英国人的“岛国情结”

The Island Complex of English People

一个民族所处的自然地理环境对这一民族心态和国民性格的形成、发展和嬗变均产生巨大的影响。英国四面环海,整天和海洋打交道的英国人天生就有着强烈的岛国意识,这种岛国意识在英国后来所进行的殖民扩张中不断得到加强,并从民族意识逐渐上升为民族自觉,形成独特的海洋文化。"岛国情结"作为一种深埋于人们思想意识深处的文化积淀,甚至制约英国的外交策略。"岛国情结"成就了英国人的帝国美梦,却也加速了其美梦的幻灭。

The natural geographical environment of one nation has enormous influence on its national psychology as well as the formation, development and evolution of its national character. The Britain is surrounded by the ocean. As a re- sult, the English people who have dealings with the ocean all the day were born to have strong island consciousness. The island consciousness was strengthened in the colonial expansion by the Britain. Furthermore, this national awareness has gradually turned into national self - consciousness, and finally has formed the unique marine culture. As one cultural ac- cumulation which is deeply buried in people＇ s ideology, the island complex has even restricted the British diplomatic strategy. The island complex had realized the English people＇ s dream of British Empire. At the same time, it had also accelerated the disillusionment of their dream.