Chinese and English Kinship Terms 学生.doc

Chinese and English Kinship Terms Abstract In this paper a comparison is made between Chinese and English kinship systems to see their differences and similarities, and a tentative explanation is also given to the differences of these two systems from the aspect of culture． Chinese and English Kinship Terms Thesis statement：Chinese kinship system and English kinship system are heavily influenced by their respective cultures. Outline： 1. Introduction 2. Comparison between Chinese and English kinship terms 2. 1 Similarities 2. 2 Differences 3. Cultural connotation of Chinese and English kinship terms 3. 1 Cultural connotation of Chinese kinship terms 3. 1. 1 The influence of the family-centered economy 3. 1. 2 The value of close family relationship 3. 1. 3 The value regarding the system of respect 3. 1. 4 The over-emphasis on the differences between consanguine and affinal relations 3. 2 Cultural connotation of English kinship terms 4. Conclusion Works cited Chinese and English Kinship Terms 1. Introduction Throughout human history people have sought to identify themselves and others in social contexts．This identification comes, in part, through the act of naming, which carries great social significance for us（Trenhohn; Jensen 1992)．As we learn to identify and categorize the world around us, we also learn our place within it．Our name sets us apart from every other human being．Just as our individual names connote our uniqueness within society, so do the kinship terms apply to us． Kinship terms, according to E．R．Leach, , “category words by means of which an individual is taught to recognize the significant groupings in the social structure into which he is born（143）．They are the lexically identical terms and unique terminological systems labeled with a distinctive social and