吴越民所著的《文化话语视角下的英汉语言对比研究》阐述语言与文化的相互制约和影响。其创新之处在于把当代话语分析理论运用到中英语言和文化的比较中，把两者结合起来研究：从文化现象去阐释语言，探讨文化对语言的形成和制约作用以及英汉语言的人文属性；同时又从语言现象去阐释文化，以语言为媒介来介绍文化，探究语言现象中隐含的民族文化心理，比较中英语言间的差异和共性。

吴越民所著的《文化话语视角下的英汉语言对比研究》以英汉语言为切入点，运用文化话语理论和文化符号学理论，结合文化学、社会语言学、心理语言学、语义学、语用学、认知隐喻学和跨文化交际学的最新理论，从不同的学科角度对英汉语言和文化进行对比研究，从其所属的文化要素对英汉语言的文化功能、表达方式、结构形式、语用规则进行微观与宏观的对比，通过文化因素在语言系统中的积淀，探讨文化对语言的影响及它们之间的外在联系和内在规律，反映一个民族的思维方式、价值观念、社会习俗、宗教信仰、心理状态等特征在语言上的表现。本书遵循描写和解释相结合的原则探讨英汉词语文化语义的不等值现象，研究内容包括词语、语法、语篇、比喻、习语、谚语、典故、委婉语和禁忌语等，涵盖了英汉两种语言从古到今、从人类到自然、从动物到植物、从颜色到数字、从性别到广告等十几个专题，涉及社会的方方面面，从文化话语角度探讨英汉词语文化语义所包含的民族文化共性和个性，以及造成这些共性和个性差异背后的中西文化因素。

本书视角新颖，观点独到。其研究范围既包括英汉两种语言的比较，也涉及英语文化与汉语文化的比较；既是双语比较研究，也是跨文化研究。在研究方法上深入浅出，旁征博引，论述与实例并茂，学术性与实用性并重，对英汉语言研究工作者、英汉翻译工作者、英语教师、对外汉语教师及广大英汉语学习者都有参考价值。

Chapter 1 Language and Culture

 1.1 Language

1.1.1 The Definition of Language

1.1.2 The Components of Language

1.1.3 The Characteristics of Language

 1.2 Culture

1.2.1 The Definition of Culture

1.2.2 The Components of Culture

1.2.3 The Characteristics of Culture

1.2.4 The Elements of Cultural Patterns

1.2.5 High-context and Low-context Cultural Patterns

1.2.6 Culture and Related Terms

 1.3 Relationship between Language and Culture

1.3.1 Language Is Part of Culture

1.3.2 Language Is the Carrier and Container of Culture

1.3.3 Language Is Strongly Influenced and Shaped by Culture

1.3.4 Language Exerts Its Influence on Culture

1.3.5 Language and Culture Influence and Shape Each Other.

Chapter 2 Discourse and Semiotics

 2.1 Discourse

2.1.1 The Definition of Discourse

2.1.2 Language and Discourse

2.1.3 The Definition of Discourse Analysis

2.1.4 Cultural Discourse

 2.2 Semiotics

2.2.1 The Definition of Semiotics

2.2.2 Sign Systems

2.2.3 Cultural Semiotics

2.2.4 Codes

2.2.5 Symbols

2.2.6 Semiotic Analysis

Chapter 3 Semantics and Contexts

  3.1 Semantics

3.1.1 Word Meanings

3.1.2 ConceptualMeanings andAssociative Meanings

  3.2 Contexts

3.2.1 Social Contexts

3.2.2 Cultural Contexts

  3.3 Semantic Differences

3.3.1 Words with Basically the Same Conceptual and Associative Meanings

3.3.2 Different Words Conveying the Same Cultural Meanings

3.3.3 Same Words Conveying Different Associative Meanings

3.3.4 Words with Surface Similarity butActual Semantic Differences

3.3.5 Lexical Gaps in Different Cultures

Chapter 4 Animals and Plants

  4.1 Animals

4.1.1 Dog(狗)

4.1.2 Fish(鱼)

4.1.3 Sheep(羊)

4.1.4 Horse(马)

4.1.5 Lion(狮)

4.1.6 Tiger(虎)

4.1.7 Cattle(牛)

4.1.8 Rabbit(兔)

4.1.9 Tortoise(龟)

4.1.10 Owl(猫头鹰)

4.1.11 Bat(蝙蝠)

4.1.12 Crane(仙鹤)

4.1.13 Magpie(喜鹊)

  4.2 Plants

4.2.1 Rose(玫瑰)

4.2.2 Plum(梅)，Orchid(兰)，Bamboo(竹)and Chrysanthemum(菊)

4.2.3 Pine(松)

4.2.4 Bodhi Tree(菩提树)

4.2.5 Lotus(莲花，荷花)

4.2.6 Apple(苹果)

4.2.7 Peach(桃)

4.2.8 Willow(柳)

Chapter 5 Colors and Numbers

  5.1 Colors

5.1.1 Red(红)

5.1.2 White(白)

5.1.3 Black(黑)

5.1.4 Green(绿)

5.1.5 Yellow(黄)

5.1.6 Blue(蓝)

5.1.7 Grey(灰)

5.1.8 Pink(粉红)

5.1.9 Purple(紫)

  5.2 Numbers

5.2.1 One(一)

5.2.2 Two(二)

5.2.3 Three(三)

5.2.4 Four(四)

5.2.5 Five(五)

5.2.6 Six(六)

5.2.7 Seven(七)

5.2.8 Eight(八)

5.2.9 Nine(九)

5.2.10 Ten(十)

5.2.11 Thirteen(十三)

Chapter 6 Grammar and Text

  6.1 Grammar

6.1.1 Morphemes

6.1.2 Syntactical Rules

6.1.3 Explicit Grammar and Implicit Grammar

6.1.4 Subjects and Objects

6.1.5 Paratactic and Hypotactic Relations

6.1.6 Branching and Linear Sentence Patterns

6.1.7 Word Order

6.1.8 Cultural Differences behind Grammar

  6.2 Text

6.2.1 The Definition of Text

6.2.2 Cohesion and Coherence

6.2.3 Textual Connectives

6.2.4 Textual Structures

6.2.5 Cultural Differences behind Text

Chapter 7 Simile and Metaphor

 7.1 Simile

7.1.1 The Definition of Simile

7.1.2 Cultural-alike Associations in English and Chinese Similes

7.1.3 Cultural-distinct Associations in English and Chinese Similes

 7.2 Metaphor

7.2.1 The Definition of Metaphor

7.2.2 Cultural Metaphors

7.2.3 Cultural-alike Associations in English and Chinese Metaphors.

7.2.4 Cultural-distinct Associations in English and Chinese Metaphors

 7.3 Translation

7.3.1 Literal Translation

7.3.2 Cultural Translation

Chapter 8 Idioms and Proverbs

 8.1 Idioms

8.1.1 Cultural Similarities between Chinese and English Idioms

8.1.2 Cultural Disparities between Chinese and English Idioms

 8.2 Proverbs

8.2.1 Some Equivalent Proverbs in English and Chinese

8.2.2 Proverbs Related to Different Religions

8.2.3 Proverbs Derived from Literary Works

8.2.4 Proverbs Originating from Geographical Environments

8.2.5 Proverbs Reflecting Values and Viewpoints

Chapter 9 Allusions and Euphemisms

 9.1 Allusions

9.1.1 Allusions from Literature

9.1.2 Allusions from History

9.1.3 Allusions from Mythology and Legends

9.1.4 Allusions from Sports

9.1.5 The Contrastive Analysis of English and Chinese Allusions

 9.2 Euphemisms

9.2.1 To Avoid Taboos

9.2.2 To Show Politeness

9.2.3 To Conceal Truth

Chapter 10 Taboos and Sexism

 10.1 Taboos

10.1.1 The Definition of Taboo

10.1.2 Verbal Taboos in Different Cultures

10.1.3 Nonverbal Taboos in Different Cultures

 10.2 Sexism

10.2.1 Sexist Language in English

10.2.2 Sexist Language in Chinese

Chapter 11 Advertising and Culture

 11.1 The Definition of Advertising

 11.2 The Development of Advertising

11.2.1 The Evolution of Western Advertising

11.2.2 Chinese Economic Reform and Advertising

 11.3 The Techniques of Advertising

 11.4 The Linguistic Features of Advertising

11.4.1 Phonetic Features of Advertisements

11.4.2 Lexical Features of Advertisements

11.4.3 Rhetorical Devices of Advertisements

 11.5 Brand Names

11.5.1 Brand Names and Cultural Connotations

11.5.2 Coinages in English and Chinese Brand Names

11.5.3 Exotic Flavor in English and Chinese Brand Names

11.5.4 Cultural Connotations in English and Chinese Brand Names

 11.6 Logos

 11.7 Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Advertising

11.7.1 Advertising Legislations in Different Cultures

11.7.2 Family Image in Chinese Advertisements

11.7.3 Authoritative Worship and Factual Proofs

11.7.4 Collective Orientation and Individualistic Centeredness

Glossary (Index of Important Terms)

Bibliography