中西方姓名文化比较

黑龙江东方学院

本科生毕业论文（设计）

论文题目：Probing into Chinese and English naming methods from cultural connotation

姓名杨家南

学号09702124

专业英语

班.级09级1班

指导教师奚小丹

学部外国语学部

答辩日期2013年5月21日

Abstract

Language is the carrier o f culture while culture is the soil and source for the development of language.

The relationship between language and culture is a recognized subject for exploring all over the world. In this

thesis,I try to make an exploration of the similarities and difference between Chinese and English naming methods by contrasting from cultural connotation and convention.

Key words: name; cultural connotation; contrast

中文摘要

语言是文化的载体, 文化是语言生存的土壤和根基。语言与文化的关系是当今公认的值得研究的一门学问。由于人类思维的相似性, 东西方文化几千年来的相互影响、相互融合使得英汉两种语言在命名的文化起源、命名习俗和方式上都存在着相似、相近和相悖之处。

关键词:英汉姓名; 文化内涵;对比

Outline Abstract (i)

中文摘要 (iii)

Introduction (1)

I two basic naming systems (1)

II Name structure arrangement (3)

A. Name constitution differences (4)

B. Couples surname differences..................,.. (5)

C. Order of differences (6)

ⅢThe source of the family names (7)

A. Chinese surnames (7)

B. English surnames (8)

1. From paternal or maternal ancestors (8)

2. To ancestors occupation of the skills for last name (8)

3 Descriptive name (9)

4. Geographical surnames (9)

5. Title, official position as a surname (9)

6. Use color in name. (9)

Ⅳ.The characteristics of modern Chinese and English names . (9)

A Chinese-English name similarities (10)

B .Chinese-English name differences (10)

1. To major events and be named after people (10)

2. With eight character horoscope named (10)

3. names relate to religion (10)

Conclusion (11)

References (12)

Acknowledgements (13)

Probing into Chinese and English naming

methods from cultural connotation In today's society, everyone has their own name and people begin to recognize each other by name. Then how does the name come? Why people would choose this name not that name? What is the meaning contained in name? People having these questions opened

the beginning of speculation and research on name origins. From Independent discipline called Onomastic Sciences in the West, we can see that the name has a long history.

In China, according to historical records, people began to research the names as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty. Thinking Liberation began in the 1980s and the academic prosperity of thought swept the country, the names of the scholars have reached a new height. Books related to this field were numerously published, these books can be divided into three categories: one is the surname, such as the surname Ho to , Chinese name summation China Second type of surnames aspects ,such as “the Zhao Qian Sun and the Lee and Chinese name culture” the Chinese name of science”, etc.; third category: named after reference books, such as “Privacy Policy” “nam ing arts”, name and so on. Although these books are full of knowledge, and interest there are some practical, but this is far from in-depth study done on the name of learning. However, the English name and socio-cultural aspects of the research is very significant. For example, , Chinese scholar written articles “from name look at social culture” in 1985 in research and elaborated in the form of the name style, content, the relationship between people, and then compare the similarities and differences of the Chinese name with the American name, and thus reflects the cultural differences and similarities phenomenon. Besides, the academics weeks sea analyzed the structure and composition of the English name.

I two basic naming systems

On the basic components of the names, English names are basically the same. There are two indispensable part of the Chinese name, family name and surname. In addition to the name of these two important ingredient in the English-speaking countries, people are often named a middle name, but the name there can be no, it is usually in a formal setting, so some Westerners have no middle names.

II Name structure arrangement

.A. Name constitution differences

The composition of the Chinese culture in the name format is fixed, usually only one : Name and last name, the English culture in terms is more flexible, usually in following ways:

1 first name (given name, Christian name) +last name (surname, family name), namely: the first (FuChristian name) + last name (surname)

2 first name (given name, Christian name) +middle name + last name (surname, family name): the first (Fu name, given name) + middle name + last name (surname)

3 first name (given name, Christian name) +second name + third name +… +last name (surname,

family name): the first (Fu name, Christian name) +…+ Third +…+ last name (surname)

4. first name (given name, Christian name) +…+ last name (surname, family name) + Junior

: The first (Fu name, Christian name) +…+ last name (surname) +

+ Jr.(when the child take his father)

Han has a large ethnic population, but the name structure is in uniform, few exception. This singularity reflects the great importance to the rules of the cultural identity of the Han nationality In Chinese culture, no matter what you do, pay attention to overall Consistency, emphasize commonalities. English names of the structure shows the flexibility And uncertainty from a side note of the English nation to pursue a

, Novelty divergent mode of thinking and national identity.

B Couples surname differences

In China mainland, couples have different surname, but the child named after his father last name, English culture is not only the child named his father last name, and women named after the husband's surname. In mainland China, women regardless of before and after marriage retain their own surname, that is, couples surname. English culture, in accordance with the surname after the marriage, traditionally, woman use her husband's, that is, women were named the husband's surname. Such as, Mary White and John Smith married, after marriage the woman's name, Mary Smith. In 1949, the founding of the People's Republic of China at the same time also marks the liberation of Chinese women, Chinese women now have the ability of independent surname, women

with the husband's surname to the evolution of the practice of the couples have own surname reflects the tremendous progress of history.

C Order of differences

Having a name and a surname is a common feature of English and Chinese culture, but the arrangement of them is quite different. The Chinese surname first then name .In the English name the name first last name after. There are two reasons for this:

1.Earlier Chinese “origin of surname” It began in the primitive society

Matriarchal period “the surname” word from “female” from “Health”, shows a stron g Kinship, whose role is to “do not of their race, points out its class”. In Chinese the name generated later, Xia and Shang later began to appear. Due to in history Chinese people get a name after surname so last name before the natural order.

The earliest of the English nation in a considerable period of historical time, people only Without the last name, only to later social development, population Increase, there has been a lot of the same name phenomenon, people began to use Plus modifier after the name to the people of the same name differently, and when these Modifiers to stabilize after a family surname. English surname began by the Anglo Saxon, with the 18th century the British Empire Colonial expansion and spread around the world. English culture in the first Famous after a name and address, former surname is the natural order.

2. The embodiment of cultural values. Lighten name but emphasis on surname in Chinese Language and https://www.360docs.net/doc/6e4821964.html,, last name is important because it represents a clan or a Common kinship groups. Chinese culture is a kinship patriarchal society on the basis of the relationship between cultural development, it groups oriented kinship attaches great importance, emphasizing the collective emphasis on family

Emphasis on common feathers, so the former surname, the name is representative of individual personality

The embodim e nt of In the clan, the collective supremacy of the Chinese community, this small “I” inevitably set in. back And attach importance to common, highly collectivist Chinese culture is the opposite, the English-speaking countries rhetoric than surname, English culture to self-

The center of attention to individual, individualistic, emphasizing the realization of personal value, and thus represent the name of the personality traits are the first place is not hard to understand.

ⅢThe source of the family name names with Chinese culture

Surnames are often able to reflect the many facets of the different national, ethnic, cultural and ancient civilizations. Names, as a social phenomenon,

now are a mental process. Therefore, the last name change and development is totally dependent on it's social, cultural background. Surname forms and applications are also accompanied by historical and social changes and development changes

A Chinese surnames

According to name and Chinese culture , the Chinese surname starts as early as five or six years ago, prehistoric matriarchal society already exist. Then they will

formed based on matrilineal kinship different tribes, each tribe will be in accordance with their own tribal totem or living to name. These off the name is the earliest surname. Therefore, the Chinese have a lot of surnames, such as: Ji, Jiang, Yao, pregnancy and other female character for the radical. With the

The growth of tribal population, tribal and differentiate into many small tribes, these tribes moved to other places. These out of the original tribal people in order to open with the other

tribes difference for their own tribe took a new name, this is the later shi. Thus

The known surname, maternal kinship embodiment of the representatives of the tribal branches the ‘shi’ was surname is generally fixed, while the

shi is easy to change. The is earliest surname the fundamental difference between 'shi

‘The difference between first and last's performance in the Qin and Han dynasties especially Is obvious. Some of the surnames associated with livestock, such as: Luo, horses, cattle, bears, etc. From these surnames is not difficult to see the ancient people on the totem

The kind of admiration and adulation

English surnames

Only after the conquest of the British until 1066 Norman surnames concept. Early 15th century, almost all of British birth, followed

The family name, so since then the word surname only we give it meaning. At first, their last name is not

From the family name, but as a sign of distinction. The first British surnames with special significance words, and these

Surname meaning with the progress of society, just evolved into a symbol. If you trace the meaning of the surname of a certain period, we can find these surnames

Have the characteristics of the era, and in general can be divided into six categories.

1. The first category: the surname derived from the father's name or the name of the paternal ancestors, or derived from the parent name or the name of the maternal ancestor surname. Such as so and so

Son of the argument. This method can three people called Henry is known as: Henry, son of

John (son of Henry John) Henry, son of

Robin (the son of Henry Robin) Henry son o The William (the son of Henry William) Last name evolved into Johnson (John

Johnson), Robinson (Robinson), Williamson (Williamson)

2. The second category: the ancestors of the occupations or good skills for the surname. As the name suggests comes from the occupations of the ancestors. For example, two people called

John, a weaver, and the other is the chef. People are called John the Weaver, of them (Weaver John), John Cook,

(Chef John). Similar examples are: John the Miller (mill workers, John), John the Shepherd, (shepherd John), John the

Thatcher, (cover housing Carpenter John). Soon these called became: the John Weaver John Wiley & Sons Havre, John Cook John Cook

The John Miller (John Miller), John Shepherd, John Shepherd John Thatcher John Thatcher. Old English, there is a

Word is called the W right the original intent of the workers or the manufacturer. Create two carriages the call cart wright repairer wheels called wheel w right, the ship called

ship w right. Britons still use many similar Wright (Wright), Cartwright (Cartwright) and Wainwright (Wayne Lai

Special) last name. The more common surname Smith (Smith). Smith English word the original intent of the metallic material things, such as:

The goldsm the ith (goldsmith) the blacksm the ith (blacksmith),blacksm the ith (tinsmith), coppersmith (coppersmith). These surnames in the UK remains

Are common

3. The third category: the descriptive last name. People use the person's physical

characteristics as a surname. Many surnames come from the occasional nickname or crooked Said. For example, a man called Peter's looked strong, people nicknamed him Peter the strong (strong Peter), and later the gradually

Is omitted, this person called Peter Strong (1 Peter Strong). Similar name, there are A rm strong (Armstrong), Long Fellow

(Longfellow), the Hardy (Hardy), Short (Short) and so on.

4 The fourth category: geographic surname. It originated in the region of the first of the family work, which means that this individual in which the city, township

the name of the town or village evolved into a family name. In this way, the same village named Tom (Tom), according to the difference between their habitations open

, Such as: living under the cliff, Tom, living close to the edge of the woods, Tom and the house is located in the field, Tom, and thus give rise to a series of at

Named last name: H ill (Hill) Hill, Wood (woods) Wood, Field (field) Rumsfeld, Ford (shoal) Ford, Street

(Street) Streeter, Cliff (cliff) Cliff, Tree (tree) Terry Lane (alley) Ryan Bush (bush) Bush,

B rook (the stream) Brook.

5. Class 5: title, official position as a surname. Such a surname used for the history of the noble family The purpose of making the family reputation for generations to show off family honor. For example, R ice (Rice), Ross (Ross) are derived from the RHYS (Rees) is intended for the prince; Spencer (Spencer) Italian feudal family's housekeeper

6 .VI: The color names for the name. The colorful nature has given the colorful life of the human color as the surname is not surprising

A. Such as blue (Brooklyn), brown (Brown) Green (Green), Black B lack (Black). Through these

Evolved by the color name can also explain some problems: First, the names of holders of the

ancestors are some people of color; names holder

Or grandparents favorite color

Ⅳ.The characteristics of modern Chinese and English names

Such as last name they can reflect the characteristics of the times and social and cultural connotations. Surname as a product of history it changes often quite

Slow, so the surname of the development process, we look at almost any age characteristics, but the name is completely different. The emergence of the surname

Period, the name change as times change

A Chinese- English name similarities

From the psychological perspective, whether Chinese or English name, date of birth was given a positive meaning and a better hope for.

Full of positive meaning of the name can make progress; on the contrary, the negative meaning of the name makes people feel frustrated failure. In addition, both the parent

from China and West combine expects and blessings of the elders of the younger into the name taken when they named a child. For example, for women

children, parents would take some of the beautiful, gentle, virtuous word or phrase as a name (such as the Chinese lotus plum Lan and Hui ;

English Calf Fawn the Starling , etc.); number of representatives is strong, brave boys, the power of words or word (such as Chinese

In Peng , Long tiger leopard ; the Leonard , English Lione l Ursula

B The different points of the English name and Chinese name

1. Named to the major events and names

Chinese named in this way the names a lot, such as: Liu Wenge, Cai Guoqing, Wang, war and so on. Be loyal to Mao during the Cultural Revolution in order to express loyal to chairman, loyal to the party's beliefs, to name the child, such as the name of Xu Weidong, Zhu Jidong. English seems no such phenomenon

2. Named for the birthday horoscopes

Birthday horoscopes named based on the habits of the Chinese people since ancient times. birthday horoscopes and gold, wood, water, fire, earth five elements

In phototypesetting count, missing word name of a element while the element. Such as water scarcity, the name will contain the word of the next water word or water, such as Lee aquatic, Korea

Miao. However English is a letter writing system different from Chinese characters, so the absence of such a concept in culture, have no such names.

3. The name of religious

In English-speaking countries, the majority of people believe in Christianity, and thus Christianity the term has become an important source of English names. Such as: Christ taken from the Christmas Name Christmas, since Jesus Christ name, Chris, Chris Maas, the Bible taken from Bible title Bible. St.

Christians Sacred is a household name, everyone read it both women and children, so the characters the Bible name commonly used

Such as: John, Ruth, Daniel The, etc.. Chinese is almost non-existent name related to Christianity.

More than the cultural connotations of the English names, similarities and differences more than comparison and the two cultural practices described in the only proper names in this field are a little reclamation

The broader undeveloped areas waiting for us to explore and research. In addition, the comparative study of the English name of the culture and the arts help to

Strengthen the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures, will help us further understand under of the English nation and its internal culture, and contribute to intercultural communication being carried out smoothly.

References

[1] CHANG ZONGLIN, Comparative Studies in Language and Culture[M ] Qingdao: Ocean University o f China Press, 2004.

[ 2] 郑宝倩. 华夏人名与中国文化[M ]. 北京: 中国人民大学出版社, 1993.

[ 3] 李福印. 语义学教程[M ]. 上海: 上海外语教育出版社, 1999.

[ 4] 李忠华. 英汉姓氏初探[ J]. 解放军外国语学院学报, 2001( 5).

[ 5] 伍铁平. 普通语言学概要[M ]. 北京: 高等教育出版社, 1993.

Acknowledgements

During weeks’ working on this thesis, I have learned a lot from the difficult and at the same time this is very rewarding experience. The more important thing is that I understand the value of hard work and the significant of “no pains, no gains.”

Teacher Xi Xiaodan has given me great help and valuable suggestions. What I have learned from her is not only academic knowledge but also the good qualities as a real teacher. It is her patience and efforts that make this thesis better that before. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to her.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who has given me help and encouragements during the whole writing process.