A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Connotations of English-Chinese Animal Words

As a social phenomena, language carries a lot of social-cultural factors. It is impossible for languages to exist and develop in social vacuum. Proverbs, as a form reflecting language, are greatly connected with culture. They deliver all sorts of information and cultural knowledge. In addition, vocabulary is the most sensitive, active and basic component of language. Therefore, the influence of culture on language is also embedded in vocabulary. Animal words or cultural-loaded animal words are a category of words rich in cultural connotations. Human beings living in the same world have different cultural backgrounds, which leads to different cultural connotations of animal words. This paper will make a comparative analysis of the cultural connotations behind animal words between English and Chinese proverbs. Thus similarities and differences are explored. And then it makes a further study on the reasons behind differences of cultural connotations. Meanwhile some feasible suggestions on cross-cultural communication will be put forward.