中西方婚礼差异对比-英语论文

成都成都大学毕业论文PAGEPAGE1AComparisonoftheWeddingCulturebetweenChinaandWesternCountriesinModernTimesIntroductionThe21stcenturyisdominatedbyscienceandtechnology,whichmakesthewholeworlddevelopquiterapidly.Withtheconstantlyincreasingeconomicglobalizationandinternationalexchange,theculturesofdifferentregionsaregraduallyspreadandfused,suchastheweddingculturesofChinaandWesternCountries.ItisclearthatChineseweddingandWesternweddingdifferfromeachotherinmanyaspects:custom,ceremonyprocedures,stylesanddress,marriagemediaandplace.ThisthesisdiscussesthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternweddingcultures.ItisextremelyimportanttounderstandthedifferentculturesbetweenChinaandWesterncountries,whichwillhelpustocorrectlyunderstandthewordsanddeedsofWesternersintheinterculturalcommunication,fullyunderstandeachother,andrespecteachother'scustomssoastogetthebesteffectofcommunication.1.ChineseandWesternDifferentWeddingCultures1.1Custom1.1.1ThreePapersandSixEtiquettesAccordingtoChineseweddingcustoms,thefirstetiquetteisThreePapersandSixEtiquettes,whichisasimportantastheengagementatWesternwedding.

ThreePapersconsistsofthepaperofengagement,thelistpaperofthepresentstothebride’sandthepaperoffetchingthebride.Theyaregoingtobeusedonthedayofengagement,thebridegroom’sgivingthepresentsofmarriagetothebride’sandgoingandfetchingthebride.SixEtiquettesincludesaskingforengagement,askingforthenameandbirthsofthenewlyweds,showingsomepresentsforengagementtothebride’s,givingthepresentsofmarriagetothebride’s,choosingagooddatefortheweddingandgoingandfetchingthebrideonthedayofthewedding.Alltheseetiquettesmustbecompletelyinproperorderbeforethewedding,andthentheformalweddingcanbeheld.

1.1.2EngagementInWesterncountries,peoplealwaysengagefirstandthentheycanholdtheformalwedding.Manyetiquettesandsymbolsneedtobepaidmuchattentionto,especiallythediamondringattheengagementceremony.Diamondisconsideredasthebestsymbolofforeverlove.Thediamondisproducedbyheatenergyandpress,whichmakesitthehardestmaterialdiscoveredbyhumanbeingssofar.Thus,thebridegroommustsendadiamondringtohisbridetoshowhispromiseofforeverunchangedloveattheirengagementceremony.

1.1.3OtherEtiquettesandCustomsEtiquettesandCustomsattheChineseWeddingInChina,theparentsalwayspreparesomedowryfortheirdaughter.Thedowrymeansagoodwishfortheirrichandnicelife.Atthebridegroom’shome,therearealsomanythingstobeprepared.Atthesametimethebridegroommustpreparesomemoneypackagedinredpaperbagstothanksomepeopleonthedayofthewedding,suchashisbride’sbrotherandpeoplewhohelpedhim.Peoplethinkthemoneyinaredpaperbagfromthebridegroomwillbringthemgoodluckandnicelife.

EtiquettesandCustomsattheWesternWedding“SomethingOld,SomethingNew,SomethingBorrowed,SomethingBlue,andaSilverSixpenceinHerShoe”.

Eachiteminthispoemrepresentsagood-lucktakenforthebride.Ifshecarriesallofthemonherweddingday,hermarriagewillbehappy.

“Somethingold”symbolizescontinuitywiththebride'sfamilyandthepast.

“Somethingnew”meansoptimismandhopeforthebride'snewlifeahead.

“Somethingborrowed”isusuallyanitemfromahappilymarriedfriendorfamilymember,whosegoodfortuneinmarriageissupposedtocarryovertothenewbride.Theborroweditemalsoremindsthebridethatshecandependonherfriendsandfamily.“SomethingBlue”datesfromtheancientRometime,bridesworebluetosymbolizelove,modesty,andfidelity,asevidencedinproverbslike

“Marryinblue,loverbetrue”.Andfinally,asilversixpencedatesbacktoaScottishcustomsofagroomputtingasilvercoinunderhisfootforgoodluck,todayitrepresentswealthandfinancialsecurity.1.1.4TaboosattheChineseWeddingOnthedayofthewedding,peoplecan’tsaybadwords.Peoplesayitwillbringsomethingbadiftheydon’tfollowthecustoms.Everythingpreparedfortheweddingmustbeinpairs.Whenthebridearrivesatthebridegroom’s,shecan’ttouchthethresholdwhenshegoesacross,orshewillbringbadluck.

Thepregnantwomenandthewomenwholoseaparentorherhusbandrecentlycan’tattendthewedding,andtheycannottouchthebride’snewclothesandalloftheitemsinthebridalchamber.Iftheydidthis,shehadtocrawlthroughthenewcouple’sunmarriedbrother’slegsbeforeshecangoout.

TaboosattheWesternWeddingTherearealsomanytaboosattheWesternwedding,especiallyconcerningthebride’sweddingdress.Whiteweddingdressmustnotbematchedwithredshoes,becauseredshoesmeanstojumpintothefirepit.Redflower,redbeltandotherredthingsmustn’tbematchedwithwhitedress,either,sincewhitesymbolizespurewhileredistheopposite.Whiteweddingdressshouldmatchwhite,goldenorsilvershoes.

Thebridemustcoverherfacewithaveilattheceremony,foritisnotonlyadecorationbutalsorepresentingadividingline,anditcan’tbeexposedbyotherpeopleexceptthebridegroom.

Thebridegroomalwaysstandsontherightofhisbride,inordertoavoidothersfromgrabbinghisbrideaway.Whenthenewcouplegoesbacktotheirbridalchamber,thebridegroommusthugthebrideintothehouseandputheronthebed,avoidinghergettingintothehousewithherleftfootfirst,fortheythinkthatmaybringbadlucktothenewfamily.1.2CeremonyProceduresCeremonyProceduresattheChineseWeddingThereisacertainorderinChinesewedding.Generallyspeaking,thewholeprocessoftheweddingincludesaseriesofdetails.(1)GoingandFetchingtheBride

Onthedayoftheformalwedding,thebrideisdressedupbytheeldersatherhome,waitingforthebridegroom.Whenthebridegroommeetshisbride,theyaretosaygoodbyetothebride‘sfamilymembersafterworshippingthebride’sancestors.Theybowdownbeforeherparents,afterwhichthenewlywedscansetoffafterthebride’smotherdrapeskerchiefoverforher.(2)PerformingtheFormalWeddingCeremony

InChina,peoplewillselectagooddateverycarefullyforabigevent,especiallyforone’smarriageordeath,fortherearemanytaboostoavoidandtheythinkagooddatemaybringgoodluck.Usually,theyconsultprofessionalMr.Fengshui(Theonewhostudiesthegeomanticomenprofessionally)foradvice.PeoplepastecongratulatorycoupletsandlargeredChinesecharacteronthedoorframesandwalls.Andtheyalsolayoutredblanketontheground.Thebrideandbridegroomwillbeledacrosstheredblanket,thecolorfulpaperstripsandonekindofspraystuffwillbesettingoffabovethenewcouple’sheads.Theywalkshoulderbyshouldertothefrontoftheirparentswhohavealreadysatinarowofchairsattheendoftheblanket.Theybowdownbeforetheirparentsthreetimes,andthentheybowtoeachotherthreetimes,too.Afterthattheyformallybecomeacouple.

(3)DisturbingtheNuptialAftertheweddingfeast,someoftheirclosefriendswillplantomakefunofthenewcoupleintheirbridalchamber,andusuallytheyplaygames.Thenewcouplecan’thavearestuntilallthefriendsstoptoleft,andthewholeweddingends.

(4)GoingbacktotheBride’sThreeDaysLatter

Onthethirddayafterthemarriage,thebridemustgobacktoherparentswithherhusbandwithroastedmeatandsomeothergifts.There,theyworshipherancestorsagain,andtheycanevenstayforaperiodoftimebeforetheyreturntheirownhome.CeremonyProceduresattheWesternWeddingMostWesternersareChristians,soWesternweddingisalwaysheldinthechurch,presidedbythepriest.Onthedayofthewedding,thenewcouple’srelativesandfriendsgatheratthechurchtocelebratetheirweddingandtobethewitnessesoftheirmarriage.

Astheceremonybegins,thebridegroomandhisgroomsmenstandwiththepriest,facingtheaudience.Musicsignalstheentranceofthebridesmaids,followedbythebeautifulbride,andthebridewillbeledintothechurchbyherfather.Thenthepriestwillaskthenewcoupleandallpeopletopresentseveralquestionsonebyone,beginningwiththebridegroom,andthentheygivetheirpromisesofmarriagetoeachother“forbetter,forworse,forricher,forpoorer,insicknessandinhealth.”Afterthattheycanexchangetheirringsandkisseachother.Finally,thepriestwilldeclaretheirmarriage,whichmeanstheendofthewedding.1.3StylesandDressAChineseweddingisaveryspecialoccasionfilledwithbrightredcoloreverywhere.That'sbecauseredrepresentshappinessandprosperity,andalsoitisasymbolofgoodluck,indicatesthedaysaftermarriageisbooming.Westernweddingtrendstoberomantic.Thewholeweddingisfullofromanticatmosphere.Thebrideusuallywearsabeautiful,longwhiteweddingdress,becausewhitemeansjubilationintheWest.Thebridegroomwearsaformalsuitortuxedo.Forexample,intheAndamanIslands,whitewastherepresentativeofthestatuschange.Traditionalwhiteweddingdresswastheprivilegeofnobilityintheearlydays.InLiberiatimes,mostofthebridescanonlywearthetraditionalnationalcostumes,andonlytheupperclasscanwearwhitedressatthewedding,whichwasthesymbolofpowerandidentity.Untilmoderntimes,aftertheprivilegeofnobilitydisappearsthebridecanwearwhiteweddingdressordinarily.1.4MarriageMediaInChinesewedding,matchmakeristhecompereofthewedding.Listeningtomatchmaker’sproposalsistherulethatpeoplemustabideby.Theyusuallywerewomen.Thebrideandbridegroomweredirectedbyhertofinishtheceremony.ButinChristian’sopinions,weddingceremonyisconsideredasanimportantwaytogetgod’ssaveandweddingceremonyisaveryimportantpartofmarriage.Priestplaysanessentialroleinit.Andmarriageisnotvalid,unlesstheceremonyishostedbypriest.1.5PlaceChineseweddingisusuallyheldinthebridegroom'shouse.Thebrideandbridegroomworshiptheheaven,theearth,theirparentsandeachotherinthehallofthehouse.Therelativesandfriendshavedinnerinthecourtyard.MostoftheWesternersareChristiansandtheybelieveinGodandregardhimastheonlymasteroftheuniverse,soWesternweddingtakesplaceinchurch.2.TheReasonsforDifferences2.1SocialSystemsChina'semperorstreatthemselvesastheSonofHeaven,but“Nooneisbornnoble.”AncientChina'spoliticalsystemisCentralizedsystemthattheautocraticcentralizationofpowerasthecore.DespoticcentralizedsysteminChinacontinuities2000years,andithadaprofoundimpactontheChina'sreunificationanddevelopment.WhileintheWest,theemperorandhispeopleareinaccordancewiththesanctityofcontractsunderthenameofGod,andtheemperorinaccordancewithGod'swilltocontrolthecountry.2.2ThoughtPatternsChineseThoughtsChinesepeoplearealwaysmoreconservative,andtheyliketogathertogetherenjoyingthejollificationandtheyhavearelativelyrigidmind.Thusthereisnotmuchchangeintheweddingcustomsinthethousandsofyears’Chinesehistory.Manytraditionalweddingcustomsandetiquettesremainalive.AndtheChinesepeople’scharacteroflovingjollificationisfullymanifestedintheChinesetraditionalcomplicatedweddingceremony.Intheendofthewedding,thecouplewillbedisturbedbyfriendsandfamilyintheirbridalchamber,andpeoplethinkthatthemoreseriousthenewcoupleisdisturbed,thehappiertheywillbeintheirlife.Therefore,theirfriendsandfamilyusevariousmethodstomakethingsdifficultforthebrideandthebridegroom.

Westerner’sThoughts

Westernpeoplearemoreopen-minded,andtheirrequirementfortheweddingisrelativelylower.Theclimaxoftheirweddingisinthechurch.Withthesacred

“WeddingMarch”,thebrideisledbyherfatherwithabouquetofrosesinherhandsteppingontotheredcarpet,walkingslowlytothebridegroom.Thebride'sfatherwillputherdaughter'shandsinthehandofthebridegroom,entrustingherdaughter'slifetohim.Theresoundstheiroathinthesacredchurchandboththebridegroomandthebrideexchangetheirmarriagerings.Afterthepriestdeclaredthemarriage,thebrideandthebridegroommaygototheweddingbanquetortotaketheirhoneymoonwithoutthecomplexetiquettesoftheChinesetraditionalweddings.

2.3ValueOrientationChineseValueOrientationPeople’smarriageisrelativelystablebecauseChinesepeoplealwaysconsidermarriageasoneofthemostimportantthingsinone’slife.Theychooseitcarefully,andoncetheydecidetogetmarrieditwillbenoteasytochange.AndasChinesepeoplealwaysregardmarriageassomethingseriousaswellasmoral;theythinkit’simmoraltodestroyother’smarriage.

Chinesepeople’smarriageismuchmorearationalchoiceanditisdoubtfulhowmuchlovethereisinsucharationalchoiceofmarriage.Therefore,theChinesepeople'smarriageismuchlessromanticthantheWesternpeople’s.Ofcourse,Chinesepeoplehavelove,too.Butthereisnoinevitableconnectionbetweenloveandmarriage.Loveandmarriagearetwoentirelydifferentmatters,Chinesepeoplecanmarrysomeonetheyloveortheydonotlove.Westerner’sValueOrientation

Westernersbelievethatmarriageispurelyaprivatematter,andnoonecaninterfere.Theyhavetherighttochooseafavoritepersontolivetogether,andtheywillhaveasecondchoiceoncetheyfindtheexistingmarriageisamistake.

ItcanbesaidthattheWesterners’marriageisinmoreneedoflove,andloveisthebasisofmarriage.What’swhytherearethecategoriesof

“GoldenMarriage”

,”SilverMarriage”and

"Honeymoon",whichlooksoromantic.IntheWesterncountries,loveisthemostsacredpartofhumanbeing’semotion,whichcanneverbesullied.Andthismakesitassacredandabsoluteasthereligiousidols.Atthesametime,itistheextremeemotionofhumanbeings.That’swhytheymakealifepromisetoeachotherattheweddingandexchangethediamondringstowitnesstheirlove.2.4ReligiousViewsChineseReligionandItsInfluenceontheWeddingCustomsInChina,thetraditionalmoralandreligiousbeliefsarealwaysthemostimportantcornerstoneofmarriageandstablefamily.ThemostpopularreligioninChinaisBuddhismwhoseteachingsgreatlyinfluencepeople’sthought.ThisisreflectedinChinesecustoms,suchastheweddingcustoms.

TheBuddhismteachesthecommonpeopletoenjoyareasonablearrangementofagoodsecularlife,andtobegoodpeople.Forexample,theypreparethingsfortheweddinginpairs,andtheydecoratethewholeweddingwithreditemsthatmeansgoodness.Therefore,Chinesepeoplepaymuchattentiontotheetiquettesatthewedding,theystressmuchandtheyhavemanytaboos.

TheBuddhismalsotellspeopletorespecttheheaven,theearth,theKing,theirparentsandthepersonswhoteachthem,that’swhyChinesepeoplemustbowdownbeforethemattheweddingceremony.

Atthesametime,religionteachespeoplehowtobeagoodwifeorhusband,howtheyshouldrespecttheireldersandgrowtheirkids,andthewayofmakingaharmonymarriage.Thus,Chinesepeoplealwaystreatmarriageasoneofthemostimportantthingsinone’slife,andtheycankeepasteadyfamily.

WesternReligionandItsInfluenceontheWeddingCustoms

MostoftheWesternersareChristians,theybelieveinGodastheonlymasteroftheuniverse.Christianspayseriousattentiontomarriage.AccordingtotheBible,theChristianshavetwoviews:firstly,marriageissacred,becausetheoriginofmarriageisthecreationofgodhimself;secondly,marriageshouldinsistontheprincipleofmonogamy,that’swhyGodcreatedEveforAdam.Christianstraditionallybelievethatthepremiseofdivorceisoneofthecouplecommittedthecrimesoflasciviousoroneleavevoluntarilyfordifferentbelieves,mentionedintheBible.3.TheMeasuresofblendingChineseandWesternWeddingCultures3.1ChangingTeachers’WayofThinkingandImprovingTeachingMethodsInChina'scurrenteducationsystem,foreignlanguageteachinghasonlybeencarriedoutintheclassroomandteachersplayaleadingrole.Iftheteacherswillonlyfocusongrammarandvocabularyteaching,thestudentscannotlearnthepracticalapplicationoflanguage,butlackofcross-culturalcommunicationcapabilities.Therefore,teachersmustbetaughttochangetheirconcepts,practicalunderstandingoftheimportanceofcross-culturalcommunicativecompetence.Foralongtime,theteachingofEnglishinuniversitiesareplacedemphasisonteachingknowledgeofthelanguageattheexpenseofcross-culturalcommunicationabilities.Inordertochangethissituation,wemustimproveteachingmethods,bothintheaspectsofquantitativeandqualitativetocontrolthecultureofteachinginclassroom,andtomakefulluseofmodernteachingmethodstomobilizetheenthusiasmofstudents,teachercanletstudentstoplaythebridegroomandthebrideintheweddingceremony.Inaddition,wemustmakethenewcontentandlanguageknowledgeinclosecontact,andcommunicationpracticemustbecloselyintegratedwiththelanguage.3.2EmphasizingonNon-verbalCommunicationAbilityNon-verbalcommunicationisalsoanimportantmeansofcommunication,referringtoaparticularcontextofusingofnon-verbalbehaviorintheprocessofinformationexchangeandunderstandingtheknowledge.Theyarenotreallytheunitsoflanguage,butsometimesitwasabletomakepeoplecommunicatebetterinculturethanthelanguageitself.Somespecificnon-verbalbehavioroftenrepresentsaspecificmeaning,whichmustpayattentiontocross-culturalcommunication.Toknowmoreaboutnon-verbalbehaviorisgoodforunderstandingtheweddingcultures,suchastheceremonyprocedures.3.3ExtensiveContactwithWesternCultureMaterialsPeopleshouldmakegooduseoftheirleisuretimereadingtheWestEnglishliteraryworks,newspapers,magazinesandcurrentaffairscommentsandothermaterialstolearnweddingcultureandimprovecross-culturalcommunicativecompetence.Inaddition,peoplecangototheEnglishcornertodiscusstheweddingculture.ConclusionMarriageisanimportantpartofsociallife,wecanmakethewedding