When classifying the three forms of signs，arbitrariness and conventionality are often preferred as two important criteria． Although characterized with resemblance and similarity，some types of iconic signs，such as picture or drawing，are also conventional or even arbitrary to various degrees．To reveal their qualities further，a comparative and dialectical analysis of the two forms of signs from a number of semiotic as well as linguistic viewpoints is carried out in this paper．

Habermas and Baudrillard are important social theorists of the Frankfurt School，whose critical theory has all emphasized the importance of language symbols，it intends to achieve the construction or reconstruction of ideal landschaft through the conversion of symbolic production．The difference is that Habermas is eager to construct a“Lebenswelt” under the new rational principle, his symbol dimension is based on the organizing principle of universal pragmatics，the juncture of interaction between subjects and the criterion of communicative rationality. Whereas Baudrillard’ s symbol dimension profoundly analyzes the corrosion and invasion of “Lebenswelt” cased by “Simulation” and “Genre”，the social reality that commodity fetishism gives way to symbol fetishism and consumption alienation make the “Lebenswelt” more alienated highlights the keen vision of postmodernism and theoretical purport．In this paper，the comparison method is adopted to distinguish and explicate their theories on multiple dimension and multiple perspective, pointing out the limitation and rationality of communication theory，the enterprising spirit of social symbolism and unrealistic utopianism．

The use and translation of interrogative sentences in the works of Mao Tsetung are investigated on the premise of the comparison of the Chinese version and the English version，and the typological significance is analyzed on the basis of the syntactic properties of the interrogative sentences in both languages．An analysis of the syntactic properties of interrogative sentences in the works of Mao Tsetung seems to prove that it is feasible to account for the syntactic phenomenon with QAH（Q-feature Attraction Hypothesis）．This approach to the study of linguistic typology is of much theoretical significance．

With the theories of spatial language by some Western scholars，this study explores how Chinese describes the location and orientation of a static entity in space by way of reference frames and topological relations. In light of the data drawn from natural discourses， the article has analyzed in detail the uses of spatial frames of reference and topological descriptions in Chinese. The findings show that：firstly, spatial frames of reference and topological relations are the basic ways of describing the locations or places of objects，and comparatively topological descriptions are more commonly used，probably due to the fact that in context it is easier to know where a Figure is when a nonprojective topological description is used. Secondly，it is often the case that ‘object-centered reference’ is a most frequent frame of reference and that ‘relations of contact，proximity，and inclusion’ are the more commonly coded topological relations. Thirdly，there are two general patterns in Chinese for describing the location and orientation of an entity in space：（1）Ground-Figure sequence，namely You/Shi-sentence pattern ‘prepositional Zai + Ground + Locative + You/Shi + Figure’ ；（2）Figure-Ground sequence，namely Zai-sentence pattern ‘Figure + Zai + prepositional Zai + Ground + Locative’ ．Finally，the You/Shi-sentence patterns are by far the more prevailing in discourse，which results from the ‘Ground preceding Figure’ principle at work. This study has important implications for language acquisition and language teaching.

Metaphor is essentially a kind of cognitive activity，but at the same time it has plenty of cultural characteristics．This paper,from the perspective of conceptual metaphor theory and based on Korean corpus，analyzes the conceptual metaphor of Korean “ANGER”and attempts to give a clear explanation of its metaphoric characteristics from the point of view of traditional philosophy and medical science．

Based on a survey on great achievements by Xu Fancheng，a long-neglected translator and scholar，the present paper outlines Xu’s life experiences and deeds，translations and his perceptions and insights on translation with a view to reseating him as an outstanding translator and translation theorist. Also the great influence of his translation practice and theory on the multilevel exchanges among the Chinese， Western and Indian cultures are discussed，which is of great significance for advancing the current translation studies in China.

Gadamer advocates“diverse understandings”of works of art，confirming the creativity of aesthetic interpretation. In his aesthetic interpretation system，former judgment，temporal distance，effective history and fusion of horizon are highlighted as the key elements for aesthetic understanding and artistic creation. Gadamer’s aesthetic thoughts afford much food for thought for the translation of Chinese classical poetry. This paper，through a comparative study on the three English versions of Li Bai’ s“Taking Leave of a Friend”， observes that successful representation of the original beauty of source text does not lie in the superficial transference of language or mechanical imitation，but undergoes，under the interaction of former judgment，temporal distance，effective history and fusion of horizon，a more complicated process involving the active dialogue between the translator and the source text，resulting in the fusion of their horizons as well as the creative transference of artistic beauty. From brilliant ST to brilliant TT，the generative effect of aesthetic interpretation serves as the key to the eternal renewal of Chinese classical poetry.

Kureishi is an influential South-Asian immigrant writer in contemporary British literature. His literary works can be mainly classified into two types, condition of England literature which investigates social issues, and Bildungsroman that explores subjective problems. The King and Me, Kureishi’s first play produced in 1983, investigates living conditions and problems of Bildung of white working class youngsters in the Thacherite Britain. This paper, focusing on the motif of Bildung in the play, applies narrative theories of Bildung and trauma, examines different processes of epiphanies of two Elvis fans, and analyzes the class motivation and gender difference in the motif of Bildung. In this way, it aims to expose gender politics of traumatic narratives in two different modes of Bildung: cognitive development and sensible experience. With Kureishi as a typical example, it provides a deeper understanding of the motif of Bildung and the problem of trauma of the immigrant literatures in current Britain.

Animal studies explore the ethical identity of animals and critique the anthropocentrism in the human/animal binary thinking of Western culture. It unearths the collaboration between speciesism and racism, classism, and sexism and reveals the exploitative nature in the literary and cultural representation of animals. The goal of animal studies is to promote a redefinition of the human identity in the ecological community and achieve a historical reconciliation of humans and non-human animals. Furthermore, animal studies provide a new perspective and critical discourse for the interpretation of animal images in literature. Efforts are made to restore their identity as subjects of life rather than as merely symbols and metaphors.

Ishmael Reed has come under criticism because of his critique on the white middle-class feminist movement, so his works are easily misinterpreted by scholars and readers alike. By analyzing Reckless Eyeballing, his most controversial novel, this essay reviews African American male stereotype and essentialism in feminist movement, to illustrate Reed’s application of black tricksters’ signifying in deconstructing essentialism, thus to further explicate Reed’s political stance on gender and racial issues.

This article, from the multi-layed perspective and situating itself within the domain of semiotics, cognitive-neuro science and education, discusses the relationship between Chinese English majors’ skills training courses and critical thinking. The survey indicates that Chinese English majors’ skills training courses differentiate itself from critical thinking in terms of the levels they are situated on, the training objective, the positions in cerebral cortical regions, the specific teaching procedure, the disciplinary knowledge, the structure of knowledge and the categories of cognition. The study also finds that by only relying upon skills training courses it is hard for us to nourish talents with critical thinking and critical thinking skills. On the other hand, if we only focus on the training of critical thinking, neglecting the learning of skills training courses, students will not have a good command of English skills. Thus, unless we adopt the critical thinking -oriented approach in our English skills training courses, we can straighten out the relationship between Chinese English majors’ skills training courses and critical thinking, and step by step produce talents with both professional skills knowledge and critical thinking skills or creative awareness.