试论语言对文化的反作用

论文摘要

从古到今,各国学者对于语言和文化的关系的讨论层出不穷、各执一词,比如语言决定论,文化决定论等等。不管语言学家对此持有何种理念和见解,有一观点受到了国内外专家学者的广泛认同:语言和文化是相互影响和相互制约的。虽然人们对语言影响文化这一概念时有提及,但从宏观角度出发,系统而又深入的研究却是凤毛麟角。在本篇论文中,作者首先从物理学原理、语言结构和语言功能三个方面探寻语言之所以会对文化产生反作用的深层原因。其次笔者试图从外部语言学研究的角度,采用跨学科的研究方法深入剖析语言影响文化的外部原因,分别从社会语言学角度,总结出禁忌语在使用过程中能够一定程度上规范和影响人的价值观念和行为方向,又从人类语言学角度,通过汉英动物词汇的对比研究,发现蕴涵着文化和象征意义的动物词汇会影响和塑造一个民族对待该动物的态度和看法。此外,还从心理学角度,词汇的跨文化对比研究同样表明蕴涵了象征和文化意义的颜色词汇也会影响一个民族的文化心理,形成对某种颜色特殊偏好的心理。同时通过认知语言学角度的分析,得出结论:语言可以通过影响认知系统来影响人的思维方式。再次,作者又以谚语为切入点,系统而深入地比较了汉英谚语中所体现的思维方式、人际关系、生活方式和价值观念等方面的差异,分析得出:谚语不仅反映文化,更能对文化产生潜移默化的影响,形成特定的民族文化心理。此外,从历史语言学角度,通过对国内外具有代表性和重要性的语言改革的回顾研究,作者发现这些语言运动都包含了一个共同点,即思想运动和语言运动密切相关,语言运动能够有效地去除旧观念和旧思想,促进并影响新思想的产生和新观念的形成。最后,在结论部分,作者提出了研究语言对文化影响的现实意义和未来意义,同时强调语言对文化的影响不是决定性的,但也决不能低估这种影响的存在以及可能产生的正面和负面作用。

论文目录

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• 摘要
• 前言
• 一、语言影响文化的原因
• 二、语言影响文化的层面分析
• 三、语言对文化影响的历史考察
• 四、结论
• Chapter 1 A Survey of the Relationship between Language and Culture
• 1.1 A Glimpse of Previous Studies
• 1.1.1 Humboldt's Contribution
• 1.1.2 Franz Boas' Contribution
• 1.1.3 Sapir-Whorf's Contribution
• 1.2 Detailed Review of the Previous Studies
• 1.2.1 Linguistic Determinism—Language Determines Culture/Thought
• 1.2.2 Cultural Determinism
• 1.2.3 Linguistic Relativity—Language Influences Culture
• 1.2.4 The Current View:Language and Culture Influence Each Other
• 1.2.5 A Summary
• Chapter 2 The Influence of Language upon Culture as Seen from Internal Linguistics
• 2.1 Scientific Proof:Law of Action and Reaction in Physics
• 2.2 Language Structure Influences Thoughts
• 2.3 Language Functions Influence Culture
• 2.3.1 Language Functions Influence the Construction of Culture
• 2.3.2 Language as Social Semiotics Influences Culture
• Chapter 3 The Influence of Language upon Culture as Seen from External Linguistics
• 3.1 Sociolinguistic Approach
• 3.1.1 A Brief introduction
• 3.1.2 The Influence of Linguistic Taboos on Culture
• 3.2 Psycholinguistic Approach
• 3.2.1 A Brief Introduction
• 3.2.2 Images of Animal Words Influence National Mentality
• 3.3 Anthropological Linguistic Approach
• 3.3.1 A Brief Introduction
• 3.3.2 Color Words Influence a Nation's Culture
• 3.4 Cognitive Linguistic Approach
• 3.4.1 A Brief Introduction
• 3.4.2 Language Influences Human Cognition and Thinking
• 3.4.3 A Summary
• Chapter 4 Detailed Analysis of How Language Influences the Cores of Culture
• 4.1 The Definition of Culture
• 4.2 Language Influences Thinking Patterns
• 4.3 Proverbs Affects Culture
• 4.3.1 Proverbs Affects Speakers' World Outlook
• 4.3.2 Proverbs Influences Interpersonal Relationship
• 4.3.3 Proverbs Influences Values
• 4.4 A Summary
• Chapter 5 Historical Retrospection of Linguistic Influence upon Culture
• 5.1 English Language Purifying Movement in 18th Century
• 5.1.1 Brief Introduction to British English and American English
• 5.1.2 The Standardization of British language Influences the Conservation of English Culture
• 5.1.2.1 The Standardization of British English in English-Purifying Movement
• 5.1.2.2 Formality in British Culture
• 5.1.3 The Flexibility and Creativity Of American English Influence Openness of American Culture
• 5.1.3.1 Directness at Lexical and Grammatical Levels
• 5.1.3.2 Informality Reflected in the Use of Slang
• 5.1.3.3 American's Directness and Informality
• 5.2 The Influence of Vernacular Movement on Culture
• 5.2.1 The Linguistic Features of Classical Chinese
• 5.2.2 The Restraint of Classical Chinese on People's Thought
• 5.2.3 The Influence of Vernacular on Psychology
• 5.3 The Language Used in Cultural Revolution Influences Culture
• 5.3.1 The Analysis of the Language used in Cultural Revolution
• 5.3.1.1 Exaggeration
• 5.3.1.2 Semantic Ambiguity
• 5.3.1.3 Irrelevance to Topic
• 5.2.1.4 A Summary
• 5.3.2 The Language Used in Cultural Revolution Influences National Mentality
• 5.3.3 The Social Effects of the Language in Cultural Revolution
• 5.4 Cultural Siguificance of American Feminist Movement against Linguistic Sexism
• 5.4.1 Detailed Analyses of Generic Masculine in Linguistic Sexism
• 5.4.1.1 The Features of Linguistic Sexism
• 5.4.1.2 Effects of Using Sexist Language
• 5.4.2 The Influences of Sexist Language on Culture
• 5.4.3 The Significance of the Reform of Sexist Language
• 5.5 A Summary
• Conclusion
• Bibliography