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International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2015, PP 65-77ISSN 2347-3126 (Print) & ISSN 2347-3134 (Online)www.arcjournals.orgThe Comparison of Connotative Meaning in Animal Wordsbetween English and Persian Expressions and theirTranslationLeila AnjomshoaFirooz SadighiDepartment of Foreign LanguagesKerman Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityKerman, IranLeila.anjomshoa@gmail.comDepartment of Foreign LanguagesShiraz Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityShiraz, IranFiroozsadighi@/yahoo.comAbstract: Animal words and expressions have slowly become a significant member of the basicvocabulary of many languages in the world. Iranian and English are no exception. Some animal words inPersian and English are the same or similar in cultural connotations, because Iranian and the Englishpeople have some same capabilities of thought, some same laws of cognition, and some animals have thesame important role in the human life of these two nations, and have the same attributes and features. Butsome of them are dissimilar or different. The cause of it is that the English people and the Iranian peopleare different in religion, history, geographical environment, and customs and so on.The present study iswithin semantic – pragmatic framework. Over the years there has been an interest in research aboutmetaphors, idioms, and proverbs within different frameworks, but studies on animal expressions are few inboth Persian and English. This research is an attempt to show some lingual misunderstandings throughanimal expressions.Keywords: Animal expressions, connotations, English and Persian Expressions1. INTRODUCTIONIn the long history of human beings, animals are always closely related to our existence anddevelopment .Some are a kind of important food to people; some offer the labor for agriculture;some support the inspirations for some inventions of science and technology; and some are a kindof close friends of people, playing an important role in the mankind’s society.Fraser (1981)examined insulting animal expressions in different languages other than English to see if theyhave equal usages. Newmark (1988) believes that animal metaphors are used to a great extent inorder to describe inferior or undesirable human habits and attributes.Davids and Bentahila (1989) examined animal terms in British English and Moroccan Arabic.They use different theories like similarity and relevance to categorize animal metaphors. Holmes(1992as cited in Hsieh 2006) gives examples of the chicken metaphor in her sociolinguisticanalysis of sexism in language. Sutton (1995; cited in the same) studies linguistic discriminationagainst females and makes a strong argument about the metaphor "women are animals ".Tomita(2000) works on a large amount of rhetorical expressions such as animal similes and metaphorswhich are used to delineate the physical appearances or distinctive personalities of variouscharacters in Charles Dickens’s novels. Nadim (2000) examines animal roles in Shirazi proverbswith an approach to sociolinguistics. After analysing about 100 animal expressions, he concludesthat donkey expressions are the most frequent ones and have some salient semantic moleculessuch "crazy, worthless, and absurd". Hsieh (2001cited in the same) studies animal expressions inMandarin Chinese and German basedon Lakoff and Johnson’s conceptual metaphors(1980).Hsieh (2004cited in the same) further proposes that animal expressions are our vocabularyof values.Hsieh (2006) investigates animal expressions in Mandarin Chinese and German. With a focus oncat and tiger expressions, he reveals the salient semantic molecules of these animals in bothlanguages. In another study Hsieh (2oo8) compares animal and plant metaphors to show thesemantic autonomy of language and the cognitive level of using these metaphors in light of lay ARCPage 65

Leila Anjomshoa & Firooz Sadighiviews vs. scientific theories (Kövecses, 2000 as cited in Hsieh 2008) and verbal processes(Halliday, 1985 as cited in Hsieh 2008). He found that (1) metaphors are not scientific;(2) but theessence of metaphors and nature seems to overlap: in the natural world, animals are movingcreatures while plants are motionless life forms; (3) in our languages, animal metaphors are activeexpression whereas plant metaphors are static. Estaji and Nakhavali (2011) Studied SemanticDerogation in Persian Animal Proverbs. Their analysis shows that sex and semantic derogationare not shown in Persian structures and proverbs as much as other languages, but in the cases withsemantic derogation, the metaphorical meanings of the female proverbs connote worse qualitiesthan those connoted by the male proverbs.2. RESEARCH FRAMEWORKAn animal expression is defined in this study as any Persian or English expression that encodes atleast one animal name. Animal names are considered as metaphorical vehicles here, and most ofthe data are collected from the written English and Persian dictionaries of proverbs or idioms. Partof the raw data is taken from daily – life conversations.2.1. Animal Expressions and Semantic FeaturesIn this part first some of the semantic features of fox, camel, horse, snake and eagle expressionsare exemplified, and then discuss and compare the salient features of these animal names in bothEnglish and Persian.2.2. Fox Expressions and Salient Semantic FeaturesIn many cultures, the fox appears in folklore as a symbol of cunning and trickery, or as a familiaranimal possessed of magic powers.In Dagon mythology, the pale fox is the trickster god of the desert, who embodies chaos. The term"foxy" in English is defined as meaning - as the obvious "having the qualities of a fox" - also"attractive" and "sexy", as well as "red-haired.Overwhelmingly, cultural consensus on fox animal symbolism deals ernesswisdomThe fox encourages us to think outside of the box and use our intelligence in different, creativeways. The fox also brings us a message to try to approach our circumstances differently that wenormally would. Be aware of some of our habits, and try a different angle of action.The fox also a reminder that we must utilize all of our resources (seen and unseen) in order toaccomplish our goals. Sometimes this means calling upon some unorthodox methods.Furthermore, the fox is a sign to be mindful of our surroundings. Phenomenally effectiveshapeshifters and incredibly adaptable, the fox beckons us to not make too many waves but rather,adapt to our surroundings, blend into it, and use our surroundings (and circumstances) to ouradvantage.Other generalized fox symbolic meanings deal withfocusdeterminationright-actionfox: crazy like a foxfox: a sexually attractive womanfox :Informal: to perplex or confound: to fox a person with a problemfox: to cause (paper, wood, etc.) to become discoloured with spots, or (of paper, etc.) tobecome discoloured, as through mildew.International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Page 66

The Comparison of Connotative Meaning in Animal Words between English and PersianExpressions and Their TranslationOut foxto trick; deceivesneaky as fox in the hen-houseIn Persian fox expressions may have these semantic features:Foxes when they cannot reach the grapes, say they are not ripeTry before you trustOne lie makes manyProvide against a rainy day Set not the fox to watch the geesesagacityA good swimmer often drownedtoo much cunning undoneThe bitter is sometimes bitBehind an able man there are always other noble menIf you deal with a fox, think of his trichks.If the lion’s skin cannot, the fox’s shallHe is as cunning as a fox2.3. Camel Expressions and Salient Semantic FeaturesCamels are symbols meaning both humility, willingness to serve and obstinacy. In medieval artand sculpture, the camel was used to represent humility and the willingness to bear another'sburden, largely because camels are trained to kneel down to receive heavy loads. Many artistsemploying this symbolism had no direct experience with camels. In the east, however, camels arefamous as being disagreeable and obstinate. An eastern proverb proclaims that the camel, "Cursesit its ancestors on the way up a hill and its Maker on the way down." For Egyptians, camels aresymbolic of complainers and those who are slow on their feet.International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Page 67

Leila Anjomshoa & Firooz SadighiSome suggested keywords for symbolic camel yHumilityStaminaCAMELstrain at gnats and swallow camelsTo criticize other people for minor offences while ignoring major offenses.plain as the hump on a camelobviousstraw that broke the camel's backThe thing to push you over the edge.In Persian Camel expressions may have these semantic features:dog eat dogthe much coins, the much careBest is best cheapnothing so bold as a blind mareThe camel going to seek horns lost his earsIf you would wish the dog to follow you, feed himThe cat dreams of miceThe cats shuts his eyes while steals creamSay you saw me notPenny wise and pound foolishEveryone worships the rising sunInternational Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Page 68

The Comparison of Connotative Meaning in Animal Words between English and PersianExpressions and Their TranslationIt is a good beef that costs nothingTruth will come to lightThe end makes all equalCamel never sees its own hump:Flesh stands never so high but a dog will venture his legs2.4. Horse Expressions and Salient Semantic FeaturesThe horse is a symbol meaning willingness to work and independence. In ancient Rome, the horsewas clearly associated with death itself as it pulled the chariot of the sun god over the horizon intodarkness. In ancient Nordic art and religious ceremonies, the horse replaced the sacrificial bull ofMediterranean cultures. The horse signified resurrection from the dead to the Nordic peoples as itcarried the dead to the other side of life.A summary of prevalent symbol meanings for the horse:PowerGraceBeautyNobilityStrengthFreedomThe Horse symbol meanings of power are widespread through most cultures, and it is linked as anemblem of life-force. Many cultures assign the attributes of the four elements to the Horse: Earth,Fire, Air, and Water.as strong as a horse/ox- very strongas stubborn as a mule- very stubborn.back the wrong horse- to support someone or something that cannot or does not win or succeed.beat a dead horse- to continue fighting a battle that has been won, to continue to argue a point that has been settledInternational Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Page 69

Leila Anjomshoa & Firooz Sadighibet on the wrong horse- to misread the future, to not choose the winning person or solutionIn Persian horse expressions may have these semantic features:1- To eat like a horse:Straight from a horse's mouth:- To flog a dead horse:.A poor man wants something, a covetous man all thingMoney is not everythingWhat goes up , must come downLook not a gift horse in the mouthAs the work ,so the payBeauty is only skin deepNo work ,no moneyNo mill, no mealIf two men ride on a horse, one must behindYou cannot see the wood for the treesWhen you drink from the stream, remember the springNever make threats you cannot carry outEvery ass thinks himself worthy to stands with the king’s horsesWho has no horse may ride on a staffA crow does not pull out the eye of another crowInternational Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)Page 70