The Change of American Social Culture as Reflected in Catchwords

湯 強

Abstract:social culture has a decesive effect on the catchwords and the catchwords are the reflections of the social culture. They are the informative transportation of catchwords. By observing them, we can get the culture reflected by them.

Key words:culturecatchwordsinformationreflection

ⅠIntroduction

This thesis mainly talks about the catchwords and culture. We can see the change of American social culture by observing the catchwords of different periods. In the first part, the English language is mainly talked about, the second part is about the relationship between language and culture, the third part is about catchwords and American social culture, the fourth part is the synthesis of the change of American social culture, the fifth part is the conclusion of the thesis.

Ⅱ The relationship between language and social culture

The famous French physiologist Blina emphasized that the language is the beat way to penetrate humans thoughts.(法國著名的身理學家貝爾納強調指出“語言是洞察心智最好的窗口。”)(轉引刑福義1990:108)Then, we can see that language is closely related to the social culture.

1.The social culture has a decesive effect on language. Generally speaking, the higher productive level of a nation, the more words are record in their language."(一般而言,一個民族的生產力水平越高,這個民族的語言中就記錄著更先進的內容。引自:四川外院學報2001-2期97頁吳世雄) Taking United States as an example, after World War Two, they made a rapid progress in the science and technology. America is doubtlessly ahead of other countries as the strongest western economical country. While, there must be some new words matched with the new techniques and inventions of scientific technology, such as 'space shuttle', 'space vehicle', 'space gun' ,' moonwalk '. etc .

2.For another, the language can reflect the change of politics, the development of economics and the progress of technology. In other words, it is the reflection of social culture. The thinking method, value system and ethnical idea of certain culture can be inferred from its language. (“從一種語言可以窺探到它所屬文化的思維方法,價值系統和倫理觀念。”)(四川外院學報2001-3-2-99頁) For instance, since the middle of the 20th century, there appeared a series of words: "Jazz, blues, Jamseccesion, cake walk, break dancing, ragtime, boogie .etc. These words reflected the acting business of black people in America has been in a new age. And more and more youths were searching new amusing style.

Ⅲ The characteristics of catchwords

The catchwords are the words that have been popular in a certain period and can reflect the social culture and local conditions and customs. It has many characteristics.

1.Timeliness。Catchwords is the product of time. First, its social meaning has the features of time. For instance, the word "Fascism" in world war two will make people think the hardness and intolerance which the war has brought to our human beings.

Secondly, the catchwords is restricted by the time. They can not exist out of time. They are linked to a certain period of time. For instance, the Marxism can not be the catchword in 1700s and E-mail in 1800s.

2.Popularity。The catchwords have been deep in every aspect of human social life, especially in recent information world. They are popular in masses from the help of broadcast, T.V, newspaper, advertisement, Internet. For instance, the word“cool” popular in American music area since1950s, appeared not only in daily conversation, music, films, and magazines of American, but also in other countries, such as China, the Chinese word“酷”frequently used by Chinese youths. And it will be used more and more comprehensively, even the little child usually says“好酷”(how cool)

3.Cultural。Since language is so closely connected with culture that they cant exist without any of each. Culture is reflected and transported by language. Catchwords as one of the active elements in language can largely reflect the characteristics of politics, economics, technology.

4.Effectiveness。Catchwords has its own rule of appearance, development and disappearance. It appears with certain social phenomenon and also no longer be popular. While, some words can be popular for a long period, for instance: the word "Olympic" in the beginning of 1700s and "Oscar" in 1930s. They are still popular and have great influence on the world culture. But some other catchwords such as "bloomers" it was popular in the middle of 20th, at that time m\nearly all women wore this kind trousers, but then it became common words.

5.Derivative。The catchwords is derivative. The are usually a series of words followed one catchword. For example, since the popularity of I.Q(Intelligence Quotient ), there followed some new catchwords with similar forms, such as E.Q(Emotional Quotient), C.Q(Charistma Quotient) and L.Q(love Quotient).

Ⅳ The impact of social culture elements to catchwords.

The development of society is the basic condition and motive force of the development of language is used all over the society. It is one of the important elements that form the society. The language is the most important link between social members with the development of society, inventions and discoveries.

Since the language is a communication tool, so its development is gradual. At the same time, the elements of language develop unevenly. While the words directly connected with the development of society. So the words are the most sensitive reflections of social culture. Catchword is a part of vocabulary. The development of society is the basis of catchword. There are many catchwords with timeliness characters follow the change of society. They are the authoritative reflections of history.

During the long history of human beings, the origins of catchwords are also different. First, the development of science and technology is the main origin of catchwords. Second, the change of politics and economics is another. Third, the change of people's mind has on great impact on the language and followed the catchwords. Fourth, the amusement is also an important origin of catchwords. Besides, the sports and worldwide communication also create many catchwords.

Ⅴ Conclusion

We define the catchwords through the research. Its clear that the social cultural aspects play a decesive effect on the catchwords. The catchwords, as the informative load, is the best transportation for us to spread information reflected by them, but also see the change of American social culture. It is a good door for us to learn and know out the American social culture. While the culture is a complex of different aspects, it is not enough to deeply know the social culture of any countries. So it is still a work for us to know the American culture from other aspects. We still need to work hard in the road of learning American culture.

References:

[1]Albert C. Baugh & Thomas Cable. A History of the English Language [M].Foreign Language Teaching and Researching Press Knowledge,2001.

[2]林承璋(Lin Chengzhang).An Introduction to English Lexicology[M].武漢大學出版社,1997.