Hunan City University Foreign Language Department HE Jing-ling Cultural Encounters`1 Susan Bassnet Unit 4

Hunan City University

Foreign Language Department HE Jing-ling

Cultural Encounters`1

Susan Bassnet

Unit 4



Contents

Warming Up1

Pre-reading2

While-reading3

Post-Reading4



Warming up



Warming up





tie the knot: (slang.) get married to tie a knot in a piece of string 在一根绳子上打结 A knot of people stood talking outside the

door. knot---unknot

Part 4 language points: Given that I’m sometimes as an actor wrapp

ed up in his ego. given that: considering… provided that…: if providing that…:if



12).She wore a new hairpiece every day and was considered a big wig.

13).Old math teachers never die, they just become irrational.

14).When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

15).He drove his expensive car into a tree and found out how the Mercedes bends.(benz)

11).A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tyred. 　

英语中有趣的双关语Pre-reading



空对着，山中高士晶莹雪；终不忘，世外仙姝寂寞林。

杰拉尔德 ·R· 福特（ 1913 年出生）是美国第38 任总统，他说话喜欢用双关语。 “我是一辆福待，不是林肯。”

众所周知，林肯既是美国很伟大的总统，又是一种最高级的名牌小汽车；福特则是当时普通、廉价而大众化的汽车。福特说这句话，一是表示谦虚，一是为了标榜自己是大众喜欢的总统。

杨柳青青江水平，闻郎江上唱歌声。东边日出西边雨，道是无晴却有晴。

Pre-reading



Language Points

2. give sb. a ride: give a free journey to sb.3. collide: to hit each other accidentallyTwo supertankers collided in the rough seas.Derivation: collision n. head-on collision4. survive: to not die in an accident or war or

from an illnessCollocation: survive sth. Derivation: survivor n.

Pre-reading



Linguistic evidence of culture

1.Greetings: hi, hello, how are you?

2.Terms of address: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss,Sir

tongzhi, shifu ,Uncle/Aunt/ Granny/Chairman/Premier Zhang

3.Thanks and compliment: thanks…

colors: thanks… green-eyed blue-mood

A white lie in a black yellow journalism

4. Privacy and taboos 5. Round off numbers

6. idioms, proverbs,metaphors



3. Ann has…intuition: Ann has concise sense and she can always judge correctly.

intuition: the power of sensing or knowing without the use of rational processes

The old hunter knew by intuition that the deer was nearby.

woman’s/ feminine intuition

2. survivor’s guilt: I feel guilty as a survivor




Lucky dog: a lucky personClever dog: a clever boy Dumb dog: silent person or who keeps secretsLead a dog’s life: live an exhausted lifePut on the dog: put on airLove me love my dog.Barking dog seldom bite.Every dog has his day.

McDonald's Hamburger apple pie




play oneself in the lion's mouth 置身虎穴

come in like a lion and go out like a lamb虎头蛇尾

like a key in a lion' hide 狐假虎威

one hundred and one thanks 千恩万谢 have one thousand one things to do 日理万机

spring up like mushrooms 雨后春笋 as plentiful as blackberries 多如牛毛 spend money like water 挥金如土”




芝士 cheese 咖啡 coffee 咖喱 curry 忌廉 cream 热狗 hot dog 三明治 sandwich 汉堡包 hamburger 威士忌 whisky沙发 sofa 芭蕾舞 ballet 席梦思床 simmons bed 苏打 soda 雷达 radar 嬉皮士 hipys 来复枪 rifle

Can you name some Chinese words originating from English?

Pre-reading



lincredible 林以置信 linderella 林黛瑞拉 lindex 林指数 lindustrial 林产业 linvincible 林无敌 lindynasty 林王朝 linbama 林巴马 lincentive 林刺激linteresting 林有趣 linja Turtle 林者神龟gelivable antizen kongfu ChinawoodChina bear Taikongaut

Can you name some English words originating from Chinese?

Pre-reading



---How are you? ---Oh, surviving.

5. insist: to say or do sth. firmly

Collocation: insist + on

insist that + (should) v.

if you insist (inf.)

There are concerns that the refugees cannot survive the winter.



L.A. ---Los Angeles A.L.---Alabama 　　N.D. ---North Dakota A. K---Alaska 　O.H.--- Ohio M.E.--- Maine 　　　　　 O.K.--- Oklahoma M.D.--- MarylandO.R.--- Oregon C.A.--- California 　 M.A.--- Massachusetts P.A .--- Pennsylvania

Language points Part 2

1. Abbreviation of some American States



辨析 : instinct & intuition

instinct: an inborn pattern of behavior thatis characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli:本能一种天生的行为方式，其因物种不同而各异，通常是对某一具体环境刺激的反应aggressive instinct 攻击性本能 mother instinctsexual instinct

About the writer

Born in 1945



depressed: in a very gloomy stateDerivation: depression n. the Great Depression (1929-1933)suicidal: a. relating to suicide Derivation: suicide: n. killing oneselfThe famous actor commit suicide last

night.

4. When I became depressed and suicidal:

About the writer



Every language is part of a culture. As Brown explains, “It is apparent that culture, as an ingrained set of behaviors and modes of perception, becomes highly important in the learning of a second language.

A language is a part of a culture, and a culture is a part of a language; the two are intricately interwoven so that one cannot separate the two without losing the significance of either language or culture.

The acquisition of a second language, except for specialized, instrumental acquisition, is also the acquisition of a second culture (Brown, 1993: 165)”.

Therefore, in order to successfully communicate with English native speakers, it is not enough for EFL learners merely have a good mastery of vocabulary and a thorough command of grammar of English; they should also become familiar with the cultural differences that may affect proper understanding of that language.

Background information (1)



English has three separate words for insect, aeroplane and pilot, but Hopi has only one. Eskimo has a rich vocabulary for different kinds of snow whereas English has only two. In all such cases, the linguistic differences are due to obvious cultural differences.

Aeroplane and pilot are represented by distinct signifiers in English simply because they are an important fact of life in the major English-speaking cultures. Likewise, the fact that Eskimo boasts a large number of snow terms has a ready explanation in the important part snow plays in the life of the Eskimos.

Examples like these serve to illustrate a simple and familiar principle, i.e. different cultural features-be they environmental, material, or social-produce different linguistic features.

Background information (2)



While reading

This text is an argumentative essay and can be divided into three major parts.

Structural analysis



Part 1(Paras1-3) It illustrates that we live in an age of easy access to the rest of the world and that this great global communications revolution is also linked to the expansion of English, which has now become the leading international language. It also points out that there are indeed problems with the communications revolution.

Structural analysis

While reading



Part 2(Paras4-7) It proves that, because languages are so clearly culture-related, we often find what we can say in one language can’t be expressed at all in another, and that translators, faced with insurmountable linguistic barriers, negotiated the boundaries between languages and came up with compromises.

While reading

Structural analysis



Part 2(Paras4-7) It also explains and illustrates what “compromising” and the spread of English mean. At the end of this part the author criticizes the English-speaking world, which becomes ever more complacent and cuts down on foreign language learning programmes.

While reading

Structural analysis



Part3(Para8) It points out the immense significance of intercultural understanding.

While reading

Structural analysis



4. But that took me some doing… take some doing: to be hard work on sb.’s part / on the part of sb.: someone has done sth. or feel sth. 就某人

而言5. poignant: 1) keen or strong in mental ap

pear 令精神或感情极为痛苦的 poignant anxiety 深深的焦虑 2) 深受感动的；动人的 a poignant memory 动人的回忆 3) 尖锐的；尖刻的 poignant criticism 尖锐的批评

Para1: global communication

Para2: English & communication

Para3: problems arousing from global communication

Relationship between language and culture

Text Explanations



Text Explanations

1. What do cheap flights and the Internet mean to people today?Cheap flights mean that millions of people can afford to visit places their parents could only dream about, while the Internet means that numerous people are able to communicate with the remotest places with great ease.

Part1



2. Exemplify and explain that English has become the most important international language.Conferences and business meetings are held in English and it facilitates communication and also an essential stepping stone on the road to success.

Text Explanations

Part1



1. access: entrance; means of entering

The only means of access to the building is along a muddy track.The avalanche cut off access to the mountain village.We’re trying to improve access ___ disabled visitors.Collocation: have/gain/get access toDerivation: accessible a. accessibility n. accessory 附属品 , 小配件 , 帮凶 accession n. 就职

for

Language points



We live in an age of easy access to the rest of the world.

The age we are living in provides us with convenient ways to reach any part of the world.

Paraphrase



text messaging

text 　 message （短信）multimedia 　 message （彩信）

2. remote: distant in time or space, far awayremote control remoteness n.

a remote ancestor/chance/possibility

not have the remotest idea: know nothing

Language points



3. Everyone, it seems, provided, of course, they can afford to do so, need never be out of touch.

provided : as long as out of touch: can never fail to be reached; not in contactI’d like to go back to teaching, but I am out of touch with my subject now.Paraphrase It seems that everyone is able to get in touch with anyone else if he or she can afford to.

Language points



意味深长的是纽约这个城市的名字从名单中划掉了。Significantly New York is left out of this list. The police released him but, significantly, they didn't give him back his passport .警方释放了他，但是没有把护照还给他，这是有特殊用意的。

4. significantly: important; sth of special meaning; substantially, notably,

Language points



5. facilitate: help; make easy or easier

The new underground railway will facilitate the journey to the airport.Computers can be used to facilitate language learning.Derivation: facilitation n. facilitator n. Collocation: facility with great facility= easily

Language points



It is essential that every child has the same educational opportunities. It is important/ vital / essential/ necessary/ desirable that sb should do.

6. essential : necessary, vital, fundamental

食物对生命是必不可少的。Food is essential to life.Her most essential quality is kindness.

have

essentiality n.essentially a.Derivation:

Language points



7. stepping stone: figuratively, a way of gaining success

For some people, gaining power is an essential stepping stone to a successful life.

Temporary jobs can be a stepping stone out of unemployment.

Language points



Collocation: have misgivings about = not to be sureDespite her misgivings about leaving the baby, she decided to accompany her husband.

At the time, many doctors had serious misgiving about the new treatment

misgiving = doubt

So why, you may wonder, would anyone have misgivings about all these wonderful developments, and why does the rise of English as a global language cause feelings of uneasiness for some of us?因此 ,您也许会问 , 为什么还有人会对这些绝妙的发展顾虑重重 ? 为什么英语成为世界语言会让一部分人惴惴不安 ?

Translation:



你最好不要冒险投资这么多。You’d better not invest so much money at your peril.

Politicians ignore this issue at their peril.

Either you submit to it and prosper or you resist it at

your own peril. There are no two ways about it.

"顺之者昌，逆之者亡 " ，没有选择的余地。

8. peril: great danger ,risk, hazard, threat

Language points



What is most important is the deep and

strongly-felt relationship between language and

culture that forms

the core of society, which would be dangerous to

ignore.

fundamental: basic, primary, essential, vital

profound: intense, deep, serious, significant

Para3 Most fundamental is the profound relationship between… at our peril.



6. We slipped away to Las Vegas to tie the knot.

We went to Las Vegas secretly to get married.

Slip: 1)to slide involuntarily and lose one's balance or foothold.

She slipped on the shiny floor and fell.

2) to move stealthily; steal. He slipped the money into his pocket. slip of the pen 笔误 slip of the tongue 口误

Para4: different culture---what we can say in one language cannot be expressed at all in another

Para5: bible translation

Para6: compromising

Para7: criticism

Text Explanations



Compromising refers to Para6.The latter, typical

example is the spread of English in China. Compared

with other nations, China boasts the largest number

of people who have learned or are learning English.

Chinese learners of English are learning how to

overcome cultural and linguistic difference. The

mastery of English has become an important skill

which is of great use and value in all walks of life.

Para5 What does “compromising” and “the spread of English” mean?

Text Explanations



9. label: attach a label or tag to; describe

I’ve just spent a whole day labeling all the items.He was labeled as a loser.Stick a label on your suitcase. n.

longing n. : strong wish, desire, thirstHe has cherished a longing for fame, position and wealth.be longing for a.

Language points



Translation:

Different cultures are not simply groups of people who label the world differently; languages give us the means to shape our views of the world and languages are different from one another.

不同的文化并不仅仅是给世界贴上不同标签的人群 ; 语言给了我们塑造世界观的工具 , 而语言又是不一样的 .



10. hover: be in an uncertain state, stay around; linger; soar; fly; hesitate

He is hovering between life and death.

鹰在头顶上盘旋。The hawk is hovering overhead .

The mercury hovered around 35 Celsius degree. 水银温度计停留在摄氏 35度左右。

Language points



11. head-on: frontal, straight on, directly

汽车迎面撞到树上。The car hit the tree head-on.

The motor cycle ran head-on into the lorry.

I would be best to tackle the situation head-on.最好的办法是正面解决问题 .

Language points



12. not be given to: not usually do sth.It’s the truth. We are not given to telling lies.

Face with unsurmountable linguistic problem, translators negotiated the boundaries … When they were faced with problems of language that could not be solved, the translators got over the barriers by making adjustments and trying to approximate in the light of the two cultures involved. too large or difficult to be dealt withI don’t think there are any problems in the job.

Language points



hover: in an uncertain state (linger, soar, pause)

After the alien spacecraft had hovered over the

park for a short time, it vanished.

鹰在头顶上盘旋。The hawk is hovering overhead.

水银温度计停留在摄氏 35度左右。The mercury hovered around 35 Celsius degree.

13. come up with something (Para 5) ： to think of an idea, answer etc.

Language points



14. compromise: v. settle by concession n. a middle way between two extremes

Collocation: arrive at a compromisemake a compromise

他们拒绝同恐怖分子做交易，以免原则受到损害。They refused to compromise their principles by doing a deal with the terrorists. I wanted to go to Greece, and my wife wanted to go to Spain, so we compromised on Italy. There seems to be no possibility of compromise.

Language points



15. approximate: v. approach, estimate a. near, rough

窗帘的颜色和地毯相近 .The color of the curtains approximates that of the rug.

你的猜测仅仅是接近事实。 Your guess only approximates to the facts.

这仅仅是个近似值。 This is just an approximate figure.

approximation n.

Language points



16. spectrum: the range of different colors which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water.

A rainbow shows the colors in the spectrum.在光谱中，截然不同的颜色相互融合起来。In the spectrum, distinct colours shade into each other. 红色和紫色位于光谱相对的两端。Red and violet are at opposite ends of the spectrum . 对这个问题的说法众说纷纭莫衷一是。 There's a wide spectrum of opinions on this problem.

Language points



17. range: v. change or be different within limitsscope: the limits which is effective

I am afraid that high note is beyond my range.He said it was outside his range of responsibility.

Our conversation ranged over many topics.The children's ages range from 8 to 15.

There is not much scope for originality.A committee is set up and given scope to take instant decision.

Language points



range代表的是一个可以测量的范围，在这个范围内包括一系列可变化的数量。 range还特指视力、听力所能达到的距离和枪炮的射程。 scope 指人们所处理、研究的事物的“范围”以及所掌握、控制的“面积”。 scope 的比喻含义指的是所掌握的知识的宽度，即“眼界，见识”。

The drug is effective against a ___ of bacteria.

Is there much ___ for initiative in this job?

range

scope



18. enter into: take part in; become part of

enter into

forcedetailseffectwarnegotiationthe spirit of

He entered into the spirit of the game with great enthusiasm.

Language points



19. staple: basic and important in people’s everyday lives

This people live on a staple diet of rice and vegetable. Don't forget staples like sugar and salt when you go to the shops.你去商店时，不要忘记买盐和糖之类的必备食品。 He came out with his staple excuse that he was too busy. 他又拿出惯用的借口，说他太忙了。He stapled the paper together. v.

Language points



Paraphrase:

This is an essential skill in today’s hybrid world.

This is a fundamental skill in today’s world, where different cultures interact.

Millions of people are discovering how to bridge cultures.

Lots of people are finding ways to interrelated different cultures.



20. accordingly: in accordance with

I have told you the circumstances, so you must act accordingly.He was asked to leave the city and accordingly he went.Just tell us the color and design you have in mind. we'll change them accordingly.

我已将情况告诉你，所以你必须酌情处理。有人叫他离开该城市，所以他就走了。把您心里想的颜色和式样告诉我们，我们将作相应的修改。

Language points



21. complacent: pleased, satisfied

He shows a complacent smile.We must not be complacent about our achievements. 我们决不能满足于自己的成绩。His book was an eye opener to complacent young men. 对自满的年轻人来说，他的这本书有启发作用。

Language points



22. cut down on: reduce an amount

The doctor told me to ______ drinking and smoking. You are spending beyond your means; you really should ______ your expenses. ______ the carrot before you put them into the pot.We were ______ in the middle of our conversation.

cut down on

cut downCut up

cut off

Language points



当千百万人在学习文化沟通的时候 , 英语国家却越来越沾沾自喜 , 以为懂得英语就足够了 , 因而削减了外语课程 .

Translation

Millions of people are discovering how to bridge cultures, while the English-speaking world becomes even more complacent and cuts down on foreign language learning programmes in the mistaken belief that it is enough to know English.



This is the conclusion of the text, which point out the function of international understanding: those who are most competent in the process of world peace probably are those who have acquired the skills to understand the literal, implied, figurative or cultural meanings of the words spoken in many different languages.

Para8

Text Explanations



Q: What is the great function of intercultural understanding?

A: Intercultural understanding will play a most important role in the promotion of world peace in the future.

Text Explanations Para8



Q: Who will be most able to promote world peace in the future?

A: Those who are most competent in the process of world peace are those who have acquired the skills to understand the literal, implied, figurative meaning of the world spoken in different languages.

Text Explanations Para8



23. state of the art mobile phones: the best available mobile phones

state of the art state-of-the-art

It means the highest degree of development of an art or technique at a particular time

a state-of-art hospitalstate-of-art military equipment

Language points



最能推动这一进程的不一定是那些掌握了最新技术拥有最先进手机的人 , 而是那些能够理解众多不同语言的言内之意 ,言下之意以及言外之意的人 .

Translation

Those best placed to help that process may not be the ones with the latest technology and state of the art mobile phones, but those with the skills to…



Translation EX P74

1. Children may swim here provided that they are accompanied by adults.

2. This American journalist made a fool of himself over his remarks about China, because he’s been out of touch with what’s been happening in the country in the past three decades.

3. Every person has the right to education, regardless of her/his family background, sex and age.

4. The invention of the internet, despite the fact that it has given rise to some problems, has greatly facilitated almost every aspect of our life, including education, medicine, and business.

5. Never overlook your travel insurance when you are planning to spend your holiday abroad; otherwise you might find yourself in great trouble if any accident should occur.

6. In the movie that billionaire was faced with a dilemma--- either divorce his wife, who would then carve out half of his financial empire, or murder her at the risk of being found out by the police.

7. As the husband lost his job in the financial crisis, the new couple had to cut down on a lot of things--- furniture, clothes, records and so on.

8. Over thirty years ago, right after the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping told the people that the only way out lay in reform and opening up to the outside world.



Dictation EX P75

The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language.Besides serving the infinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of the most important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers.



It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies.

Dictation EX P75



Many of these countries have multi-lingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for access to the scientific and technological developments in the West.

Dictation EX P75



Oral activities

Discuss the influence of language and

culture on each other by comparing the

kinship vocabulary in Chinese and

English.

After reading



Accordingly they have differentexpressions, even for the same things. For example, since traditional Chinese families have a large number of people, including uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, etc., linguistic differentiation is of essential importance.

The Chinese- and English-speaking peoples’ cultures differ from one another.

After reading



The English people don’t tell “哥哥” from “弟弟” , not because they can’t do so, but because on most occasions they don’t have to. We greet our uncles by “叔叔” or “伯伯” , but we have the same term “舅舅” for maternal uncles (uncles on mother’s side) because we seldom live with them.

After reading

That’s why we Chinese use different terms for “brother”, “uncle” etc.



Horizon Broadening



蜜月期，危机期，退化期 , 愈合期，调适期



Language points:

1. stroke: 1) a sudden occurrence or result

a stroke of luck / fortune 一桩意外的幸事 /运气 a stroke of misfortune/ a stroke of lightening

a stroke of genius / inspiration 聪明之举 /绝妙的主意

Part 1

2) an occasion when a blood tube in your brain suddenly bursts or is blocked 中风 have / suffer a stroke



Pun : a figure of speech; a play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.

双关一种文字游戏，有时利用同一个词的不同意思 , 而有时利用不同词的相近意思或发音

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.

a stroke of luck / fortune 一桩意外的幸事 /运气

puny adj. 一语双关的 ; 带双关谐语的



2). Seven days without water make one weak.(谐音双关 )

3). He is not a grave man until he is a grave man.

4).Seven days without 7-up make one week(weak)．

5).Try oursweet corn． You’11 smile from ear to ear．

1). We must all hang together or we shall all hang separately. ( 意义双关 )



7).You will go nuts for the nuts you get in Nux.8).What do lawyers do when they die? Lie still.9).What flower does everybody have on the face? — Everybody has tulips ( two lips) on the face.10).They pray for you today and prey on you tomorrow.

6).What’s wrong with this fish? — Long time no sea (see).

英语中有趣的双关语



Writing practice

Some people think that visitors to other countries should adopt the local custom. Others think that the host country should welcome different cultures. Discuss both views and what’s your opinion?



Rituals, rites, religions, and custom vary considerably from culture to culture and from country to country. They are rich in contents and brilliant and colorful in forms. But, should one adopt the local custom when subject to an alien culture and custom? The seemingly simple question is virtually rather vexing in that the answer to which depends to a large extent on a variety of contributing factors.

The model composition



Among these factors, the pattern and nature of the culture plays a dominant role. Cultures are generally classified into two categories: folk culture and public culture. The former refers to a culture that emphasizes the personal relationships in settling affaires.




In such a culture laws are eclipsed by custom and moral in the maintenance of social order. People pay even meticulous attention to the custom. Any break of the custom is considered as unacceptable as regicidal behavior or commitment of some felony.




Thus when one visitor is in such a culture, it would be better for him or her to “Do As Romans Do When in Rome.” In a certain sense, to adopt the local custom is a way for an alien to survive or at least the prerequisite of living. “Public culture” is coined to refer an ethnic group whose social order is maintained by legal instruments, although custom is emphasized.




raise: to collect money to support We are raising money to pay for a new

hospital ward. finance: to provide money for They worked hard to finance their daughter

through a law school.

But custom in such a culture seldom remains unchanged for a relatively long time. Within decades, some custom may even have “gone with the wind”. People generally are like to accept different ways of doing things or thinking. Each individual is highly respected. Under such circumstance, it is usually unnecessary for a visitor to calculatedly follow the natives’ custom.




Even the new comer preserves all his or her own custom or culture when exposed to an entirely different custom, it is safe for the visitor to do whatever he or she wants to do provided it is legal. Put it simply, in a public culture it is unnecessary to adopt the local new custom. But in a folk culture, things are totally different. To follow the local custom is a must.




Thanks

Documents

Hunan City University Foreign Language Department HE Jing-ling Cultural Encounters`1 Susan Bassnet Unit 4