小学英语文化因素教学与交际能力的培养(2)(2)
Student: --- You’d better explain it to me again. I don’t understand the sentence.
Teacher: --- Of course, I can.
Teacher: --- Excuse me, could you fetch me some chalk?
Student: --- I am glad to.
禁忌语。在西方国家,尤其是信仰基督教的国家,人们把“十三”和“星期五”都看作不吉利的,认为是大祸临头的象征,会给人们带来灾难。日常生活中,人们都竭力回避“十三”这个数字。如门牌号、旅馆房间号、座位号、餐桌号等很少有“十三”号的。再比如,在第四册U2课有一段对话,一中国学生问一外国妇人: How old are you? 老妇人并没直接回答,而是委婉地说: It’s a secret. 原来,英美人都很重视privacy(隐私),在日常生活交往中,对于个人隐私问题应回避,否则,会引起对方的反感、误解。询问这些是对他们的不尊重、不礼貌的语言行为。诸如:婚姻、年龄、收入、宗教信仰等均属个人隐私。所以,应避免直接提这些personal questions: Whats your name? How old are you? Are you married? How much do you earn? How many children do you have?
英汉文化在某些句式方面的差异。汉语多从正面入手,而English/" class=kk>英语却从反面入手,尤其是在征求对方意见或称赞的场合。所以,许多学生对于Negative response不习惯。例如:Do you think so? 这句话并无语法错误,但却不符和English/" class=kk>英语习惯,是汉语话式的句子;英语习惯表达方式应为:Dont you think so? 其他如:Don’t you see? Don’t you agree with me? Isn’t she lovely? 等均是从反面入手,而不是从正面入手说成:Do you see? Is she lovely? 即使从正面入手也往往在句尾加一反问的尾巴,用反句形式,如:A fine day, isn’t it? You like coffee, don’t you? --- It’s a lively day, isn’t it? --- Yes, isn’t it?