Abstract：Taboo, a language phenomenon as well as a cultural phenomenon, refers to persons, things, and activities that are sacred, forbidden to be mentioned or should be paid much attention to. Taboo is universal in almost all the cultures in the world. However, due to different cultural backgrounds, Chinese and English taboos differ in a lot of aspects.    

This thesis aims to make a comparative study on Chinese and English taboos and to find out the differences between Chinese and English cultures which are reflected in taboos. Chinese and English taboos are compared in terms of greetings, naming, death and privacy. An analysis of cultural differences between China and English-speaking countries shows that they are the causes of the differences between Chinese and English taboos. Due to different geographical environment, Chinese people and western people tend to have different taboos concerning greetings. Taboos concerning naming are different in Chinese and English-speaking countries because of different social institutions and religious beliefs. The concept of hierarchy in China and the concept of equality in English-speaking countries lead to different taboos concerning death. Different personality structures and different views on the concept of privacy result in the differences between taboos concerning privacy.  

It is expected that the result of this study can provide some help for people to acquire good knowledge of the differences between Chinese and English taboos and to be successful in cross-cultural communication.

Keywords：taboo; Chinese;  English; difference; culture

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

中文摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 General Description of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-2

2.1 Previous Studies on Differences between Chinese and English Cultures-2

2.2 Previous Studies on Taboos-2

Chapter Three AN INTRODUCTION TO CCULTURE AND TABOO-5

3.1 Culture-5

3.1.1 Definition of Culture-5

3.1.2 Function of Culture-5

3.2 Taboo-6

3.2.1 Definition of Taboo-6

3.2.2 Major Factors in the Formation of Taboo-7

3.2.3 Functions of Taboo-9

3.3 The Relationship between Taboo, Language and Culture-10

Chapter Four DIFFERENCES OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH CULTURES REFLECTED IN TABOOS-11

4.1Taboos concerning Greetings-11

4.1.1 Comparison of Taboos concerning Greetings-11

4.1.2 Cultural Differences Reflected-12

4.2 Taboos concerning Naming-12

4.2.1 Comparison of Taboos concerning Names-12

4.2.2 Cultural Differences Reflected-13

4.3 Taboos concerning Death-14

4.3.1 Comparison of Taboos concerning Death-14

4.3.2 Cultural Differences Reflected-14

4.4 Taboos concerning Privacy-15

4.4.1 Comparison of Taboos concerning Privacy-16

4.4.2 Cultural Differences Reflected-16

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-18

5.2 Suggestions for Future Study-18

5.3 Limitations-19

REFERENCES-20