全球化时代英语的文化传播功能

The Function of Cultural Communication of English in the Age of Globalization

文化上的全球化的作用体现在两个方面:一方面它使得现当代中国文化部分被西化;另一方面,它也使得中国文化可以借助全球化的平台走向世界。从文化的维度来探讨全球化问题,我们必须面对一个无法回避的语言问题,那就是英语的普及以及在全世界范围内传播并借鉴西方文化所起的巨大作用。全球化对文化的影响,在很大程度上是通过语言媒介来实现的。英语就是全球化时代的一种世界通用语言(lingua franca)。因此我们认为,走向世界首先就要走向英语世界,这一点已经从莫言荣获诺奖以及法国理论在全世界的影响见出端倪。用英语讲述中国故事就是为了让世人更加了解中国和中国文化,从而使真正的“世界文学时代”早日到来。此外,走向世界并非能够“走进”世界,在这方面,本文也提出了一些实际的操作策略。

Cultural globalization works in two ways:on the one hand,it has Westernized more or less modern and contemporary Chinese culture.On the other hand,it also enables Chinese culture to make full use of the platform of globalization to go global.To discuss the issue of globalization from the cultural dimension,we must face an unavoidable language problem,that is,the popularization of English and its huge function in the spread and promotion of Western culture in the world.The impact of globalization on culture is largely mediated by language.English is the lingua franca in the age of globalization.Therefore,we believe that the first step going towards the world is towards the English-speaking world for Chinese culture and literature,which has been proved by Mo Yan's Nobel prize-winning and the influence of French theory around the world.The reason we tell stories about China in English today is to make the world more aware of China and its culture,and thus to promote a real“Age of World Literature”.Furthermore,going global is not necessarily able to“enter”the wrold,thus in this regard,the present article also proposes some practical operational strategies.