standing blue-nosed in the snow and east wind! 3）东风和气满楼台。 4）碧云天，黄叶地，西风紧，塞雁南飞，晓来谁染霜林醉，尽是离人泪。 5) You are very homely. 4.5.2. Privacy, taboo and euphemism Privacy in English is emphasized but in Chinese not. We are not allowed to ask English speakers such questions as: How old are you? What are your wages? How much do you earn? You make a lot of money, don’t you? Taboo Taboo is another area where cultural influences can be seen on language and linguistic behavior. We do not say certain things, not because we cannot say them, but because our culture does not let us talk about them; or, if those things are talked about, they are talked about in very roundabout ways. In the first case we have instances of linguistic taboo; in the second we have the employment of euphemisms so as to avoid mentioning certain matters directly. More about taboo Taboo is one way in which a society expresses its disapproval of certain kinds of behavior believed to be harmful to its members, either for supernatural reasons or because such behavior is held to violate a moral code.e.g. Bonjour! X Bon matin! 明月有情还顾我，清风无意不留人。 Euphemism If tabooed things must talked about, they are often talked about in very roundabout ways so as to avoid mentioning certain matters directly. This what we mean by euphemism. Euphemisms can be divided into two general types: positive and negative. Positive euphemisms inflate and magnify, making the euphemized items seem altoget