中文摘要： 动物词汇在英汉语言中占有重要的地位，这些动物词汇皆有着十分丰富而复杂的文化内涵，这对中英的跨文化交流产生了重大影响。本文尝试采用文献研究法、比较研究法，从动物文化的相同或相似、差异以及文化空缺等几个方面比较英汉动物文化内涵之间的差异。本文拟从地理环境与历史背景、宗教文化与神话传说、民族审美与社会价值取向、民族文学传统等方面综合分析影响中英动物文化内涵差异的成因，以期通过本文，得出有关英汉动物内涵差异的一般性结论，并对该研究领域提出自己的建议，帮助英语学习者克服学习英语文化时的障碍，进行更成功和恰当的跨文化交际。

关键词：动物文化；英汉；差异；对比

Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1 

 1.1 Research Background-1

 1.2 Research Purpose of the Study-1 

 1.3 Research Significance of the Study-2

 1.4. The Structure of the Research Thesis-3

2. Literature Review-4

 2.1 The Definition of Cultural Connotation-4 

 2.2 Related Research on Animal Words at Home-4 

 2.3 Related Research on Animal words Abroad-5 

 2.4 Research Methods-6 

3. The Comparison of Cultural Connotation between English and Chinese Animal words-8 

 3.1 The Symbolic Meaning of Animal Words in English and Chinese-8

   3.1.1 Associating with a Person-8 

   3.1.2 Association Based on a Feature-8 

   3.1.3 Association based on Actions-9 

   3.1.4 Association based on Voice-9 

 3.2 The Same Animal Word with Same or Similar Connotation in English and Chinese Culture-9

 3.3 The Same Animal Word with the Different Connotations in English and Chinese Culture-11 

   3.3.1 The Same Word with Positive Meaning in Chinese and Derogatory meaning in English-11 

   3.3.2 The Same Word with Positive Meaning in English and Derogatory Meaning in Chinese-12 

   3.4 The Same Word with Rich Meaning While Scarce in the Other-13

   3.5 Different Animal Words With Similar Connotations in English and Chinese-15 

4. The Causes of Cultural Differences of English and Chinese Animal Words-17

 4.1 Geographical Environment and Historical Background-17 

 4.2 Religion and Mythology-18 

 4.3 National Aesthetic and Social Value Orientation-19 

 4.4 National Literature Tradition-20 

5. Some suggestions for the Study of the Cultural Differences between English and Chinese Animal Word-22

6. Conclusion-24

Reference-25