a-comparison-between-chinese-and-english-taboos--英语专业毕业论文设计.doc

A Comparison between Chinese and English Taboos

By

English
Thesis Advisor:

28 Dec 2010

Abstract: Taboo reflects every corner of the different social life both in Chinese and English culture, so the differences between the Chinese and English taboos can be of great help for cross-cultural communication. By analyzing some important parts of the taboos, we will have some general point of view on it.

Key words:
taboo, differences ,comparison, cross-cultural communication

Contents
I.Introduction …………………………………………………………………......1
II.content：a comparison between Chinese and English taboos………………….1
A. Color taboo…………………………………………..................................1
1. Red…………………………….………………………………………1
2. White………………………..…………………………………………2
3. Black..………………………………………………………………….2
B. Number taboo………………………….………………………………….3
1. Number four in China………………………………………………....3
2. Number thirteen in English……………………………………...….3
3. Friday……………………………………………………………...….3
4. Odd number and even number……………………………………..3
C. Religion…………………………………………………………………..4
III. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..5
Works Cited…………………………………………………………………..6

I. Introduction

Language is a cultural carrier as a part of culture. Taboo is a common language both in Chinese and English culture. It is very useful to be aware of the cross-cultural communication and learning of English culture. Taboo, as a special language, seems very important whether in reality or in communication. Due to different historical and cultural backgrounds, the ranges of taboo are not the same. There will be different ways of the same object. Usually, language is used as a mirror to reflect the national culture by people. Understanding the differences between Chinese and English taboos will appropriately help cross-cultural communication.

II. A comparison between Chinese and English taboos

As the old saying goes, troubles come out of the tongue. Superstitious people think that the language itself can bring about fortune or misfortune so that taboos to restrict the use of language are created. Anyone who violates them will get punishment, whereas those who faithfully obey the restrictions of language taboo will get protection. Furthermore, taboos change with the development of society and exist in almost every aspect of people’s life. It is a universal social phenomenon in China and Britain. Both Chinese and English cultures are in agreement about taboos such as color taboo, number taboo and so on. However, influenced by different cultural backgrounds, ideologies and the concepts of value, Chinese and English taboos also have differences, as is discussed in the paper from the aspects of taboo profanities, taboo numbers and colors. Having a good knowledge of the taboo culture would help English learners improve their ability of cross-cultural communication and achieve better communicational effects.

A. Color taboo
1. Red
In both Chinese and English culture, red is usually associated with happy occasions. On calendar, we can find that holidays such as Spring Festival, Christmas Day are printed in red, which is called “red letter days”, while ordinary days are in black. Beside, “to paint the town red” is to celebrate widely. Another example is “to roll out the red carpet for someone” means to give a hospitable and formal reception.
In English culture, people usually connect red with blood. Blood is regarded to be the source of life. Life will die when the blood has run off. So they think red also refers to force, death and war. Such as “red ruin” and “red battle”. But in Chinese culture, red refers to revolutions and progressive forces. For example, the primary revolutionary regime named red regime. It also stands for good luck in China, such as:红运,开门红,披红挂彩…So, although there are some similar meanings of red, but in china, red has no derogatory sense.
2. White
In English, white usually used to describe pure and honest people or things, such as friendship, love and personality. Like red in Chinese culture, white is the joyous and positive color in England. White men means gentlemen, white soul means pure soul, white market means lawful market; white room means the most cleaning room…
But in Chinese culture, besides good sides, white also constants derogatory sense, it is connected with death. In funeral, all of people wear white clothes in order to express their sadness, Most times, white is opposed to red in Chinese culture. Chinese, especially the older dislike it, even afraid of it while it stands for ill omen, and counteraction. In the war, the loser raises a white flag to show capitulation. Sometimes, it also refers to work fruitlessly, worthlessly both in Chinese and English culture, such as “白费劲” “白痴” “白搭”and “white elephant”.
3. Black
In Chinese culture, the color of black has two sides: one stands for solemnity, prestige; the other stands for fear, reactionary forces and illegality. Because in the night, people will feel depressed and fearful, and want to find something for help.
In English culture, black is a taboo color, it refers to death and ill omen, people wear black clothes due to the custom, and usually be used in funeral rites, everyone who join in funeral , wear black clothes to express their sadness and heavy mood. For example: “wear black for one’s father”. Black letter day is opposite to red letter day, black man means demon. While in Chinese culture, people’s mourning apparel is always white. As in Chinese custom, white is often connected with funeral arrangements.

B. Number taboo
1. Number four in China
In China, the number “4” and the word “死 (death)” almost sound the same. People do not like the number “4”, because it reminds them of “death”. People won’t like telephone number or car’s license to be with no.4. Among old people, they think “73” and “84” are two key ages. If you are 73 or 84 years old, you will die before the King of hell invites you. So many old people avoid talking their exact ages.
2. Number thirteen in English
While in western countries, one of the most influential taboo numbers is 13. According to the story of “The last supper”: Judas, the person who betrayed Jesus, sat in the No.13 chair, therefore, Number thirteen is universally considered to be unlucky. This taboo exist almost all the Christianity countries. No door’s number is thirteen; no hotel has the No.13 Room; they don’t allow 13 people have dinner together. People generally don’t go to travel and betrothal on the 13th.All in a word; they avoid number thirteen in every aspect. Ordinary people feel upset on 13th in every month. Therefore, thirteen became a taboo word in western countries. Therefore, we must all learn to respect Western taboo in order to not involve in the matter of the communication.
3. Friday
Another number concerning taboo in western is Friday. It also has long been considered as an unlucky day. “This taboo term affects people probably not only because they believe that Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross on Friday, but also because Friday is for many years the day of execution of criminals, commonly called “hangman’s day”.
4. Odd number and even number
Another striking contrast is that Chinese people like even numbers. For example, they say “好事成双”，“成双成对”。Chinese people especially like the even number “6” and “8”. The saying “六六大顺” can prove it . But in western countries, they like odd numbers. “The Roman poet Virgil says, ‘The god delights in an odd number’. In Shakespeare’s play Merry wives of Windsor, Falstaff says, ‘Good luck lies in odd numbers—’ They say, ‘there is divinity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance or death.’”

C. Religion
Religion is a fertile field taboo terms. As I mentioned above, To English, in religion, black means grief and death. Black Friday, here Friday refers to the Friday before Easter day, Jesus was suffering at that day. Based on the nation’s culture, background and traditional custom, people in English-Speaking countries use black Friday to symbolize the disaster. Another typical example is that Christian cannot refer to God or God’s name. “The Ten Commandments forbid people to ‘take the name of the Lord your God in vain’. So it is considered very rude to say ‘god dame’ or ‘goddamned’”. The words such as “God,” “Jesus,” “damn” and “hell” etc, are considered holly and only properly used in religion. If they appear in daily communication, they will make people unpleasant and disgusted. So people always try to avoid using these taboo words directly. They would like to use their euphemisms “Gosh,” “Jeepers creepers,” “dash” and “heck”. Some people also avoid referring to the devil, which is considered disrespectful. So they use “the deuce”, “the dickens”, “old Nick” to substitute “the devil”. We can find similar examples in Chinese. In religion, people use some complimentary address to refer to awesome gods, e.g. “大帝”, “大圣”, “佛陀 (Buddha)”. Another example is that, tiger is regarded as the divine animal near the Changbai Mountain situated in the Northeast of our country. Therefore, there was the custom of “tiger is the god” in ancient times. People avoided calling the “tiger” directly and gave the tiger another name, “山君” or “山佛爷”.
In certain societies, words with religious connotations are considered profane if used outside of formal or religious ceremonies. In Western countries, some Christians believe that it is disrespectful for the misuse of God or God’s name. Christians are forbidden to take the Lord’s name in vain and this prohibition has been extended to the use of curses, which are believed to have magical powers.
Chinese is under the influence of Confucian virtue. The etiquette of Confucius and Mencius and Mencius requires appropriate language in social activities, not lie or talk nonsense.

Other taboos:
There are many other aspects of taboos between Chinese and English, like age, name, disease and death, etc. they are also very important. To understand them well will help our English major to know more about English. I will not list them one by one in this paper.

III. Conclusion

In short, by comparison, we can find that both Chinese and English taboos reflect people’s psychology for good will, for safety and fortune and pleasantness. The Chinese and English people restrict their words and deeds through taboos, trying to keep a harmonious relationship between human and nature, or between people and society. They are a reflection of people’s pursuit of freedom and equality. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve the cross-cultural communication capabilities by learning taboos. Taboo, as a part of the language, is closely influenced by culture, history and other issues. When person have conversation with a foreigner, grammatical mistakes tend to be more tolerant in their native voices. However, disobeying the rules of courtesy is considered to be not polite. Communicative ability not only includes language skills, listening, reading, writing, but also include culture communication. If we understand the differences of taboos between Chinese and English culture, language arts and the use of communication, we can resolve the misunderstanding and embarrassment and more easily communicate with each other. In fact, taboo is a cultural phenomenon of various nations in the world, but only the content and form are different. And it will be not only beneficial to the improvement of the quality of cultural attainment, but also more easily in communicating by comparing and analyzing the verbal words. People can not only promote mutual understanding, but also avoid unnecessary conflicting in different culture. However, communication receives setbacks or failures, because the gap between reality and aspiration is bound to the actual communication. Taboo, as a part of language, plays a significant role in the actual communication.
Hope that the discussion about taboos will help us improve our communicative competence and reduce miscommunications and conflicts in cross-culture communications.
7

Works Cited
Language and Culture 邓炎昌 刘润清 著
Hass M.R. Interlingual Word Taboos. London:Cambridge University Press,1951

S.I.Hayakawa. Language in Thought and Action. London:Penguin Book,1999

庄和诚. 英语禁忌语刍议[J]. 现代外语，1990,2.p45

周淑清. 禁忌语和委婉语[J]. 佛山大学学报, 1996,2.p72

庄和诚. 禁忌语词纵横谈[J]. 现代外语, 1991,3.p28
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