中精典课件西文化课件.pptVIP

We shape our buildings and they in turn shape us. Here is one expression of the idea by Edward Sapir: No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality. The worlds in which different societies live are distinct worlds,not merely the same world with different labels attached. And one from Benjamin Whorf: We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages. The categories and types that we isolate from the world of phenomena we do not find there because they stare every observer in the face;on the contrary,the world is presented in a kaleiscopic flux of impressions which has to be oeganized by our minds——and this means largely by the linguistic systems in our minds. Examples: 1. Chinese hong and English red 2. Vocabulary and Flower Arranging 3. Words for Describing Relationships 4. Personal Names in American Culture 白发红颜 青红皂白 百紫千红 齿白唇红 穿红着绿 姹紫嫣红 灯红酒绿 耳红面赤 红豆相思 红粉青楼 红旗报捷 红杏出墙 红叶题诗 脸红耳赤 柳绿桃红 满面红光 Hong describes a wider range of the color spectrum than the English term red does. Western Culture: cruelty, war, violence, danger, revolution Chinese Culture: happiness, good luck, prosperity 开门红be successful at the beginning 红娘 match maker 红人 a person who enjoys great popularity 红颜/ 红袖 young beauty 女红 needle work 红眼病 green-eyed 又红又专 both socialist—minded and professionally qualified 红豆love pea 红榜 honorary board 红利 bonus 红白喜事 weddings and funerals 红糖 brown sugar 红茶 black tea Western Flower Arranging: Flowers tend to be grouped together according to color. The shapes of individual flowers and stems are lost in the shape of the bouquet. Japanese Flower Arranging: Each flower is displayed in a clearly defined space. The shape of the flower, stem and vase are highlighted. Japanese has an elaborate vocabulary for describing shapes and space. Linguistic Relativity Different people speak differently because they think differently, and that they think differently because their languag