Differences between the popular names of biological species in Chinese and Portuguese
an analysis from a linguistic and cultural perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34624/ro.v0i5.40243Keywords:
Translation, Chinese language, Portuguese language, Chinese culture, hyperonym.Abstract
Belonging to two totally different language families, Chinese and Portuguese are translatable. Although there are a number of translation masterpieces available today, it is still essential to remain attentive to the differences in expression and usage that exist between the two languages. With the available resources, it is not difficult to carry out a translation, but an accurate translation still requires a comprehensive knowledge of the cultures that both languages reflect. Language is a concrete reflection of the culture of the community that uses it, expressing its values and vision of the world. This is the case, for example, with the popular names of biological species in different languages, which reveal a certain population's understanding and perspective on the influence of their own culture. This paper exemplifies some differences in the naming of biological species in the two languages in question and briefly analyzes the linguistic and cultural reasons for this. In addition, we also present the results of a comparative study of the popular names of plants with reference to animals, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the differences between the two languages and cultures.
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