数字是一种语言符号，也是一种社会符号。通过进一步挖掘深度意思，它还是一种文化符号。数字体现了一个民族心理和传统等的独特特征。数字崇拜体现为两个方面：数字禁忌和数字崇拜。它们能够反映不同民族的文化差异。
Numerals are linguistic and social symbols. To dig it further, they are cultural symbols as well. Numericals reflect distinctive features of a nation’s psychology, traditions, ect.. Numerical worship can be divided into numerical taboos and preferences, which demonstrate the cultural differences of different peoples.
通过采用对比和举例分析的研究方法，本文旨在揭示英汉数字禁忌和数字喜好背后的文化差异。具体来说，本文首先对比分析了汉英语言的数字禁忌和数字喜好；进而探究了影响汉英语言使用的社会和文化因素。为了使作者的观点更有说服力，本文将尽量提供具体实例。
By adopting comparative and example analysis research methods, this thesis attempts to reveal the cultural differences underlying numerical taboos and preferences in English and Chinese languages. To be specific, this thesis first conducts a comparative analysis of numerical taboos and preferences in Chinese and English languages. Then, the social and cultural factors that influence the use of numerals in Chinese and English are explored. Wherever possible, concrete examples will be provided to make the author’s observation more convincing.Through the research, it can be drawn that values and attitudes, philosophy and religious beliefs, thinking patterns, traditional customs and folk psychology, ect.. are the factors influencing the differences in the use of numericals in Chinese and English languages. Thus, research on numerical worship in terms of numerical taboos and preferences is significant in that it not only helps us understand the numerical culture in Chinese and English, but also facilitate our understanding of different cultural psychology of two peoples so that cultural conflict can be eliminated, and better intercultural communication be achieved.
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Introduction …………………………………………………..............
Chapter Two
Literature Review…………………………….....................................
2.1 Interactive Relationship Between Language and Culture ……………………
2.2 Divergences of Language and Cultures……………………………………....
Chapter Three
Comparison of Chinese and English Numericals……………………
3.2 Numerical Preferences in Chinese and English………………………………
3.2.1 Numerical Preferences of “Three” and “Nine”……………………………..
3.2.2 Numerical Preferences of “Six” and “Seven”………………………………
Chapter Four
Social-cultural Factors Affecting Numerical Taboos and Worships….
4.1 Values and Attitudes…………………………………………………………..
4.2 Philosophy and Religious Beliefs…………………………………………….
4.3 Thinking Patterns……………………………………………………………..
4.4 Traditional Customs…………………………………………………………..
4.5 Folk Psychology………………………………………………………………
4.6 Others…………………………………………………………………………
Chapter Five
Conclusion……………………………………………………………
Works Cited…………………………………………………………
Chapter One
Introduction
Numerals are used to express numbers or quantities in language, and no single culture can be free from the concept of numbers and the necessity of counting. With the development of human society, numbers play an increasingly important role in our everyday life. Numerals developed correspondingly. There has been, both at home and abroad, considerable interest in this field of research in recent years. Due to the similarities shared by peoples across different cultures, there are a lot in common among languages in their use of numerals. However, various associated meanings are bestowed on various numerals by different cultures. As a result, numerals have the functions of transcending languages and reflecting different cultural messages. Though different cultures share some metaphorical meanings for numerals, there are still certain distinctive discrepancies which are often culture-specific. Therefore, a comparative study of English and Chinese in terms of numerical taboos and preferences may reveal the cultural features of the two systems and their respective cultural connotations, and consequently facilitate intercultural or cross-cultural communication.
Chapter Two
Literature Review
The relationship between language and culture has been widely discuss
