Abstract

With the frequent cross-cultural communication, grasping the cultural connotations of languages has played an important role in the cross-cultural communication. Taboo words are very important for us when we are doing cross-culture communication. To understand the differences of taboo words can help us to understand the culture of Western and Chinese and it would help us to communicate in a better way. This paper studies the trend of Chinese and western taboos, the similarities and differences in both English and Chinese taboo language, and the points to be noticed in international communication.

Key words: taboo, cross-culture communication, difference, similar view points, comparison

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction-

2. The Research Status of China and Abroad-

3. The Definition of Taboo Language-

4. The Similarities between Chinese and Western Taboo Words-2

4.1 The taboo of holy spirits and the saints-

4.2 The taboo of birth; old ; sick and death-

4.3 The taboo of “sounds like”-

4.4 The taboo of race-

4.5 Taboo of gender-

4.6 Taboo of having sex-5

5. The Differences between Chinese and Western Taboo Words-

5.1 The taboo of number-

5.2 Taboo of animals-6

5.3 Taboo of appellation-

5.4 Taboo of color-7

5.5 Taboo of somebody’s shape-7

5.6 Taboo of privacy-7

6. Ways to Avoid Using Taboo Words in Cross-culture Communication-8

6.1 Mastering the difference between Chinese and western taboo words.-8

6.2 Mastering the euphemism both of Chinese and Western taboo words.-8

7. The Error of Communicating Cause by Misusing The Taboo Words-9

8. Conclusion-10

Works Cited-