Abstract: Idiom is a mechanism of transmission of the culture of language. Idiom is formed under different histories, geographical environment and cultural background, which is a symbol of a country’s unique cultural characteristics. English and Chinese are rich in idioms and they contain many animal idioms. Because of the history, social life and some other elements, English and Chinese animal idioms show the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western cultures. Due to the different cultural background, animals are usually endowed with different cultural connotations. 

This thesis starts its discussion from animal idioms’ development and cultural characteristics to show the differences between Chinese and Western culture. To get people to know the function of animal idioms which are used in multi-cultural communication, different connotation of animal idioms are presented and compared.

Key words: animal idiom; cultural difference; reason

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. A Brief Review of Animal Idioms1

2.1 Definition and Features of Animal Idioms

2.2 Relationship between Culture and Animal Idioms

3. Similarities between English and Chinese Animal Idioms3

  3.1Same Animals Sharing Similar Implications

  3.2Different Animals Sharing Similar Implications

4. Differences between English and Chinese Animal Idioms4

  4.1 Divergence of Cultural Meaning

  4.2 Exclusiveness of Cultural Meaning

5. Reasons for the Differences between English and Chinese Animal Idioms7

5.1 History 

5.2 Custom

5.3 Geographical Conditions

5.4 Different Religions

6. Conclusion10

Bibliography11

Acknowledgements.12