中西方文化中习语差异的探究A Probe into Cultural Differences between English Idioms and Chinese OnesAbstract: Idioms are an important part of the language and culture of a society. Idioms are often hard to be understood and even harder to be used correctly. The proper use of idioms in a language is often a mark of a persons command of the language. English and Chinese idioms carved with cultural characteristics account for a great part in application. The main purpose of the thesis is to discuss the influence of the cultural differences existing in idiom application and the approaches to dealing with cultural differences in idiom application. The idiom is not only a gem of language but also the crystallization of human wisdom. It is like a mirror reflecting culture. Idiom application is both an interlinguistic process and an intercultural activity. Therefore, it is necessary to study the idiom translation from the perspective of culture. When rendering idioms a user firstly needs to contemplate their cultural discrepancies between Chinese and English, and then, uses translation methods and strategies flexibly in order to provide a good version and make effective cultural exchange. Key words: culture; idiom; cultural difference; idiom application; intercultural communication 摘要： 习语是一个社会的语言和文化的重要组成部分，不仅难以理解，更难以运用得当。能否正确使用成语往往是一个人的语言水平的标志。带有文化色彩的英汉成语在翻译中占有很大的一部分。本论文旨在讨论英汉成语运用中存在的文化差异现象，并就习语运用中的文化差异的处理方法提出自己的意见。习语是人类语言的精华、民族智慧的结晶，它的形成与其所属的国家和民族文化紧密相联。因此它蕴含着丰富的文化内涵，像一面镜子一样很好的反映着文化。从这个意义上说，习语运用不仅是一种语际转换过程，更是一种跨文化交际活动，因此探讨习语运用策略，必须从文化角度着手才会行之有效。所以在习语运用过程中，译者应该以对源语文化和目的语文化的充分了解为根本出发点，灵活恰当的选择翻译方法和策略，方能使译文获得成功，实现有效的跨文化的交际。关键词：文化；习语；文化差异；习语运用；跨文化交际Contents. Relationship between Language and Culture.1A. Definition of language.1B. Concept of culture.1C. Relationship between language and culture.21. Language as a part of culture.32. Interdependence of language and culture.4 II. Idioms and Their Cultural Features.4A. Difficulties in use of idioms.41. Linguistic difference.52. Modes of thinking.53. Life experiences6B. Cultural vacancy in idioms.61. Definition of idioms.72. Cultural gap factors in English and Chinese idioms.8III. Effects Caused by Cultural Differences in Idioms Application8A. Living environment differences.8B. Geographical differences9C. Social customs differences.9D. Religious beliefs differences.10.Conclusion.11 Works Cited.12. Relationship between Language and Culture A. Definition of language Its well known that the most distinguishing distinction between humans and animals is that we humans have the capacity of using language. We use language every day and we live in a world of words. Language is centurial to our nature as human beings and language is an integral part of our life. Language is the most important development in human history. Without language, the arts, laws, sciences and economic systems could not exist. However, our ability to communicate has led us from the cave all the way to the moon. Language is so much a part of human existence that we will be talking as long as we inhabit the earth.It is not difficult to find definitions on language in linguistic. The followings are the two of them. Sapir wrote in 1921: “Language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desires by means of a system of voluntarily produced symbols”. In 1957, Chomsky gives a different definition like this: “From now on I will consider a language to be set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of elements”.Despite the differences in these definitions, much linguistics is in broad agreement about some of the important features of human language, and most of them would accept the view that language is, in essence, a system of symbols designed for the purpose of human communication. Nevertheless, language serves as a basis for communication. Language is the system of human expression by means of words.B. Concepts of cultureMuch of the complex behavior of humans can not be explained on the basis of innate tendencies, but only on the basis of culture. Culture can be most simply defined as a set of shared ideas, or the customs, beliefs, and knowledge that characterize a way of life. The concept of culture was developed by anthropologists toward the end of 19th century. The first really clear and comprehensive definition was that of the British anthropologist, Sir Edward Burnett Taylor. He defined culture as everything human beings made and taught to future generations. “Culture,” he