Undergraduate Essay on English as a Profession

With the rapid development of human society, English has naturally developed differently and even changed greatly under the influence of geography and socio-political, economic and cultural influences in different countries. The following is a sample of undergraduate English essay I have organized for you, welcome to read reference!

Undergraduate English essay 1

English-Chinese cultural differences and idiomatic translation

Abstract: A nation's language and culture are interdependent and inseparable, and idioms as the essence of the language is to carry a very rich cultural connotation, full of traces of human cultural activities, deposition of a strong national culture. Because of the differences in natural environment, historical origin, religion, culture, customs and folklore, idioms also carry different national cultural characteristics and cultural information, so the translation of English-Chinese idioms often encounters many difficulties. Translators should follow certain translation principles, find appropriate translation methods, retain the original unique flavor, and make the readers clear the meaning of its expression.

Keywords: culture, idiom, difference, translation method

Idioms are connected with the social customs, history and culture of a nation. The values, traditional concepts and ways of thinking of a nation are reflected in its idioms. The two languages of English and Chinese have a long history and contain a large number of idioms, which are vivid, elegant and subtle and give people different feelings. However, without understanding the social and cultural aspects of the language, it is impossible to truly master the language, let alone translate it accurately.

I. Meaning and source of idioms

1.1 Meaning of idioms

Idiom is a unique and fixed way of expression formed in the process of language use. Idioms are fixed phrases, including idioms, sayings, proverbs and so on. Idioms are important rhetorical devices in the language, and they themselves are also a concentrated manifestation of various rhetorical devices. Most of the idioms are set off by metaphors, with distinctive images and strong national colors, and their rich meaning, associations, often used in literary works, in political articles and common.

1.2 The origin of idioms

First of all, the natural environment affects the formation and development of national culture. Our ancestors lived in the north temperate zone of northeastern Asia, where the plains are vast and the climate is mild, so they gradually formed a self-sufficient agricultural economy and believed that human beings and nature can live in harmony, so there are many idioms related to land and agriculture. For example, Every potter praises his pot. It refers to "The king's wife sells her melon and boasts about herself", "The snow brings a good harvest", and "Seedlings should be good, and worms should be removed early", etc. The United Kingdom is an island country, so it is not a country that has a large population. Britain, on the other hand, is an island nation with an important fishing and sailing industry, but it is always affected by the weather. A large number of nature-related idioms were formed. For example, in deep water is a metaphor for "getting into trouble"; spend money like water is a metaphor for "spending money like running water"; to miss the boat is a metaphor for "missing a good opportunity". "

The first thing to do is to spend money like water.

Secondly, idioms are derived from fables, myths and legends. Ancient Greek legends and stories have had a profound influence on English, and many idioms are derived from them and are widely used. Such as the Greek fable kill the goose to get the eggs, about a countryman, eager to get rich killed a goose that can lay golden eggs, thinking that this will be able to get imagined all the gold, and ultimately nothing; seventeenth-century Britain because there is no drain, once the rainstorms come to the streets will be a river of water, and many homeless stray dogs and cats are drowning and float in the The residents thought that these corpses were falling from the sky, and from then on to rain cats and dogs on the "downpour".

Again, literature and historical allusions are also important sources of idioms. The idiom of "to boat for a sword" comes from "Lüshi Chunqiu" (吕氏春秋). Talk of the devil and he comes. Be seized with imaginary fears. Life is but an empty dream. The Heel of Achilles is directly translated as "Achilles' heel", which is often used to express "Achilles' heel".

Finally, religion is also an important source of idioms: Don't you see the writing on the wall? Don't you see the writing on the wall? Writing on the wall means "bad omen", from the Old Testament.

2.1 Difference in Customs and Habits

In the traditional Chinese concept, dog is a lowly animal. It is often used as a metaphor for evil behavior and contains a pejorative meaning. For example, "a dog is a bully", "a wolf's heart is a dog's lung", "a dog's mouth can't spit out ivory", etc., such as lead a dog's life means "to live a life worse than a dog's life". as lead a dog?s life means "to live a life worse than that of a dog or a pig". In Western English-speaking countries, dogs are often regarded as companions, and are often used as a metaphor for human behavior, as they are a symbol of faithfulness and intelligence. Such as love me, love my dog "爱屋及乌";You are a lucky dog. "You are a lucky dog"; Every dog has his day." Every dog has his day."; as faithful as a dog used to express "loyalty".

Since ancient times, the dragon has been a symbol of good fortune in the minds of the Chinese people, and in ancient times it was used to represent the son of heaven and his authority. In Chinese idioms, dragons generally have a positive connotation. Such as "hope son dragon", "dragon tiger leap", "dragon and phoenix Xiangcheng", "dragon fast son-in-law" and so on. But in Western mythology "dragon", mostly a kind of wings and claws, dragging a long serpentine tail, with a full of scales and spit fire beast. Westerners believe that the dragon is ferocious and tyrannical, let a person feel horrible, mostly used to describe the ferocious people, containing a pejorative meaning.

Different colors have different cultural connotations in Chinese and English due to different customs. For example, red, in the traditional concept of the Chinese people, red symbolizes warmth, festivity, good fortune, New Year's Day will be posted red couplets, send red envelopes, and other people to express their blessings of the idiom of "red-hot", "go red luck". But in English-speaking countries, red and disaster, radical, violence, danger, bloodshed and other bad things linked together, such as on red alert means "on emergency alert"; catch someone red-handed originally meant to catch the murderer when the criminal still has blood on his hands, and now it is a metaphor for "doing bad things when you are caught". The first is to catch someone red-handed, and the second is to catch them red-handed.

2.2 Differences in Religious Beliefs

Religion is an important part of human thought and culture, and religious idioms are often characterized by a strong religious culture. Chinese people believe in Buddhism and Taoism, while most English-speaking countries believe in ____. This makes idioms have their own colors in Chinese and English cultures. There are many idioms related to Buddhism in Chinese, such as "Three Lives of Fortune", "Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the ground", "Immaculate", "Temporary clasp the Buddha's feet", "six roots of purity" and so on. In Taoism, idioms include: "A man who achieves the Dao can get a governmental position", "Fortunes come with misfortunes, and misfortunes come with blessings", "The Taoist is one foot taller, and the devil is ten feet taller", and "The elixir is a miracle cure". The Bible has been used by Christians for many years. The Bible has an important position in Christ ____, so a large number of idioms are related to it. For example, Judas kiss "Judas kiss"; eye for eye, tooth for tooth "tooth for tooth, eye for eye", from the Old Testament? Exodus"; make bricks without straw describes "simply can not do things"; ask for bread and be given a stone directly translated as want to bread, but instead to give a stone, a metaphor for "get not what you ask for". "God is omnipotent in the Western mind, and there are many idioms related to him. For example, God helps those who help themselves; God sends fortune to fools; God damn you. God damn you.

Death is a scary and mysterious word for human beings. In order to eliminate the anxiety and fear of death, all religions have explained death and described the world after death. Chinese Buddhism refers to it as "passing away", "returning to the truth", "becoming a Buddha", "sitting down", etc. Taoism seeks to achieve immortality. Taoism seeks to attain immortality and describes death as "passing away", "becoming immortal", "attaining the Way", "returning to the light of day The description of death includes "passing away", "being immortalized", "attaining the Way", "returning to the light", etc. In ____, it is believed that man is made of clay by God in his own image, and there is the expression to return to dust/earth, meaning that man will eventually return to dust, which is used to express death. to be called to God. To be called to God "at the call of God", and to join the angelic choirs "with the angels" are all positive attitudes to death.

2.3 Differences in the Natural Environment

The geography of China and the West is very different, and there are a lot of idioms related to geography in Chinese and English. Britain is located in the western hemisphere, China is located in the eastern hemisphere, the attitude towards wind is different from that of the Chinese, what we call eastwind is the warm spring wind, however, in Britain, eastwind is the cold wind, which makes people feel uncomfortable. Biting eastwind" means "biting east wind". For the British, west wind is the warm and genial wind in spring, and the British poet Shelley wrote the world-famous Ode to the West Wind. In China, there are different metaphors for east wind. For example, All is ready except for the east wind.

Britain is an island country, so its fishing industry is very developed, and there are countless idioms related to sailing in English. For example: a drop in the ocean "a drop in the ocean", keep one's head above water "strive to survive", in deep water "into a serious predicament", as weak as in deep water "into serious difficulties", as weak as water "weak as wind". China's land is vast and fertile, with many famous mountains and rivers, there are many idioms related to agriculture and mountains. For example, "open the door and see the mountain", "to stay in the green mountains, not worry about no firewood", "Rui Xue Zhao Feng Nian", "pick up the sesame, lose the watermelon "and so on.

Because of the different regions, there are obvious differences in language. In Chinese, there are "not to the Great Wall is not a good man", "have eyes to recognize Mount Tai", "not to the Yellow River heart never die" and so on. In English, there are All roads lead to Rome, Take a French leave, Carry Coals to Newcastle. Carry Coals to Newcastle. The metaphorical meaning of Carry Coals to Newcastle is "superfluous" because of the abundance of coal in Newcastle, and so on.

2.4 Differences in Historical Allusions

Both Chinese and English countries have a long history and deep cultural deposits, and there are a lot of idioms from historical allusions in the two languages. For example, in English, "swang song"; castle in the air originates from myths and legends; a Pandora's box; cat? "; cat?s paw from "Aesop's Fables" is a metaphor for "people who are fooled"; meet one?s waterloo from Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo is a metaphor for "a defeat". In Chinese, "名落孙山", "完璧归赵", "四面楚歌", "拔苗助长", "Crouch and taste the guts" and so on.

Third, the main method of English-Chinese idioms translation

3.1 Direct translation method

Some idioms in English and Chinese expression method is completely or basically the same, this time according to the translation. As easy as turning one's hand; as busy as a bee; Love money as one love one's life. "Love money as one love one's life. sharpen one's spear only before going into battle. new wine in old bottles. "New wine in old bottles."; draw water in a bamboo basket "竹篮打水一空"; The cat weeps over the mouse." The cat weeps over the mouse."; a stone dropped into the sea "石沉海"; golden age "黄金时代"; as clear as crystal 直译 as clear as crystal"; as proud as a peacock "as proud as a peacock".

3.2 Italian translation method

Due to cultural differences, some idioms can not be directly translated, the reader does not know enough about their original image, this time the original meaning can be retained while discarding the original image and rhetoric, avoiding the original cultural background, using the Italian translation method. For example, to volunteer one's service; A fish out of water; You can't achieve the goal without a risk. without a risk. "不入虎穴，焉得虎子"; in a frantic rush "手忙脚乱"; run the source of supply " run the source of supply "; trust to chance and stroke of luck "; keep one's nose down to the grindstone "; what is done cannot be undone by the fact that it is not the best thing to do. "; what is done cannot be undone.

3.3 Additions

Sometimes, according to the needs of the readers, in order to make the translation more clear and understandable and the text more fluent, the translation will combine the needs of the context and the connotation of the original text and add the words that are not in the original text, but are included in the meaning of the original text. For example, a bull in a china shop "公牛闯进瓷器店─肆意捣乱/一动就闯祸"; to shed crocodile tears "流鳄鱼眼泪─假慈悲"; Judas kiss "犹大之吻，一动就闯祸"; to shed crocodile tears "流鳄鱼眼泪─假慈悲"; Judas Judas kiss "A blind man on a blind horse-rushing headlong to disaster."; preparation may quicken the process of getting to the point where the person is in trouble. "; preparation may quicken the process "Pandora's box". Pandora?s box "Pandora's box, the root cause of disaster".

IV. Concluding Remarks

In a word, idioms are frequently used by people, they are vivid and vivid, and they are the essence of a nation's language. Idioms have their own cultural color, convey their own cultural information, different national cultures have certain cultural differences, so the translation of idioms is more difficult. But according to different methods, flexible handling of the relationship between form and content can make the translation reproduce the beauty of the original, better promote cultural exchange and dissemination of cultural knowledge, help human communication ideas and feelings.

References:

[1] Fang Chuzhi. A Basic Course on English-Chinese Translation [J]. Beijing: China Foreign Translation and Publishing Company, 2005.

[2]Song Tianxi. New Concepts in Translation: A Practical Course in English-Chinese Interpretation [J]. Beijing: National Defense Industry Press, 2005.

[3]Liu Chongde. Comparison and Translation of English and Chinese [J]. Qingdao Publishing House, 1988.

[4]Wang Dejun et al. Practical English-Chinese Translation Tutorial [J]. Beijing: National Defense Industry Press, 2007.

Undergraduate English Thesis 2

An Analysis of the Differences between American English and British English

Abstract "British English" in the United States of America's unique geographic environment by the influence of the United States of America's history and culture, along with the country's prosperity and development and the rapid increase in the political status of the international community. With the prosperity of the country and the rapid increase of its political status in the international community, it has gradually produced regional variations and formed "American English". Both in the geographic environment of different countries and socio-political, economic and cultural long-term impact, the development of the natural situation is not the same, and even produce a great difference.

Keywords American English, British English, differences

Today, more than 300 years after the independence of the United States, many Americans (including those who do not have British ancestry) still regard British English as their mother tongue - in fact, British English can be called the basis of all English; but with the rapid development of human society, English in different countries has become more and more common. But with the rapid development of human society, the development of English in the geographic environment and socio-political, economic and cultural influences of different countries naturally varies and even produces great changes. Therefore, although the United Kingdom and the United States of America have the same root, but they are in a shorter history and more open to multi-ethnic immigrant countries and an island with more than 1,500 years of relatively closed about 400 years after the development of the natural will produce more or less different. Generally speaking, American English is simple and applicable, and at the same time rich in meaning with a sense of humor and originality; British English is pure and standardized. The specific differences between the two are reflected in the following aspects:

(a) Grammar

American English originated in the 17th century has entered the early modern English British English, contemporary grammar has been stabilized at that time. In the past 400 years, American English and British English have been separated by the Atlantic Ocean, but because grammar is an intrinsic element of language, basically not subject to external changes in the natural geographic and social environment, the grammatical system of speech will not produce much difference in a short period of time; on the other hand, modern means of transportation and communication tools for the people of the United Kingdom and the United States of America to create the possibility of communication between the two places to make a small grammatical difference between the two. The few grammatical differences between the two gradually fade away. Thus, accurately speaking, there is no essential difference between British and American English in terms of grammar, only some grammatical forms have higher or lower frequency in the use of both, and there is no obvious rule. The common situations are as follows: 1. In the use of verbs, there is a slight difference in the use of the verb have by British and American people. Americans say: Do you have a pen ? While British people tend to say: Have you got a pen? There are also some verbs, such as burn, dream, learn, smell, spell, spill and spill and the past tense, past participle form in American English are regular, while in British English these verbs are more often used as irregular verbs; at the same time, there are some verbs such as fit, quit, wet, have, have, have, have, have and have, which are not regular in American English, but are used in British English. At the same time, there are some verbs such as fit, quit, wet, dive, etc. which are regular in British English and are more often used as irregular verbs in American English. In addition, the word must can be used for affirmative speculation in American English, but must not express negative speculation is only found in American English and cannot be abbreviated as must?t, while the British generally use can?t or can not; and used to, dare, need can be used both as a substantive verb and a modal verb, but the Americans like to use them as a substantive verb, while the British prefer to use them as an auxiliary verb. In the use of pronouns, British people use one?s while Americans sometimes use his to refer to different genders.

(II) Vocabulary

When it comes to the differences in the vocabulary of British and American English, there is a great difference in the understanding of different people. In fact, since British and American English belong to the same language, they are used to express the basic vocabulary closely related to people's lives is of course the same, British and American English does not have their own independent vocabulary system. Nevertheless, the differences between the two languages due to the different objects they serve are naturally reflected in the vocabulary, which is the basic unit of the language. The differences are mainly manifested in the three forms of homonyms, synonyms and specific words: for example, to express the same meaning of "sidewalk" Americans use sidewalk while the British use pavement; sometimes, the same words or phrases in the United States and the United Kingdom have very different meanings in English, such as wash up. "The Americans use sidewalk while the British use pavement; Sometimes the same word or phrase has different meanings in British and American English, such as wash up. Unique words belong to a country's unique vocabulary, which is used to express the distinctive features of a country's social politics, life and culture. Since Britain and the United States have been developing independently for nearly 400 years, their languages will naturally bear the imprint of their politics, economy, culture and life. For example, the word "filibuster" is only used in the American language to refer to the deliberate delay in the U.S. Congress.

(C) Spelling

Americans pay attention to pragmatics. In their view, since the language is a communication tool for human service, it should be easy to use, so in the development of American English in the spelling of the movement similar to the simplification of Chinese characters in order to get the spelling of the form of the pronunciation of the same, so that they use the language than the original simpler and more practical. The success of this movement has led to the deletion of some of the unpronounceable letters from some words in the American language, which is one of the most important reasons for the difference in the spelling of English between the United Kingdom and the United States. This difference can be summarized as follows: 1. The participle forms of verbs ending in l but not in a stressed syllable do not have a double l in American English, such as travel, signal, dial, equal, etc., but this is not the case in British English. 2. Many verbs ending in ze in American English, such as realize, organize, analyze, civilize, memorize, recognize, and so on, do not have a double l. Many verbs that end in ze in American English, such as realize, organize, analyze, civilize, memorize, recognize, etc., are often spelled se in British English. 3. There are also several groups of common words whose spelling has been simplified according to the rules of pronunciation in American English, such as labour, favour, honour, colour, which end in our, which end in our, which end in our, which are simplified in American English to end in or; and the words originally spelled centre, signal, dial, equal, which do not. Words that were originally spelled centre and theatre have also been morphed into the phonetically consistent spelling er. 4. Some words that have been simplified even more radically, such as catalogue, dialogue, analogue, gramme, programme, kilogramme, etc., have had their unpronounceable letters removed in American English.

(D) Pronunciation

The British linguist P. Strevens has pointed out in his book that the differences in pronunciation between British and American English are much more regular than the differences in grammar between the two. This is tantamount to telling us that the biggest difference between British and American English lies in pronunciation. American English pronunciation is different from British English in two major ways: first, in the words "vast", "cast", "last", and "laugh", the American people pronounce the sound "a" and "a:/" as / ? /; Secondly, in British English after the vowel r is not pronounced in American English as long as the letter r appears in the spelling of the pronunciation, which is precisely the reason why the "r" can become the most obvious feature of the American pronunciation. These two pronunciation features exactly reflect the old-fashioned side of American English because they truly reproduce the pronunciation of these two types of words in Elizabethan times. To summarize, one of the most basic features and advantages of American English pronunciation is the high degree of consistency between pronunciation and spelling, and it is precisely for this reason that more and more learners of English prefer to accept American English.

References

[1] Hou, Weirui. British English and American English.July 1990 .

[2] The Development of English and the Comparison of British and American Languages.January 1995.

[3] R. Mussman. Background to the USA. World Book Press (Beijing); 1995, 2.

[4] R. Mussmann. Background to English-speaking countries (Background to English-speakingcountries ). World Book Press (Beijing);1995, 2 .