英汉谚语比较研究论文

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[Abstract]Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Theyreflecttherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture.Humanbeings’commonsocialactivitiesareinmanyaspectssimilar,soEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilarities.Becauseoftheculturaldifferences,EnglishandChineseproverbshavedifferencesintheirdetailedcontents.TheauthorcomparestheirsimilaritiesanddifferencesandalsoproposesthatEnglishandChineseproverbswillbreaktheboundaryandaccomplishinterfusion.EnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginandsimilarlinguisticcharacters.Theybothoriginatefromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsalsoexist.Thatisdifferentgeography;differenthistorycustoms;differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts.

[KeyWords]proverbs;similarities;differences;interfusion

[摘要]谚语是语言的一个重要组成部分，是各国语言文学艺术宝库中的一朵奇葩。谚语体现了语言与文化的关系。由于人类的普遍社会活动和心理思维过程有许多共同之处，因此英汉谚语也存在着相同之处。但由于各国具体历史文化背景的不同，所以英汉谚语又存在着差异。本文分析了英汉谚语的相同点与不同点，并提出英汉谚语在跨文化交际中的渗透与融合。英汉谚语有着相同的起源和语言特点。都来自民间生活，神话传说，文学作品和外来语。英汉谚语的语言具有简炼和生动形象的特点。但从具体内容来看，英汉谚语表现了不同的地理、历史、宗教和文化价值观念。最后指出随着世界文化的交流，谚语逐渐打破国家和民族的界限，英汉谚语在互相渗透与融合。

[关键词]谚语；相同点；不同点；融合

1.Introduction

ThedefinitionofproverbbyOxfordAdvancedLearner’sEnglish-ChineseDictionaryis“shortwell-knownsayingthatstatesageneraltruthorgivesadvice.”(精练的俗语，或为普遍道理或为劝诫语)WuZhankunsaidthatproverbsarethecrystalofnationalwisdomandexperience.Theyarefrequentlyusedorallyandhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationandusuallygivepeopleinformationandspeakthetruth.Theyareshortsentenceswithcommonstyle,concisestructure,andvividlanguage.[1]WangQinsaidthatproverbsarethesummingupofpracticalexperiences.Theyaretheoralformsoflanguagethatgivepeopleexperience,adviceorwarning.[2]ThegreatEnglishphilosopherFrancisBacononcesaid:“Thegenius,witandspiritofanationarediscoveredinitsproverbs.”

Fromthesedefinitions,wecanseecommoncharactersofproverbs.Proverbsarethecrystalofthenationalwisdomandexperience.Proverbsarecolloquial,sotheyareveryeasytoberememberedandhandeddown.Theyusuallygivepeopleadviceandwarning.

Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Languageandculturearetightlyinteractedwitheachother;eachinfluencingandshapingtheother.Languageispartofculture.TheChineselanguageispartofChinacultureandEnglishlanguageispartofEnglishculture.Languageisthecarrierandcontainerofculture.Humanknowledgeandexperiencearedescribedandstoredinlanguage.[3]Asapartoflanguage,proverbscloselyintegratedwiththesocietyandculture.Proverbsreflectmanyaspectsofthenationsuchasgeography,history,religiousfaithandvalues.

EnglishandChinesebelongtotwodifferentlanguagesystems,havinggreatdifferencesintheircultures.Buthumanbeings’commonsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworldareinmanyaspectssimilar.SonotonlydifferencesbutalsomanysimilaritiesexistinEnglishandChineseproverbs.Withthecommunicationofworld,EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother.

2.SimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs

ThesimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsmainlylieintheiroriginsandlinguisticcharacters.

2.1Similarorigins

Proverbsareconcise,vividandcommonshortsentenceswhichbeusedandpassedonorally.Theyarethesummingupoftheexperienceintheproductionstruggleandthesociallifeandthecrystalofwisdom.[4]AnEnglishproverbitselftellsusthat“Proverbsarethedaughterofexperience.”FromthesewecanfindthatEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigin:theybothoriginatefrompeople’sdailylifeandexperience.Specificallyspeaking,theybothcomefromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.

2.1.1Originatingfromfolklife

Proverbsarethesummaryofpeople’sdailylifeandexperience,andcloselyrelatedtothepracticeofpeople’slifeandwork,revealingauniversaltruthfromdetailssoastoenlightenpeople.Therearemanyproverbsoriginatedfromfolklife.Theyarecreatedbyworkingpeople,suchasfarmers,workmen,hunters,businessmen,army-menandsoon.Theyusefamiliartermsthatwereassociatedwiththeirownfields.E.g.:

Farmerscreatedthefollowingproverbs:

(1)Makehaywhilethesunshines.

(2)Aprilrainyforcorn,Mayforgrass.

(3)肥不过春雨,瘦不过秋霜。

(4)春天不忙，秋后无粮。

Workmencreatedthefollowingproverbs:

(5)Strikewhiletheironishot.

(6)Agoodanvildoesnotfearthehammer.

(7)木匠怕漆匠，漆匠怕光亮。

Hunterscreatedthefollowingproverbs:

(8)Hethatisafraidofeverybushwillneverproveagoodhuntsman.

(9)上山打虎心要狠，下海提龙心要齐。

Businessmencreatedthefollowingproverbs:

(10)Youpayyourmoneyandtakeyourchoice.

(11)货有高低三等价，客无远近一样待。

Army-mencreatedthefollowingproverbs:

(12)Agoodgeneralmakegoodmen.

(13)养兵千日，用在一时。

Thesewerefirstusedbyalimitedgroupofpeopleinthesamefields.Becausetheyarephilosophicalcolloquialism,latertheygraduallygainedwideacceptanceandpartlybecamepartofthecommoncornoflanguageandarenowusedinmanyothersituations.

2.1.2Originatingfrommythology

Eachnationhasitsownmythology,fableandallusion.Chinesetraditionalculture,ancientGreekandRomancivilizationbequeathmanymythologiesandallusions.Theybecomeoneofthemajorsourcesofproverbs.ThestoriesandheroesinGreekMythology,TheFableofAesopandTheHomerleftalotofproverbs.E.g.:

(14)IfeartheGreeks,evenwhenbringinggifts.(Fromthewell-knownstoryoftheTrojanhorsebywhichtheGreekstookthecityofTroy.)

(15)YoucannotmakeaMercuryofeverydog.(FromRomanMythology.Itmeansthatnoteverymindwillanswerequallywelltobetrainedintoascholar).

(16)Thefoxsaidthegrapesweresour.(FromTheFablesofAesop.Itmeansthatonesaidsomethingisbadwhenonecannotgetit.)

Chineseculturecantracebacktoancienttimes.Thereweremanynaturalphenomenonsandourancestorcan’texplainthesephenomenons.Theycreatedthemythologyandfabletoexplainthephenomenon.SomanyChineseproverbscomefrommythologyandfable.E.g.:

(17)八仙过海，各显神通。（from《八仙过海》）

(18)过着牛郎织女的生活。（fromafolklegend）

2.1.3Originatingfromliteraryworks

ManyEnglishandChineseproverbscomefromliteraryworks.Anation’sliterarylanguagesareitslanguage’sginger.Theypromotethedevelopmentoflanguage.Someofbrilliantsentences,plotandhero’snameinliteraryworksbecomeproverbs.[5]

Therearemanygreatwritersinwesternsociety,suchasShakespeare,FrancisBacon,JohnMiltonandsoon.TheyhadmadedistinctivecontributionstothedevelopmentofEnglishliterature.TheirworkswereacceptedandpassedonbyEnglishpeoplefromgenerationtogeneration.ManysentencesbecometheEnglishproverbs.

Shakespeare’sworksarethemostcolorfulliteratureoriginofproverbs.ManyEnglishproverbsarefromtheworksofShakespeare.E.g.:

(19)“Thebiterissometimesbit.”isfromShakespeare’sHamlet.Ittellspeoplethatthosewhodobadthingstootherswillbringthemselvestrouble.

(20)“Allisnotgoldthatglitters.”isfromShakespeare’sTheMerchantsofVenice.Itmeansthatthosewhohaveagoodappearancearenotnecessarilyprofoundorlearned.

Someotherwriters,philosophers’wordsalsobecomeproverbs.E.g.:(21)“Readingmakesafullman,conferenceareadyman,andwritinganexactman”isfromadistinguishedEnglishphilosopherandwriterBacon’sOnReading.Ittellspeoplethatreading,conferenceandwritingcanmakeapersonlearned,sharpandprecise.And(22)“Thechildhoodshowstheman”isfromMilton’sParadiseRegained.

ManyChineseproverbsarefromclassicChineseliteraryworks.Thefourgreatworks:ThePilgrimagetotheWest,TheThreeKingdoms,ADreamofRedMansionsandTheMarshRebellionarethemostpopularclassicsinChina.Suchas:

(23)温故而知新。(Bystudyingtheoldonelearnssomethingnew)---《论语》(SelectedReading)

(24)三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮。(ThreecobblerswiththeirwitscombinedequalZhugeLiangthemaster---thewisdomofthemassesexceedsthatofthewisestindividual.)---《三国演义》(TheThreeKingdoms)

(25)三十六计,走为上计。(Ofthethirty-sixstratagems,thebestisrunningaway.)---《水浒传》(TheMarshRebellion)

(26)谋事在人,成事在天。(Manproposes;Goddisposes.)---《红楼梦》(ADreamofRedMansions)

(27)说曹操,曹操到。(Talkofthedevilandheissuretoappear.)---《三国演义》(TheThreeKingdoms)

Literature,asamirrorofsociallife,isanothersourceofproverbs.Manysentencesintheseliteraryworksarefullofwisdomandeasytoberemembered,sopeoplelikethemandusethemagainandagain.Atlast,theybecometheproverbsandarewidelyused.Wecansaythatproverbsarethecreamoftheliteraryworks.

2.1.4Originatingfromotherlanguages

Withthecommunicationofworld,nation’sboundaryisbeingbroken.Moreandmorelanguagescontactedwitheachother.Becauseofthegeographyandhistory,Englishwasinfluencedandimpactedbyotherlanguagesinitsdevelopmentprocess.SoEnglishhaveabsorbedagreatnumberofexpressionsofothernation’sculture.Sodoproverbs.ManyEnglishproverbsarefromLatin,Greek,FrenchandChinese.Asthereasonofhistory,mostoftheseloanedproverbsweretransferredintoEnglishandsomemaintaintheoriginallanguages.

ManyEnglishproverbsoriginatefromLatin.E.g.:

(28)Artislong,lifeisshort.

(29)Thewishisfathertothethought.

SomeLatinproverbsaretransferredintoEnglish.ForexampleEnglishpeoplehavegot(30)“Soonripe,soonrotten”from“Citomaturumcitoputridum”.

ManyEnglishproverbscomefromFrench.Forexample,Englishpeoplehavegot(31)“Whenthefoxpreaches,takecareoffyourgeese”from“Quandlerenardsemetaprecher,gardeauxpoules”.

Englishproverbsalsocomefromforeignwriters’works.Forexample,(32)“Constantdrippingwearsawaythestone.”isfromRomanpoetOvid.

Chinesepeoplehavealsogotsomeproverbsfromotherlanguages.Suchas

(33)“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”isfrom“Thegrapesaresour.”

(34)“谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好”isfrom“Hewholaughslastlaughsbest.”

(35)“条条大路通罗马”isfrom“AllroadsleadtoRome.”

ThesehavebeenacceptedbyChinesepeopleandbecomeChineseproverbs.

FromabovewecanfindoutthatEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginsfromfolklife,mythology,literaryworksandfromotherlanguages.FromthesesimilaroriginswecanseethatEnglishandChinesepeoplehavesimilarsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworld.

2.2Similarlinguisticcharacters

Proverbsarecreatedbycommonpeopleandorallyhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationagainandagain.EnglishandChineseproverbsareconciseandvivid.

2.2.1Conciseness

Thecleanestwaterisspring;themostrefinedwordsareproverbs.Proverbdictionisneatandsimple.Proverbsusethefewestwordstoexpressthecontents.Theyareconcise,condensedandcompact.MostofEnglishandChineseproverbsaresimplesentences.E.g.:

(36)Easycomeeasygo.

(37)Nopainsnogains.

(38)人勤地不懒。

(39)人心齐泰山移。

Proverbsaresimpleandshortsentences,sotheycanberememberedandhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.

2.2.2Vividness

Proverbsuserhetoricaldevicestoattractthereadersdeeply.ManyChineseandEnglishproverbsusethesamerhetoricaldevicessuchassimile,metaphor,repetitionandhyperbole,etc.

Simileisusedveryfrequently.Itisafigureofspeech,inwhichamoreorlessfancifulorunrealisticcomparisonismade,using“like”or“as”.[6]Herearesomeexamples:

(40)割麦如救火。

(41)剩秧如剩草，缺秧如缺宝。

(42)Agoodfriendisasthesuninwinter.

(43)Ablackplumisassweetasawhite.

Metaphorisafigureofspeech,whichconciselycomparestwothingsbysayingthatoneistheother.[7]Itdoesnotliterallydenoteinordertoimplyaresemblance.E.g.:

(44)Timeisfatheroftruth.

(45)Failureisthemotherofsuccess.

(46)一寸光阴一寸金。

(47)谎言怕真理，黑暗怕阳光。

Repetitionisanotherrhetoricaldeviceusedtoexpressstrongfeelingsoremphasizesomemeanings.E.g.:

(48)哪个老虎不吃人，哪个地主不狠心。

(49)Manylords,manylaws.

Gorkysaidthat,“Thetrueartisauthorizedtoexaggerate.”Hyperboleisanexaggerationusedtogiveemphasisandstrikethereadersdeeply.E.g.:

(50)Athousandyearscannotrepairamoment’slossofhonor.

(51)谷子栽得稀，不够喂小鸡。

Theexaggerationisnotfalse.Itcomesfromthetruefeelingsandbasesonreality.[8]

Apartfromtheaboverhetoricaldevices,thereareotherdevices.TheyareAntithesis,Synecdoche,Personification,etc.

Theuseofrhetoricaldevicesmakesproverbsfresh,humorous,implicitandfullofwit.

ThoughEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigins,theyalsohavedifferencesintheirdetailedcontents.Wewilldiscusstheirdifferencesfromthefollowingaspects:differentgeography;differenthistorycustoms;differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts.

3.DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs

Languageisstronglyinfluencedandshapedbyculture.Languageisthemirrorofculture.Itcanrepresenteveryaspectofculture.[9]Proverbisanimportantpartofanationallanguageandtheyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage.Differentnationshavedifferentculture.Generallyspeaking,themajordifferenceslieingeography;historycustoms;religionsandvalueconcepts.Asaresult,EnglishandChineseproverbsaredifferentinthedetailedcontents.

3.1Reflectingdifferentgeography

Anation’sgeographicalenvironmentisaframeworkinwhichalanguageandculturehavebeendeveloping.Thegeographicalfeaturesofacountryareinevitablyreflectedinthenationallanguageingeneralandproverbsinparticular.[10]

EnglandisanislandcountryandlocatedinthewesternseasideofEurope.Englishpeoplelivebyseasideandtheirlifecannotdowithoutsailingandfishing.SomanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedtoseaandsailing.E.g.:

(52)Thebestfishsmellwhentheyarethreedaysold.

(53)Allatsea.

(54)Beingonthesea,sail;beingontheland,settle.

(55)Letanother’sshipwreckbeyournavigationmark.

Chinaisanagriculturecountry.Everyfeudaldynastypaysmuchattentiontoagriculture.Agricultureisthefundamentalandcrucialtrade.Sotherearemanyfarmingproverbsaboutagriculture.FarmingproverbsconstitutealargepartofChineseproverbs.TheyarethecrystalofagricultureexperiencesofChinesepeople.Itcanbeseeninthefollowingexamples:

(56)春雨贵如油。（Rainduringspringtimeispreciousasoil.）

(57)种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（Asapansows,soshallhereap.）

(58)人勤地不懒。(Ifmanisdiligent,soilisnotidle.)

(59)瑞雪兆丰年。(Asnowyear,arichyear.)

(60)一粒下地,万粒归仓。(Fromonegrainsownintotheearth,onethousandgrainswillspring.)

(61)前人种树,后人乘凉。(Ancestorsplanttreeswhiledescendantsenjoythecoolunderthetreeshade—enjoyingthefruitsoflaborofone’sancestors.)

Fromabove,wecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflecttheirdifferentgeographicalconditions.Englandisanislandcountry,somanyEnglishproverbsareabout“sea”,“fish”,“ship”andsoon.WhilemanyChineseproverbsareaboutagriculture,suchas“豆”，“雪”，“仓”，“地”,etc.

3.2Reflectingdifferenthistorycustoms

Eachnationhasitsownhistory.Sinceproverbsarehistoricalproducts,theymayreflectsomeaspectsofthenationalhistory.

EnglishproverbsarerelatedtothehistoryofEngland.E.g.:(62)“Itisashardtopleaseaknaveasaknight.”AknightreferstoamangiventherankofknighthoodbytheBritishmonarch.TherearemanylegendsabouttheEnglishknights(e.g.:KingArthurandhisgreenknights)intheancienttimes;and(63)“Fromwhippingposttopillory.”Awhippingpostisaposttowhichapersonwastiedforapublicwhippingandapilloryisawoodenframeworkwiththreeholesintowhichtheheadandhandsofanoffenderwereloked,exposinghimtopublicabuseandridicule.[11]

Chinahasalonghistory.Thereisthousandsofyears’feudalsocietyinChina.Peoplewerebondedbytherankofclass.Therulersexploitandbullythepeoplecruelty.TherearemanyChineseproverbsaboutfeudalandgenderdiscrimination.E.g.:

(64)只许州官放火,不许百姓点灯。(Themagistratesarefreetoburndownhouses,whilethecommonpeopleareforbiddeneventolightlamps.–Thepowerfulcandowhattheywant,theweakarenotallowedtodoanything.)

(65)朱门酒肉臭,路有冻死骨。(Behindthereddoorsmeatandwinegotowastewhileoutontheroadsliethebonesofthefrozen.)

(66)嫁鸡随鸡,嫁狗随狗。(Marryacockandfollowthecock,marryadogandfollowthedog.—Followthemanyoumarry,behefowlorcur.)[12]

FromabovewecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflectthedifferenthistory.EnglishproverbsarerelatedtokingandknightwhileChineseproverbsreflecttheChinesepeople’sgrudgeandresistancetorulers.

3.3Reflectingdifferentreligions

Religionisaveryimportantpartofculture.Differentreligionsreflectdifferentculturalcharacters,differentculturalbackgroundsanddifferentculturaltraditions.Religionisaculturalphenomenon.Proverbsarecloselyrelatedtotheculture,soproverbscanreflectthedifferentreligiousfaith.[13]

EnglishpeoplebelieveinChristianityanditisthemostinfluentialreligioninthewest.ManyEnglishproverbsreflectEnglishpeople’sreligiousfaithandmanyofthemareabout“God”,“devil”,“heaven”,“church”,“cross”and“hell”.E.g.:

(67)Aspoorasthechurchmouse.

(68)Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.

(69)ThedevilcanciteScriptureforhispurpose.

(70)Bettergotoheaveninragsthantohellinembroidering.

(71)ThewaytoheavenisbyWeepingCross.

TheproverbsaboveareapparentlyrelatedtoChristianity,becauseinthem“God”,“devil”,“heaven”,“church”,“cross”and“hell”appearwhicharetheembodimentsofChristianity.

Incontrast,BuddhismisthemostpopularreligioninChina.ManyproverbsareaboutBuddhismsuchas:

(72)平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚。(Neverburningincensewhenalliswell,butclaspingBuddha’sfeetinanemergency.)

(73)跑得了和尚,跑不了庙。(Themonkmayrunaway,butthetemplecan’trunwithhim.—Afugitivemustbelongtosomeplacethatcanprovideclues.)

(74)泥菩萨过河,自身难保。(Likeaclayidolfordingariver--hardlyabletosaveone.)

(75)放下屠刀,立地成佛。(ThebutcherwholaysdownhisknifeatoncebecomesaBuddha.)

Theseproverbsareabout佛，和尚，庙and菩萨。ThedoctrinesofBuddhistadmonishpeopletodogooddeedsandsotheycangototheheavenaftertheirdeath.TaoismcomesnexttoBuddhisminChina.ThereareproverbsaboutTaoismsuchas

(76)一人得道，鸡犬升天。

(77)道高一尺，魔高一丈，etc.

EnglishandChinesepeoplehavedifferentreligiousfaith.DifferentreligionsleadtothedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs.ChristianityisthemainreligioninEnglish-speakingcountries,somanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedto“God”.WhileChinesepeoplebelievedinBuddhismandTaoism,somanyChineseproverbsareabout“佛”and“道”。

3.4Reflectingdifferentvalueconcepts

ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternvalueconceptsmainlylieinindividualismandcollective.

Westernersbelievethateverymanisequal.Theyaspiretofreedomandequality.ManyEnglishproverbsshowAmerican’sadvocatingoffreedomandindividualism.E.g.:

(78)Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves.

(79)Hehelpslittlethathelpsnothimself.

Thesetwoproverbsillustratetheindividualrole.Thewords“themselves”and“himself”showthatindependenceplaysanimportantroleintheirlife.

(80)Everymanisthearchitectofhisownfortune.

(81)Ifyouwantathingwelldone,doityourself.

Thesetwoproverbsattachimportancetoindependenceandself-reliance.Self-relianceimpelspeopletocreateopportunities,seekcompetitionandbereadyforrisks.

(82)“Itisthesqueakywheelthatgetstheoil.”givesprominencetotheindividualism.

(83)“Everymanafterhisfashion.”laysstressonindividualdifferences.

Onthecontrary,Chinesepeopletakemodestyasvirtue.Theyrespecttheoldandtakegoodcareoftheyoung.Theircharacteristicsare“justiceandhumanity”,“modesty”and“love”.[14]Chinesepeoplepaymuchattentiontocollectivismandthinkhighlyoftheroleofgroups.Theylaystressonhelpeachotherandrelianceeachother.Theyalsopayattentiontotheharmonioushumanrelationshipandtheytrytosavetheotherside’sface.ManyChineseproverbsreflectthistrend.[15]E.g.:

(84)“孤树结成林不怕风吹，滴水集成海不怕日晒。”showsthestrengthofcollectiveorunion.

(85)“四海之内皆兄弟。”reflectstheimportanceofmutualhelpandreliance.

(86)“相互协助事好办，各自揣私心事难成。”laysstressontheharmonioushumanrelationship.

(87)“忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。”suggeststhatpeopleshouldsavetheotherside’sface.

Thereareexceptionsthatareoppositetothemainstream.SomeEnglishproverbsalsoreflecttheimportanceofcollectivism.Forexample,(88)“makeyourselfnecessarytosomeone.”Chinesetraditionalvalueconcepthasbeengreatlyimpactedwiththeinputofindividualism.(89)“一个和尚挑水吃；两个和尚抬水吃；三个和尚没水吃”iscontrarytoChinesecollectivetendency.Inspiteoftheseexceptions,theirmainstreamsarenotchanged.

EnglishandChineseproverbshavemanysimilaritiesanddifferences.Withthecommunicationofworldculture,proverbswillbreaktheboundaryofstatesandnations,promotetheculturalconvergenceandachieveinterfusion.EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly.

4.Permeationandinterfusion

Withtheprogressofscienceandtechnology,thedevelopmentofsocietyanddisseminationofinformation,thecommunicationandcooperationamongcountriesareexpanding.Thecontactamongstatesandnationsismoreandmorefrequent.Differentnationalculturesarepermeatingandinterfusing.Languageisthecarrierofculture.Culturalconvergenceisdirectlyreflectedintheintegrationoflanguage,atthesametimetheinterfusionandchangingoflanguagereflectandrecordtheevolutionofculturalconvergence.[16]Proverbisthecrystaloflanguage.Ithasnoexception.

ThecommunicationbetweenChineseandWesterncultureismoreandmorefrequent.Thesetwoculturesaffectandpermeatemutually.EnglishabsorbmanyChinesewords,andagreatnumberofEnglishwordsalsoenterintheChineseculture.Forexample：

(90)“以眼还眼，以牙还牙”isfrom“Aneyeforaneye,atoothforatooth.”

(91)“谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好”isfrom“Hewholaughslastlaughsbest.”

(92)“吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸”isfrom“Sourgrapes”andsoon.

(93)“Distantwatercannotquenchafirenearby”isfrom“远水解不了近火”

(94)“Don’tclimbatreetolookforfish.”isfrom“勿缘木求鱼。”

(95)“Takeawayfuel,takeawayflame.”isfrom“扬汤止沸，不如釜底抽薪。”

(96)“Thetruthbyincessantendeavors.”isfrom“愚者千虑，必有一得。”—《史记》（RecordsoftheHistorian）

(97)“Betterreturnhomeandmakeanetthanlongforfishbythewaterside.”isfrom“临渊而捕鱼，不如退而结网。”—《汉书》（HistoryoftheHanDynasty）

FromaboveproverbswecanseethatmanyChineseproverbsbecomeEnglishproverbsandChinesepeoplealsoacceptalotofEnglishproverbs.EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly.

5.Conclusion

Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage.Theyarecloselyrelatedtoanation’scultureandenjoygreatculturalvalues.Theyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage.Eachnationhasitsowngeography,history,religionandsocialattitude.Becauseoftheculturalgeneralitiesanddifferences,EnglishandChineseproverbshavetheirsimilaritiesanddifferences.Theyarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother.Soacomparativestudyofthemcanhelpustolearnalanguagewellandunderstandthetruemeaningofother’swordincross-culturecommunication.

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