英汉谚语的比较

　　〔Abstract〕Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage。Theyreflecttherelationshipbetweenlanguageandculture。HumanbEings’commonsocialactivitiesareinmanyaspectssimilar，soEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilarities。Becauseoftheculturaldifferences，EnglishandChineseproverbshavedifferencesinthEIrdetailedcontents。TheauthorcomparestheirsimilaritiesanddifferencesandalsoproposesthatEnglishandChineseproverbswillbreaktheboundaryandaccomplishinterfusion。EnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginandsimilarlinguisticcharacters。Theybothoriginatefromfolklife，mythology，literaryworksandfromotherlanguages。DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsalsoexist。Thatisdifferentgeography；differenthistorycustoms；differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts。
　　〔KeyWords〕proverbs；similarities；differences；interfusion
　　〔摘要〕谚语是语言的一个重要组成部分，是各国语言文学艺术宝库中的一朵奇葩。谚语体现了语言与文化的关系。由于人类的普遍社会活动和心理思维过程有许多共同之处，因此英汉谚语也存在着相同之处。但由于各国具体历史文化背景的不同，所以英汉谚语又存在着差异。本文分析了英汉谚语的相同点与不同点，并提出英汉谚语在跨文化交际中的渗透与融合。英汉谚语有着相同的起源和语言特点。都来自民间生活，神话传说，文学作品和外来语。英汉谚语的语言具有简炼和生动形象的特点。但从具体内容来看，英汉谚语表现了不同的地理、历史、宗教和文化价值观念。最后指出随着世界文化的交流，谚语逐渐打破国家和民族的界限，英汉谚语在互相渗透与融合。
　　〔关键词〕谚语；相同点；不同点；融合
　　1。IntroductionFromthesedefinitions，wecanseecommoncharactersofproverbs。Proverbsarethecrystalofthenationalwisdomandexperience。Proverbsarecolloquial，sotheyareveryeasytoberememberedandhandeddown。Theyusuallygivepeopleadviceandwarning。
　　Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage。Languageandculturearetightlyinteractedwitheachother；eachinfluencingandshapingtheother。Languageispartofculture。TheChineselanguageispartofChinacultureandEnglishlanguageispartofEnglishculture。Languageisthecarrierandcontainerofculture。Humanknowledgeandexperiencearedescribedandstoredinlanguage。〔3〕Asapartoflanguage，proverbscloselyintegratedwiththesocietyandculture。Proverbsreflectmanyaspectsofthenationsuchasgeography，history，religiousfaithandvalues。
　　EnglishandChinesebelongtotwodifferentlanguagesystems，havinggreatdifferencesintheircultures。Buthumanbeings’commonsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworldareinmanyaspectssimilar。SonotonlydifferencesbutalsomanysimilaritiesexistinEnglishandChineseproverbs。Withthecommunicationofworld，EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother。
　　2。SimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs
　　ThesimilaritiesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbsmainlylieintheiroriginsandlinguisticcharacters。
　　2。1Similarorigins
　　Proverbsareconcise，vividandcommonshortsentenceswhichbeusedandpassedonorally。Theyarethesummingupoftheexperienceintheproductionstruggleandthesociallifeandthecrystalofwisdom。〔4〕AnEnglishproverbitselftellsusthatProverbsarethedaughterofexperience。FromthesewecanfindthatEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigin：theybothoriginatefrompeople’sdailylifeandexperience。Specificallyspeaking，theybothcomefromfolklife，mythology，literaryworksandfromotherlanguages。
　　2。1。1Originatingfromfolklife
　　Proverbsarethesummaryofpeople’sdailylifeandexperience，andcloselyrelatedtothepracticeofpeople’slifeandwork，revealingauniversaltruthfromdetailssoastoenlightenpeople。Therearemanyproverbsoriginatedfromfolklife。Theyarecreatedbyworkingpeople，suchasfarmers，workmen，hunters，businessmen，armymenandsoon。Theyusefamiliartermsthatwereassociatedwiththeirownfields。E。g。：
　　Farmerscreatedthefollowingproverbs：
　　（1）Makehaywhilethesunshines。
　　（2）Aprilrainyforcorn，Mayforgrass。
　　（3）肥不过春雨，瘦不过秋霜。
　　（4）春天不忙，秋后无粮。
　　Workmencreatedthefollowingproverbs：
　　（5）Strikewhiletheironishot。
　　（6）Agoodanvildoesnotfearthehammer。
　　（7）木匠怕漆匠，漆匠怕光亮。
　　Hunterscreatedthefollowingproverbs：
　　（8）Hethatisafraidofeverybushwillneverproveagoodhuntsman。
　　（9）上山打虎心要狠，下海提龙心要齐。
　　Businessmencreatedthefollowingproverbs：
　　（10）Youpayyourmoneyandtakeyourchoice。
　　（1
　　1）货有高低三等价，客无远近一样待。
　　Armymencreatedthefollowingproverbs：
　　（1
　　2）Agoodgeneralmakegoodmen。
　　（1
　　3）养兵千日，用在一时。
　　Thesewerefirstusedbyalimitedgroupofpeopleinthesamefields。Becausetheyarephilosophicalcolloquialism，latertheygraduallygainedwideacceptanceandpartlybecamepartofthecommoncornoflanguageandarenowusedinmanyothersituations。
　　Eachnationhasitsownmythology，fableandallusion。Chinesetraditionalculture，ancientGreekandRomancivilizationbequeathmanymythologiesandallusions。Theybecomeoneofthemajorsourcesofproverbs。ThestoriesandheroesinGreekMythology，TheFableofAesopandTheHomerleftalotofproverbs。E。g。：
　　（1
　　4）IfeartheGreeks，evenwhenbringinggifts。（FromthewellknownstoryoftheTrojanhorsebywhichtheGreekstookthecityofTroy。）
　　（1
　　5）YoucannotmakeaMercuryofeverydog。（FromRomanMythology。Itmeansthatnoteverymindwillanswerequallywelltobetrainedintoascholar）。
　　（1
　　6）Thefoxsaidthegrapesweresour。（FromTheFablesofAesop。Itmeansthatonesaidsomethingisbadwhenonecannotgetit。）
　　Chineseculturecantracebacktoancienttimes。Thereweremanynaturalphenomenonsandourancestorcan’texplainthesephenomenons。Theycreatedthemythologyandfabletoexplainthephenomenon。SomanyChineseproverbscomefrommythologyandfable。E。g。：
　　（1
　　7）八仙过海，各显神通。（from《八仙过海》）
　　（1
　　8）过着牛郎织女的生活。（fromafolklegend）
　　2。1。3Originatingfromliteraryworks
　　ManyEnglishandChineseproverbscomefromliteraryworks。Anation’sliterarylanguagesareitslanguage’sginger。Theypromotethedevelopmentoflanguage。Someofbrilliantsentences，plotandhero’snameinliteraryworksbecomeproverbs。〔5〕
　　Therearemanygreatwritersinwesternsociety，suchasShakespeare，FrancisBacon，JohnMiltonandsoon。TheyhadmadedistinctivecontributionstothedevelopmentofEnglishliterature。TheirworkswereacceptedandpassedonbyEnglishpeoplefromgenerationtogeneration。ManysentencesbecometheEnglishproverbs。
　　Shakespeare’sworksarethemostcolorfulliteratureoriginofproverbs。ManyEnglishproverbsarefromtheworksofShakespeare。E。g。：
　　（1
　　9）Thebiterissometimesbit。isfromShakespeare’sHamlet。Ittellspeoplethatthosewhodobadthingstootherswillbringthemselvestrouble。
　　（20）Allisnotgoldthatglitters。isfromShakespeare’sTheMerchantsofVenice。Itmeansthatthosewhohaveagoodappearancearenotnecessarilyprofoundorlearned。ManyChineseproverbsarefromclassicChineseliteraryworks。Thefourgreatworks：ThePilgrimagetotheWest，TheThreeKingdoms，ADreamofRedMansionsandTheMarshRebellionarethemostpopularclassicsinChina。Suchas：
　　（2
　　3）温故而知新。（Bystudyingtheoldonelearnssomethingnew）《论语》（SelectedReading）
　　（2
　　4）三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮。（ThreecobblerswiththeirwitscombinedequalZhugeLiangthemasterthewisdomofthemassesexceedsthatofthewisestinpidual。）《三国演义》（TheThreeKingdoms）
　　（2
　　5）三十六计，走为上计。（Ofthethirtysixstratagems，thebestisrunningaway。）《水浒传》（TheMarshRebellion）
　　（2
　　6）谋事在人，成事在天。（Manproposes；Goddisposes。）《红楼梦》（ADreamofRedMansions）
　　（2
　　7）说曹操，曹操到。（Talkofthedevilandheissuretoappear。）《三国演义》（TheThreeKingdoms）
　　Literature，asamirrorofsociallife，isanothersourceofproverbs。Manysentencesintheseliteraryworksarefullofwisdomandeasytoberemembered，sopeoplelikethemandusethemagainandagain。Atlast，theybecometheproverbsandarewidelyused。Wecansaythatproverbsarethecreamoftheliteraryworks。
　　2。1。4Originatingfromotherlanguages
　　Withthecommunicationofworld，nation’sboundaryisbeingbroken。Moreandmorelanguagescontactedwitheachother。Becauseofthegeographyandhistory，Englishwasinfluencedandimpactedbyotherlanguagesinitsdevelopmentprocess。SoEnglishhaveabsorbedagreatnumberofexpressionsofothernation’sculture。Sodoproverbs。ManyEnglishproverbsarefromLatin，Greek，FrenchandChinese。Asthereasonofhistory，mostoftheseloanedproverbsweretransferredintoEnglishandsomemaintaintheoriginallanguages。
　　ManyEnglishproverbsoriginatefromLatin。E。g。：
　　（2
　　8）Artislong，lifeisshort。
　　（2
　　9）Thewishisfathertothethought。
　　SomeLatinproverbsaretransferredintoEnglish。ForexampleEnglishpeoplehavegot
　　（30）Soonripe，soonrottenfromCitomaturumcitoputridum。
　　ManyEnglishproverbscomefromFrench。Forexample，Englishpeoplehavegot
　　（3
　　1）Whenthefoxpreaches，takecareoffyourgeesefromQuandlerenardsemetaprecher，gardeauxpoules。
　　Englishproverbsalsocomefromforeignwriters’works。Forexample，
　　（3
　　2）Constantdrippingwearsawaythestone。isfromRomanpoetOvid。
　　Chinesepeoplehavealsogotsomeproverbsfromotherlanguages。Suchas
　　（3
　　3）吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸isfromThegrapesaresour。
　　（3
　　4）谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好isfromHewholaughslastlaughsbest。
　　（3
　　5）条条大路通罗马isfromAllroadsleadtoRome。
　　ThesehavebeenacceptedbyChinesepeopleandbecomeChineseproverbs。
　　FromabovewecanfindoutthatEnglishandChineseproverbshavesimilaroriginsfromfolklife，mythology，literaryworksandfromotherlanguages。FromthesesimilaroriginswecanseethatEnglishandChinesepeoplehavesimilarsocialactivitiesandemotionalreflectionandobservationoftheworld。
　　2。2Similarlinguisticcharacters
　　Proverbsarecreatedbycommonpeopleandorallyhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationagainandagain。EnglishandChineseproverbsareconciseandvivid。
　　2。2。1Conciseness
　　Thecleanestwaterisspring；themostrefinedwordsareproverbs。Proverbdictionisneatandsimple。Proverbsusethefewestwordstoexpressthecontents。Theyareconcise，condensedandcompact。MostofEnglishandChineseproverbsaresimplesentences。E。g。：
　　（3
　　6）Easycomeeasygo。
　　（3
　　7）Nopainsnogains。
　　（3
　　8）人勤地不懒。
　　（3
　　9）人心齐泰山移。
　　Proverbsaresimpleandshortsentences，sotheycanberememberedandhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration。
　　2。2。2Vividness
　　Proverbsuserhetoricaldevicestoattractthereadersdeeply。ManyChineseandEnglishproverbsusethesamerhetoricaldevicessuchassimile，metaphor，repetitionandhyperbole，etc。
　　Simileisusedveryfrequently。Itisafigureofspeech，inwhichamoreorlessfancifulorunrealisticcomparisonismade，usinglikeoras。〔6〕Herearesomeexamples：
　　（40）割麦如救火。
　　（4
　　1）剩秧如剩草，缺秧如缺宝。
　　（4
　　2）Agoodfriendisasthesuninwinter。
　　（4
　　3）Ablackplumisassweetasawhite。
　　Metaphorisafigureofspeech，whichconciselycomparestwothingsbysayingthatoneistheother。〔7〕Itdoesnotliterallydenoteinordertoimplyaresemblance。E。g。：
　　（4
　　4）Timeisfatheroftruth。
　　（4
　　5）Failureisthemotherofsuccess。
　　（4
　　6）一寸光阴一寸金。
　　（4
　　7）谎言怕真理，黑暗怕阳光。
　　Repetitionisanotherrhetoricaldeviceusedtoexpressstrongfeelingsoremphasizesomemeanings。E。g。：
　　（4
　　8）哪个老虎不吃人，哪个地主不狠心。
　　（4
　　9）Manylords，manylaws。
　　Gorkysaidthat，Thetrueartisauthorizedtoexaggerate。Hyperboleisanexaggerationusedtogiveemphasisandstrikethereadersdeeply。E。g。：
　　（50）Athousandyearscannotrepairamoment’slossofhonor。
　　（5
　　1）谷子栽得稀，不够喂小鸡。
　　Theexaggerationisnotfalse。Itcomesfromthetruefeelingsandbasesonreality。〔8〕
　　Apartfromtheaboverhetoricaldevices，thereareotherdevices。TheyareAntithesis，Synecdoche，Personification，etc。
　　Theuseofrhetoricaldevicesmakesproverbsfresh，humorous，implicitandfullofwit。
　　ThoughEnglishandChineseproverbsenjoythesimilarorigins，theyalsohavedifferencesinthEirdetailedcontents。WewilldiscussthEIrdifferencesfromthefollowingaspects：differentgeography；differenthistorycustoms；differentreligionsanddifferentvalueconcepts。
　　3。DifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs
　　Languageisstronglyinfluencedandshapedbyculture。Languageisthemirrorofculture。Itcanrepresenteveryaspectofculture。〔9〕Proverbisanimportantpartofanationallanguageandtheyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage。Differentnationshavedifferentculture。Generallyspeaking，themajordifferenceslieingeography；historycustoms；religionsandvalueconcepts。Asaresult，EnglishandChineseproverbsaredifferentinthedetailedcontents。
　　3。1Reflectingdifferentgeography
　　Anation’sgeographicalenvironmentisaframeworkinwhichalanguageandculturehavebeendeveloping。Thegeographicalfeaturesofacountryareinevitablyreflectedinthenationallanguageingeneralandproverbsinparticular。〔10〕
　　EnglandisanislandcountryandlocatedinthewesternseasideofEurope。Englishpeoplelivebyseasideandtheirlifecannotdowithoutsailingandfishing。SomanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedtoseaandsailing。E。g。：
　　（5
　　2）Thebestfishsmellwhentheyarethreedaysold。
　　（5
　　3）Allatsea。
　　（5
　　4）Beingonthesea，sail；beingontheland，settle。
　　（5
　　5）Letanother’sshipwreckbeyournavigationmark。
　　Chinaisanagriculturecountry。Everyfeudaldynastypaysmuchattentiontoagriculture。Agricultureisthefundamentalandcrucialtrade。Sotherearemanyfarmingproverbsaboutagriculture。FarmingproverbsconstitutealargepartofChineseproverbs。TheyarethecrystalofagricultureexperiencesofChinesepeople。Itcanbeseeninthefollowingexamples：
　　（5
　　6）春雨贵如油。（Rainduringspringtimeispreciousasoil。）
　　（5
　　7）种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。（Asapansows，soshallhereap。）
　　（5
　　8）人勤地不懒。（Ifmanisdiligent，soilisnotidle。）
　　（5
　　9）瑞雪兆丰年。（Asnowyear，arichyear。）
　　（60）一粒下地，万粒归仓。（Fromonegrainsownintotheearth，onethousandgrainswillspring。）
　　（6
　　1）前人种树，后人乘凉。（Ancestorsplanttreeswhiledescendantsenjoythecoolunderthetreeshadeenjoyingthefruitsoflaborofone’sancestors。）
　　Fromabove，wecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflecttheirdifferentgeographicalconditions。Englandisanislandcountry，somanyEnglishproverbsareaboutsea，fish，shipandsoon。WhilemanyChineseproverbsareaboutagriculture，suchas豆，雪，仓，地，etc。
　　3。2Reflectingdifferenthistorycustoms
　　Eachnationhasitsownhistory。Sinceproverbsarehistoricalproducts，theymayreflectsomeaspectsofthenationalhistory。
　　EnglishproverbsarerelatedtothehistoryofEngland。E。g。：
　　（6
　　2）Itisashardtopleaseaknaveasaknight。AknightreferstoamangiventherankofknighthoodbytheBritishmonarch。TherearemanylegendsabouttheEnglishknights（e。g。：KingArthurandhisgreenknights）intheancienttimes；and
　　（6
　　3）Fromwhippingposttopillory。Awhippingpostisaposttowhichapersonwastiedforapublicwhippingandapilloryisawoodenframeworkwiththreeholesintowhichtheheadandhandsofanoffenderwereloked，exposinghimtopublicabuseandridicule。〔11〕
　　Chinahasalonghistory。Thereisthousandsofyears’feudalsocietyinChina。Peoplewerebondedbytherankofclass。Therulersexploitandbullythepeoplecruelty。TherearemanyChineseproverbsaboutfeudalandgenderdiscrimination。E。g。：
　　（6
　　4）只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。（Themagistratesarefreetoburndownhouses，whilethecommonpeopleareforbiddeneventolightlamps。Thepowerfulcandowhattheywant，theweakarenotallowedtodoanything。）
　　（6
　　5）朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。（Behindthereddoorsmeatandwinegotowastewhileoutontheroadsliethebonesofthefrozen。）
　　（6
　　6）嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗。（Marryacockandfollowthecock，marryadogandfollowthedog。Followthemanyoumarry，behefowlorcur。）〔12〕
　　FromabovewecanseethatEnglishandChineseproverbsreflectthedifferenthistory。EnglishproverbsarerelatedtokingandknightwhileChineseproverbsreflecttheChinesepeople’sgrudgeandresistancetorulers。
　　3。3Reflectingdifferentreligions
　　Religionisaveryimportantpartofculture。Differentreligionsreflectdifferentculturalcharacters，differentculturalbackgroundsanddifferentculturaltraditions。Religionisaculturalphenomenon。Proverbsarecloselyrelatedtotheculture，soproverbscanreflectthedifferentreligiousfaith。〔13〕
　　EnglishpeoplebelieveinChristianityanditisthemostinfluentialreligioninthewest。ManyEnglishproverbsreflectEnglishpeople’sreligiousfaithandmanyofthemareaboutGod，devil，heaven，church，crossandhell。E。g。：
　　（6
　　7）Aspoorasthechurchmouse。
　　（6
　　8）Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves。
　　（6
　　9）ThedevilcanciteScriptureforhispurpose。
　　（70）Bettergotoheaveninragsthantohellinembroidering。
　　（7
　　1）ThewaytoheavenisbyWeepingCross。
　　TheproverbsaboveareapparentlyrelatedtoChristianity，becauseinthemGod，devil，heaven，church，crossandhellappearwhicharetheembodimentsofChristianity。
　　Incontrast，BuddhismisthemostpopularreligioninChina。ManyproverbsareaboutBuddhismsuchas：
　　（7
　　2）平时不烧香，临时抱佛脚。（Neverburningincensewhenalliswell，butclaspingBuddha’sfeetinanemergency。）
　　（7
　　3）跑得了和尚，跑不了庙。（Themonkmayrunaway，butthetemplecan’trunwithhim。Afugitivemustbelongtosomeplacethatcanprovideclues。）
　　（7
　　4）泥菩萨过河，自身难保。（Likeaclayidolfordingariverhardlyabletosaveone。）
　　（7
　　5）放下屠刀，立地成佛。（ThebutcherwholaysdownhisknifeatoncebecomesaBuddha。）
　　Theseproverbsareabout佛，和尚，庙and菩萨。ThedoctrinesofBuddhistadmonishpeopletodogooddeedsandsotheycangototheheavenaftertheirdeath。TaoismcomesnexttoBuddhisminChina。ThereareproverbsaboutTaoismsuchas
　　（7
　　6）一人得道，鸡犬升天。
　　（7
　　7）道高一尺，魔高一丈，etc。
　　EnglishandChinesepeoplehavedifferentreligiousfaith。DifferentreligionsleadtothedifferencesbetweenEnglishandChineseproverbs。ChristianityisthemainreligioninEnglishspeakingcountries，somanyEnglishproverbsarerelatedtoGod。WhileChinesepeoplebelievedinBuddhismandTaoism，somanyChineseproverbsareabout佛and道。
　　3。4Reflectingdifferentvalueconcepts
　　ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternvalueconceptsmainlylieininpidualismandcollective。
　　Westernersbelievethateverymanisequal。Theyaspiretofreedomandequality。ManyEnglishproverbsshowAmerican’sadvocatingoffreedomandinpidualism。E。g。：
　　（7
　　8）Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves。
　　（7
　　9）Hehelpslittlethathelpsnothimself。
　　Thesetwoproverbsillustratetheinpidualrole。Thewordsthemselvesandhimselfshowthatindependenceplaysanimportantroleintheirlife。
　　（80）Everymanisthearchitectofhisownfortune。
　　（8
　　1）Ifyouwantathingwelldone，doityourself。
　　Thesetwoproverbsattachimportancetoindependenceandselfreliance。Selfrelianceimpelspeopletocreateopportunities，seekcompetitionandbereadyforrisks。
　　（8
　　2）Itisthesqueakywheelthatgetstheoil。givesprominencetotheinpidualism。
　　（8
　　3）Everymanafterhisfashion。laysstressoninpidualdifferences。
　　Onthecontrary，Chinesepeopletakemodestyasvirtue。Theyrespecttheoldandtakegoodcareoftheyoung。Theircharacteristicsarejusticeandhumanity，modestyandlove。〔14〕Chinesepeoplepaymuchattentiontocollectivismandthinkhighlyoftheroleofgroups。Theylaystressonhelpeachotherandrelianceeachother。Theyalsopayattentiontotheharmonioushumanrelationshipandtheytrytosavetheotherside’sface。ManyChineseproverbsreflectthistrend。〔15〕E。g。：
　　（8
　　4）孤树结成林不怕风吹，滴水集成海不怕日晒。showsthestrengthofcollectiveorunion。
　　（8
　　5）四海之内皆兄弟。reflectstheimportanceofmutualhelpandreliance。
　　（8
　　6）相互协助事好办，各自揣私心事难成。laysstressontheharmonioushumanrelationship。
　　（8
　　7）忍一时风平浪静，退一步海阔天空。suggeststhatpeopleshouldsavetheotherside’sface。
　　Thereareexceptionsthatareoppositetothemainstream。SomeEnglishproverbsalsoreflecttheimportanceofcollectivism。Forexample，
　　（8
　　8）makeyourselfnecessarytosomeone。Chinesetraditionalvalueconcepthasbeengreatlyimpactedwiththeinputofinpidualism。
　　（8
　　9）一个和尚挑水吃；两个和尚抬水吃；三个和尚没水吃iscontrarytoChinesecollectivetendency。Inspiteoftheseexceptions，theirmainstreamsarenotchanged。
　　EnglishandChineseproverbshavemanysimilaritiesanddifferences。Withthecommunicationofworldculture，proverbswillbreaktheboundaryofstatesandnations，promotetheculturalconvergenceandachieveinterfusion。EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly。
　　4。Permeationandinterfusion
　　Withtheprogressofscienceandtechnology，thedevelopmentofsocietyanddisseminationofinformation，thecommunicationandcooperationamongcountriesareexpanding。Thecontactamongstatesandnationsismoreandmorefrequent。Differentnationalculturesarepermeatingandinterfusing。Languageisthecarrierofculture。Culturalconvergenceisdirectlyreflectedintheintegrationoflanguage，atthesametimetheinterfusionandchangingoflanguagereflectandrecordtheevolutionofculturalconvergence。〔16〕Proverbisthecrystaloflanguage。Ithasnoexception。
　　ThecommunicationbetweenChineseandWesterncultureismoreandmorefrequent。Thesetwoculturesaffectandpermeatemutually。EnglishabsorbmanyChinesewords，andagreatnumberofEnglishwordsalsoenterintheChineseculture。Forexample：
　　（90）以眼还眼，以牙还牙isfromAneyeforaneye，atoothforatooth。
　　（9
　　1）谁笑到最后，谁笑得最好isfromHewholaughslastlaughsbest。
　　（9
　　2）吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸isfromSourgrapesandsoon。
　　（9
　　3）Distantwatercannotquenchafirenearbyisfrom远水解不了近火
　　（9
　　4）Don’tclimbatreetolookforfish。isfrom勿缘木求鱼。
　　（9
　　5）Takeawayfuel，takeawayflame。isfrom扬汤止沸，不如釜底抽薪。
　　（9
　　6）Thetruthbyincessantendeavors。isfrom愚者千虑，必有一得。《史记》（RecordsoftheHistorian）
　　（9
　　7）Betterreturnhomeandmakeanetthanlongforfishbythewaterside。isfrom临渊而捕鱼，不如退而结网。《汉书》（HistoryoftheHanDynasty）
　　FromaboveproverbswecanseethatmanyChineseproverbsbecomeEnglishproverbsandChinesepeoplealsoacceptalotofEnglishproverbs。EnglishandChineseproverbsarepermeatingandinterfusingeachotherconstantly。
　　5。Conclusion
　　Proverbsarethecreamofalanguage。Theyarecloselyrelatedtoanation’scultureandenjoygreatculturalvalues。Theyreflecttherelationbetweencultureandlanguage。Eachnationhasitsowngeography，history，religionandsocialattitude。Becauseoftheculturalgeneralitiesanddifferences，EnglishandChineseproverbshavetheirsimilaritiesanddifferences。Theyarepermeatingandinterfusingeachother。Soacomparativestudyofthemcanhelpustolearnalanguagewellandunderstandthetruemeaningofother’swordincrossculturecommunication。
　　References
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　　〔7〕同〔8〕。P374
　　〔8〕同〔2〕。P54
　　〔9〕同〔3〕。P19
　　〔10〕同〔3〕。P192
　　〔11〕同〔3〕。P198199〔13〕同〔5〕。P107〔15〕李彩歌，张华明。谈谈英汉谚语的文化取向〔J〕。安阳师范学院学报，2002。4。P60