2001•Journal of Nantong Teachers' CollegeRequires access
The Differences between English and Chinese Words in Terms of Cultural Connotation
Gao You-ping
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Abstract
Language reflects the culture of a nation on the one hand, and is influenced greatly by the culture on the other hand. The influence is remarkably displayed in the differences between English and Chinese words in terms of cultural connotation. Because of the cultural influence the extended or figurative meaning of a word in one language is different from that of the corresponding word in the other language; the so called equivalents of two languages exist in different meaning scopes and in either commendatory or derogatory sense; and even there is no equivalents to express the same meaning. Therefore, in English language teaching, it is necessary to introduce to students more background knowledge and to attach importance to the differences between the cultural connotation of English words and that of Chinese words.