时间：2022-06-28 06:18:53
【摘 要】广告是为了某种特定的需要，通过一定形式的媒体，公开而广泛地向公众传递信息的宣传手段。广告以语言为载体，其本身也是一种重要的社会用语和社会文化，是文化的组成部分，在一定程度上反映民族文化。语言和文化关系密切，相互依存。广告作为一种文化产物，可以更直接地展示语言和文化之间的关系。本文从哲学系统、历史、乡土意识和心理行为这三个方面探讨中英广告体现的东西方文化差异，揭示广告语中语言和文化的密切关系。
【关键词】广告；语言；文化；差异
【Abstract】Advertising is a form of communication used to encourage or persuade an audience （viewers， readers or listeners） to continue or take some new action by mess media. Advertisement is carried by language， and itself is an integrated part of culture. Language and culture exist interdependently. As a product of human culture， advertisement can reflect the interrelationship between culture and language. This paper will talk about the differences between Chinese and English advertisement from the aspect of different philosophical system， histories， hometown consciousness and psychological behavior， in order to reveal the relationship lies between culture and language.
【Key words】advertisement； language； culture； differences
In modern age， we find ourselves surrounded by various ads each day. In the world of advertising， all potential consumers are endlessly bombarded with all kinds of product or service information from various media including newspapers， magazines， televisions， radio， posters and Internet， etc.
The purpose of advertising is to promote sales and profits. Advertising is a form of communication used to encourage or persuade an audience （viewers， readers or listeners） to continue or take some new action. Most commonly， the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering， although political and ideological advertising is also common. The purpose of advertising may also be to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
Ⅰ.Different Philosophical System
1.1 Different Values： Collectivism VS Individualism
Values are the defining expressions of culture. In advertising， it is strongly believed that the most effective advertisements are those best express and affirm core cultural values. What advertisers should do is to make the advertisements consistent with values of the targeted people. If not， they are likely to be rejected. Every nation has its own values or enduring beliefs. A set of contradictory one shared by a lot o countries is collectivism and individualism. Collectivism is any philosophic， political， economic， mystical or social outlook that emphasizes the interdependence of every human in some collective group and the priority of group goals over individual goals. Collectivism has been widely used to refer to a number of different political， economic and educational philosophies， ranging from communalism and democracy to totalitarian nationalism and organized altruistic religion. Influenced by collectivism， we Chinese people usually focus on community， society， or nation. We view the whole as being greater than the sum of its individual parts， and give priority to groups rights over individual rights. This is reflected in advertisements. For instances：
（1）接天下客，送万里情。（天津出租车广告）
（2）情系中国结，联通四海心。（联通广告）
（3）大家好才是真的好。（好迪化妆品广告）
From these we can see in Chinese culture， selfless devotion， universal fraternity and benevolence are always advocated.
By comparison， western people are greatly influenced by individualism which stressed the moral worth of individual. They promote the exercise of one’s goals and desires and also value independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one’s own interests， whether by society， family or any other group or institution. There are also some examples：
（1）Our personal service will appeal to your individual taste. （Lufthansa Airline）
（2）What’s mine is mine. （Volkswagen Seat Car）
（3）Feast your eyes. （Pond’s Cucumber Eye Treatment）
（4）Each owns a different WATERMAN pen. For while style is key， individuality is everything. （沃特曼钢笔）
From these examples we can see in western culture self-achievement and self-satisfaction are encouraged. Individual initiative spirit and pursuit of personality are highly valued and appreciated.
1.2. Different Religious Beliefs
China is blessed with a long history of civilization. For thousands of years， she is deeply affected by Confucianism， Daoism， and Buddhism. Advertising language like “玉皇大帝”、“观音菩萨”、“三头六臂”、“借花献佛”、“灵丹妙药” are all related to religion. There’s a kind of tea called “铁观音”etc. But in some western countries， like the United States， believe in God. They even print “In God We Trust” on the surface of their money. The image of god or angel is frequently used in their advertisements：
（1）If god had meant us to fly， he would have given us Paramounts. （Paramount山地车）
（2）You do not have to be an angel to wear it. （perfume）
（3）Man invented time； Seiko perfected it. （Seiko手表）
When the third advertisement appeared in Malaysia， it was condemned by Muslims， for they thought it was God， not man， who invented time. So the advertisers had to change the words into “Man invented time-keeping； Seiko perfected it”. Another example is， as a national treasure of China， panda enjoys great popularity among us. Therefore， trademarks with “panda” are readily visible. But when exported， they are not popular in Muslim countries. It is because panda looks like pig， which is forbidden to eat by Muslims.
Thus different religious belief is a must to consider when talking about cultural differences.
1.3 Different Attitudes toward Nature： Unity VS Conflict
One of the fundamental differences between Chinese and western culture lies in the divergence in their attitude toward nature： one believe in unity， while the other in conflict. Chinese culture advocates the traditional Confucian principle “Unity of Heaven and Men” （天人合一） while the western culture is inclined to divide Heaven and men， asserting that nature is in opposition to human beings. Deeply influenced by the traditional Confucian doctrine “golden mean” （中庸之道）， Chinese people usually put great emphasis on the unity and integrity between nature and men， and also on the correspondence of objectivity and subjectivity so as to seek a harmonious ideal state in minds. As a result， moderation， peace-mindedness， love for nature， intimacy with nature are more frequently embodied in Chinese advertisements：
（1）银河在天上，温情洒人间。 （银河装潢有限公司）
（2）世纪绿洲，家景甲天下――让花开在你身边，开在你脸上，开在你心里。（广州保利花园）
（3）天一新村与绿叶为伍，与鸟雀为邻，清新自然，学府为家。（广州天一新村广告语）
（4）取天上太阳，用人间辉煌。（辉煌牌太阳能）
In contrast， in western cultures people tend to believe that the universe should be divided into two different parts which is called “Dividedness between man and nature”. Therefore， western culture is concerned with the diversity and changeability of the world―on one hand it affirms the irresistible objectivity of rules for the normal running of the world， and on the other hand it pays more attention to self-improvement and self-achievement of individuals and encourages people’s personality， capability and strive spirit. Thus， the emphasis of personal effort and initiative spirit is frequently employed in English advertising languages. For example：
（1）Suzuki conquers boredom.
Life has always been what you made it. Excitement or just routine. And the line between freedom and feeling trapped can be as simple as wheels. Something like getting on a Suzuki and getting away. （Suzuki car）
（2）Engineer to move the human spirit. （Mercedes Benz）
（3）Olympus
No limits. There is little you can’t be with Olympus Zoom Lens Reflex series. The all-in-X cameras that won’t limit your creative ability. （Olympus cameral）
Ⅱ. Different Histories： Long-standing VS Newly-rising Culture
Chinese culture is famous for its time-honored history， with brilliant oriental civilization and excellent traditions. Chinese people take great pride in the old splendid civilization and their intelligent ancestors who have created such a great accomplishment. Correspondingly， products related with long history and old traditions are always regarded as valuable and reliable which is reflected in Chinese advertising languages. For example：
（1）传奇品质，百年张裕。（张裕葡萄酒）
（2）百年老字号，广州皇上皇。（皇上皇腊肠）
（3）千古佳酿，万代留香，中华酒宗，汝阳杜康。（杜康酒中华酒宗系列）
However， in western countries， the concern for future is the dominant cultural orientation， and most western people tend to believe that tomorrow will be better than today. In accordance with their enterprising spirit， western people usually pay more attention to change and progress in their daily life. Therefore， this conception is surely reflected in advertisements that make use of the word “new” in many case， since in western culture almost everything that is connected with the future seems to be valued and thus acceptable to the common people. There are several example：
（1）For me， the past is black and white， but the future is always colorful. （Hennessy）
（2）Kyocera
The challenge of the future creating a better world because tomorrow comes yesterday， today and tomorrow.
（3） A new moisture made from pure Johnson’s Baby Oil， swirled light and creamy. Try it. And strike it rich. New！ （Johnson）
Ⅲ. Different Hometown Consciousnesses： Tightly Knit Family Framework VS Loosely Knit Family Framework
China is one of the four countries with an ancient civilization. It lies in the rich land. So family is very important in their mind. Traditional ethnic ideas of China include honesty， swordsmanship， loyalty， filial piety. In China， people are asked to abide by the etiquette and to carry out benevolence and righteousness. Family-ethical kinship of generations is deeply rooted in everyone’s mind. For Chinese people， east or west， home is best. Hometown is highly evaluated and moving away from one’s hometown is discarded. There’s a famous advertisement： 千万里我追寻着你。孔府家酒，让人想家。（孔府家酒）. The words arouse an intense feeling of homesickness in us. Similar examples are：
（1） 舒肤佳，促进健康为全家。（舒肤佳）
（2） 高朋满座喜相逢，酒逢知己古井贡。（古井贡酒）
（3） 有情有义喝郎泉。（郎酒）
Chinese traditional culture also embodies the consideration and respect for the aged. Respect for the old is a traditional virtual. There is an old saying in Chinese “百善孝为先”（filial respect for the old goes first in the virtue. ） In advertising， respect for the old is reflected by “正清制药，关爱老人健康”，“孝敬爸妈，老―白―金”，“威力洗衣机，献给母亲的爱”。
Compared with Chinese ethical and moral traditional culture， western people appreciate rational thinking. They are less settled because they often emigrate. Also they have an area of narrow， and they often flight. The concept of the family has become less important in their minds now. Thus， they do not have strong sense of family or parenthood. As a reflection， English advertisements usually focus on human sense and ration. Prominent personality and innovation are highly praised. What’s more， in the western culture， the word “old” is associated with concepts of being “outdated” and “useless”， and the words and phrases related to “age” are taboos. Since western people are afraid of being old， and the concept of the respect for the old is not as strong as that in the Chinese culture， such kind of advertisements is not often presented in English advertising.
Ⅳ. Conclusion
Advertising language is the core of an ad. Social culture influences even limits this kind of language and expression， meanwhile， the advertising language contains and reflects the social culture. The advertisement exists in a society which means philosophical concept， thinking mode， cultural psychology， moral caliber and cultural habits of a nation certainly have a great effect on the advertising lg. in fact， people tend to accept such message that arouse their sense of identity.
Cultural differences have become a non- ignorable factor in advertisement. In order to attract even stimulate potential customers； the advertisers make their efforts to produce creative and memorable works. As the integration of the world economy， it is an urgent task that advertisers should make clear of the features of each culture especially target culture.
【References】
[1]Nida， E. “Language Culture and Translation”， Shanghai： Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press，1993.
[2]Jin Xin. On Handling Linguistic and Cultural Peculiarities In Translating Advertisements .Guangdong：Guangdong University of Foreign Studies， 2001.
[3]林景英.广告语言与中西文化[J].桂林师范高等专科学校学报，2005（3）.
[4]铁翠香 徐啸寒.中西文化在广告传播中的体现[J].当代传播，2003（1）.
[5]罗春雁.中英广告语异同简析[J].宜宾学院学报，2004（6）.
[6]郝钦海.广告语言中的文化内涵――中英广告语言中的文化对比[J].山东外语教学，2000（2）.