中英文颜色词的非对应翻译
关键词:英汉颜色词; 不对应; 原因Abstract
Because of different geographic conditions, historical processes and social cultures, English and Chinese color terms differ in the cultural features such as color preference, customs and social values. These factors result in the non-correspondence in translation of color words between English and Chinese. By presenting plenty of examples and idiomatic expressions about some colors, the author explains the non-correspondence in translation of color words between English and Chinese. Then the author analyzes the reasons for the non-corresponding translation of color words. Finally, the author will get the conclusion that a comparative study on the cultural connotations of color terms especially on the non-correspondence in translation of English color words and Chinese words is of great significance in learning and teaching English.
Key words: color words in English and Chinese; non-correspondence; causesContents
摘 要 i
Abstract ii
I. Introduction 1
II. Comparative Study on Translation of Color Words 2
2.1 The Non-corresponding Usage of Color Words 2
2.1.1 Blue and 黄色 3
2.1.2 Scarlet and 紫色 4
2.1.3 Green and 黄色 4
2.1.4 Other Colors 5
2.2 The Non-corresponding Meaning of Color Words 6
2.2.1 The Non-corresponding Translation of Chinese Color Words into English 6
2.2.2 The Non-corresponding Translation of English Color Words into Chinese 8
III. Causes of the Non-correspondence in Translation of Color Words 9
3.1 Natural Environment 9
3.2 Traditions and Customs 10
3.3 Religions 11
3.4 Philosophy 12
3.5 History 13
IV. Conclusion 14
Bibliography 15
Acknowledgements 16
The Non–correspondence in Translation of Color Words Between English and Chinese
I. Introduction
In our daily life, we are inevitably faced with rich and abundant colors, and at the same time, we need various kinds of color terms or color words to describe the colors we see. As is known to us, color terms are frequently used in literature works. Both in Chinese and English, color words are used to refer to specific colors, which have semantic features to imply the speaker’s idea, the speaker’s emotion as well as the thing or the person the speaker aims to talk about. That is, color terms not only describe color but also bring associative or symbolic meaning. We use color words to express what we like and are interest in, to communicate with other people. In this case, we use color words to convey information in our life. With the rapid development of China, there are more and more communications between China and the western countries. Therefore, it is most important to study color words.
For centuries, researches on color words have never been stopped. In western countries, the earliest exploration of colors dates back to the ancient Greek. The great philosopher Plato claimed that the process of perceiving colors by human beings should satisfy three basic conditions: a light source, a reflector or an object which can reflect light and a functional eye that can receive the reflected light. Another famous philosopher Aristotle paid more attention to the typology of color ingredients. In the article “On Colors” of the two figures expressed that there is a relationship between simple colors and some basic elements in the physical world.