[理论语言学.pptVIP

Language and Culture By : Chao lumen 1.What is culture? What is culture? 2.The relationship between language and culture Language expresses cultural reality and is an important way to transmit culture. Through language children learn about their cultural identity. Culture both emancipates and constrains people socially, historically and metaphorically. Language helps perpetuate the culture, and the changes in language uses reflect the cultural changes in return. Generally, the relation of L to C is that of part to whole, for L is part of C. The knowledge and beliefs that constitute a people’s culture are habitually encoded and transmitted in L. 1. Greetings and terms of address English greetings How do you do? How are you? Hi!/Hello! How are you getting on? Chinese greetings Nihao! Have you eaten? Where are you heading? English terms of address Mr Mrs Miss Ms Chinese terms of address tongzhi shifu Fuwuyuan Uncle Zhang Chairman Mao Director Wang Response to thanks Englishmen like to acknowledge and accept thanks I’m glad to hear it. I’m glad to be of help. Chinese people tend to decline expressions of gratitude No, no. Not at all. It’s nothing You speak excellent English. English speaking people Thank you. Chinese No. Privacy age family background salary 4.Attitudes towards numbers *Anthropological study of linguistic: Study of language in a sociocultural context. *Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) : 1.The meaning of a word greatly depends upon its occurrence in a given context. 2. Language functions as a link in human activity, a mode of action. J.R. Firth (1890-1960) : theory of the context of situation 1. The relevant features of the participants, persons, personalities. 2. The relevant objects 3. The effects of the verbal action. “Who speaks what to whom and when and to what end ”. * Examples : 1. A: Your wife is so beautiful. 你的太太真漂亮。 B: Where, where! 哪里，哪里。 A: From head to toe. 从头到脚 B: Not to be seen, not to be seen.