Comparison on the Cultural Connotation of Animal Words in English and Chinese

Language is a cultural carrier.Words are the most active and lively component in language, which cast light upon the peculiar social culture.Different cultures and social backgrounds have a great effect on the cultural connotations of words.This paper attempts to contrast and analyze the cultural connotations of animal words both in English and Chinese from thee aspects:the same animal words with the same and different cultural meanings, and different animal words with the same meanings.By comparison, we can promote the understanding of cultural differences, and develop the consciousness of cultral sensibility and appropriateness of language use in cross-cultural communication.