英汉颜色词的文化内涵对比与翻译(修改页码).doc

毕 业 论 文

院 别 政法学院
系 别 政法系
专 业 法学
年 级 08级
学生姓名 郑迪珩
学 号 200824022123
论文题目 英汉颜色词的文化内涵对比与翻译
指导教师 张琼
完成时间 年 月

肇庆学院教务处制

A Contrastive Study of Color Words in Chinese and English and Their Translation

Zheng Diheng

A Thesis
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for Foreign Language School
At Zhaoqing University
November 3, 2011

Abstract
When translating, translators may feel some confused in color words. We need to know the different meanings between Chinese and English if we want to translate correctly. Chinese and English have many differences from each other. Language is a part of one culture. In this paper, the writer will give a contrastive study of color words in Chinese and English and use some methods to solve the problems.

Key Words: Color Words; Culture; A Contrastive Study; Translation

内容摘要
在中英翻译的过程中，有时会遇到一些颜色词的翻译，要想正确翻译颜色词，就要先了解中英颜色词文化的内涵，寻找中英两种语言中颜色词使用的异同。由于诸多因素影响,彼此存在着很大差异。语言是文化不可分割的一部分,因而汉英两种语言的差异成为中西文化差异的一面镜子。本文从颜色词入手,通过比较的方法对英汉基本颜色词的异同进行了分析探讨,提出了颜色词翻译的几种不同方法,以解决颜色词翻译过程中的文化不等值现象。

关键词：颜色词；文化；对比；翻译

Acknowledgments
On the completion of my thesis, I should like to express my deepest gratitude to all whose kindness and advice have made this work possible. I am greatly indebted to my supervisor, Miss Zhang.

Outline
Thesis Statement: Recent studies of contrast and analysis of Chinese and western culture in the symbolic meaning of color words that we in the practical life better appropriate and application of words of color in Chinese and western culture.
1. Introduction
2. Color Words in Chinese and English
2.1 Black
2.2 White
2.3 Red
2.4 Green
2.5 Yellow
2.6 Blue
3. The Translation of Color Words
3.1 Literal Translation
3.2 Free Translation
4. Conclusion

Table of Contents
1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………1
2. Color Words in Chinese and English……......……………………………………….1
2.1 Black.................................................................…………………1
2.2 White………………………………………........................................................2
2.3 Red………………………………………. .............................................……….2
2.4 Green..............................................................................................3
2.5 Yellow...................................................................................................................4
2.6 Blue.......................................................................................................................4
3. The Translation of Color Words……...………………………………………..….…5
3.1 Literal Translation………….........……………………………………………...5
3.2 Free Translation…………………………………………................……………5
4. Conclusion...................................................................................................................6
Notes ………………..………………………………….…………………………....7
Bibliography ……………………………..…………….………………………….....7

I. Introduction
From the scientific definition, color is a visual phenomenon launched, reflected or caused through certain light wave by the object; it is one kind of visual essential features of human eye.1 In my opinion, color words are used to describe colors of things and they have traits of national culture. Since different country have different customs, culture background and religions, the same color may have different meanings. As a result, it is important for the translators to consider about the exactly definition of the color words. In this way, translations will be clearer and true. On the basic color words, there is not so much difference in English and in Chinese. In Chinese, there are 赤, 橙, 黄, 绿, 青, 蓝, 紫,while in English there are red, white, black, green, yellow, blue and purple. Owing to the different historic cultural background of the two cultures, the same color words have different symbolic meanings. The following will list the same and the differences between Chinese and English in the same color word.

II. Color Words in Chinese and English
Here I will site six color words –black, white, red, green, yellow and blue, to show the same and the difference between Chinese and English culture.
2. 1 Black
"Black" is the very darkest color, like night or coal. It also means "without light; completely dark", like "a black night ".
In Chinese, the "黑" is always together with "scoundrel, reactionary and evil, misfortune, illegal and covered". For example, "黑市, 黑帮, 黑心肠, 黑社会, 黑客". In Chinese traditional culture, black and white both belong to the Five Colors. In Chinese funeral, people usually wear a black armband to show their mourns to the death relative. On one hand, black stands for solemn and just, such as Baozheng ; On the other hand, it stands for evil and reactionary, like黑幕, 黑手. Black also stands for illegal and commit such as走黑道,黑店 is the hotel the does illegal deals,背黑锅 means be treated unjustly. Besides, black means misfortune, such as 黑材料, 黑五类, 黑夫妻, 黑后台 and so on.
In English, "black" means "evil or immoral". It also express as "without hope, very depressing", "full of anger or hatred".2 For example, "black mood", "black day", "black sheep". In the west, black is a taboo color, which stands for darkness. It means death and sinister, such as Black Mass, to wear black for her mother, black words, a black letter day, Black Friday. Black symbolizes wicked and guilty, for example, black man, a black deed, black guard, Black-hand, black-hearted. And it means disgrace, such as a black mark; a black eye, A black sheep. And black means dejected and resent: black dog, black future, a black look, and black thoughts. Although black means dead and evil, it also stands for solemn and dignified. Black suit is the westerner’s favorite traditional dress. In solemn occasions, the officials and celebrities would prefer to dress in black. There is no greatly discrimination by using "black" between English and Chinese.

2. 2 White
In Chinese , "白" stand for "pure" and "immaculate", like "洁白无暇","雪白","清白无辜".Meanwhile, "白"also is the symbol of "dead", "ill omen". For example, when one died his family members must dress in white, and hold a funeral and this is called 白事. "白" means "without payment", like "白拿"and"白给". "白"also means "in vain", like "白费力气" and "白白浪费一天的时间". In Chinese feudal society, the common people were forbidden to dress in any other colors except white, so they were called 白衣 or 布衣. The persons with no position are 白丁 or 白身, their houses are 白屋.
In English, "white" means "having the color of fresh snow or of milk" as Chinese, like "a white shirt" （白衬衫）, "a set of perfect white teeth" (一口洁白无瑕的牙齿). "White" also use to express "lucky", "fortunate" and "goodwill", like "a white day"（吉日）, "a white witch"（一个做好事的巫师）, "a white lie"（善意的谎言）. Sometimes, "white" means somebody's face pales, and extend "timid and overcautious". Take "white as a sheet"（苍白如纸）, "white-livered"（懦弱胆小的）for example. White in the western culture is usually an esteem color. White is considered pure. White is the traditional color for the brides at weddings, and to wear white at funerals would be offensive. As white is the color of the snow, so there is a white Christmas and a white winter. Lily white means as white and pure as lily. White stands for honest and upright, such as a white spirit, white man, and white hand. White also stands for lucky, such as one of the white days in somebody's life, white magic, and white hope is a person who is expected to bring success to a team. White stands for legal and non-malice, such as white market, white list.
Besides, white also has derogatory meanings; show the white feather means act in a cowardly way, the same as white lipped, a face white with fear, as white as a sheet. White flag symbolizes giving up on something.

2.3 Red
In Chinese, "红" is the symbol of "joyous", "happy", "successful". Like "红榜","红红火火","红灯笼","走红运". These words are expressing the same meaning--"full of joy" and "jubilant". "红" also means "dividends". Take "分红" for example.Red in the Chinese culture is a basic esteem color. In the Chinese's mind, it signifies excitement and succeeding, lucky, loyal and flourishing. In Chinese traditional wedding, people put up the character 喜, the bride is dressed in red, the bridegroom wears a red flower on his breast. On happy days, people decorate their houses with red lanterns and doublets. 红火 means prosperous, 红尘 means the world of mortal, 红包 is a red envelop containing money as a gift, tip or bonus. We say someone 走红 when he has his good lot, and 红人 means the one who is trusted unduly by his superiors. In Chinese, red has the most pronounced political color, and is frequently used to stand for revolution and progress. The first regime of the Communist Party is 红色政权, and the first armed forces is 红军.And 红卫兵 the red guard, 红色根据地 the red base area. Besides, 红烛 the red candle stands for dedication. Red also means beautiful and pretty. A lady's splendid dress is called 红妆 , a beautiful young woman is 红袖 or 红颜.
In English, "red" sometimes means "joyous" as the same in Chinese. For example, "a red letter day"（是一个喜庆的日子）, "red carpet" （表示红地毯并可引申为隆重欢迎的意思）. But "red" is derogatory sense in many times, for example, "a red battle"（血战）, "red alert"（紧急警报）,"red ruin"（火灾）, "red-handed"（血淋淋的）, "in the red"（负债累累）. In these words, "red" means "bleed", "danger", "brutal" and "deficit".
Red in the western culture mainly refers to color of blood, and in minds of the westerner, blood is the "liquid of the life". So the westerners always associate red with the violence and dangerous, for example red hands, red revenge, and a red battle. It also stands for radical and violent, such as red revolution, red activities, red-headed; like a red rag to a bull means likely to cause strong violence. It also stands for dangerous and tense, such as red alert, a red flag. Red in the west also has commendatory meaning, which is joyous, such as paint the town red means "go out and enjoy a lively, boisterous time in bars or night-clubs", a red-letter day means "a day that is important or remarkable because something happen on it", and the red carpet is specially good or respectful treatment that is given to an important guest. In accordance with some textual research, the commendatory meanings are from the Far East.

2.4 Green
"Green" means "having the color of grass or the leaves of most plants and trees" or "cover with grass or other plants". For example, "After the rains, the land was green with new growth."(雨天过后，大地一片新绿)
In Chinese, "绿" stand for "life", it often appear with "green hills and clear waters". Chinese use "绿" to describe the graceful of nature. Like, "青山绿水", "绿叶成阴", "绿茸茸". In the Chinese traditional culture, Green ranks the first in the Five Colors, signifying everything grows. In the feudal society, the dress of the government official on a lower level was regularized to be green, so it also symbolizes humble. "青衫绿袍" is a symbol of low position in the official career.
In English, "green" stand for "youthful vigor". Like "to be in the green of one's years"(某人正风华正茂), "a green old age"(老当益壮) . At the same time, "green" also means "melancholy and sad", "lack experience", "be jealous of". "A green hand" means greenhorn--a person who is not experienced. "A green prospect" means have a dark future. "To be green with envy" means "be jealous of". In English there is a term green-eyed or green with envy, both of them mean jealous and envious. However in Chinese眼红describes the same meaning. In Chinese 带绿帽子means to be a cuckold. If we translate it word by word, misunderstanding will arise.
No matter in English or Chinese, this symbolic meaning of green is all identical. Green in the western culture is mainly related to the color of the plants, it is the symbol of vigor and energy, for example, a green old age is associated with an old but vigorous man or woman. And to remain green forever means to keep fresh and vigorous forever, and also in the green; green also means fresh, such as keep a memory green, a green wound, green meat; and it means immature, inexperienced and easily fooled, such as a green hand, a green horn refers to a raw, simple and inexperienced person, easily fooled or parted from his money. In some certain phrases, green has different meanings. For example, green-light means give permission to go ahead with.

2.5 Yellow
"Yellow" is "having the color of lemons or butter", like "pale yellow flowers" (淡黄色的花朵).
"黄色" is a special color for Chinese. In antiquity of China, "黄色" is a special color which is always used in imperial house and it is the symbol of "sacred and noble", like "黄袍","黄冠"and"黄门". Today, "黄色" also use to describe something obscene, like "黄色网站", "黄色书刊"and "扫黄". In Chinese traditional culture, yellow is located in the center of the Five Colors. So far, yellow is still the symbol of old China.黄袍 is the emperor's dress,黄屋 is his carriage,黄钺is his guard of honor, 黄榜 is the proclamation published by him. And 黄道吉日 means an auspicious day.However, yellow in modern China has negative meanings, such as 黄色书刊, 黄色录象.Here yellow has an extended meaning of obscene and pornographic, while in English are "the blue video", "the blue talk".
In English, from the Bible, we know that Juda is in yellow when he betrays Jesus. And from that time, "yellow" is use to describe as "timid" and "contemptible". For example, "a yellow dog" （卑鄙小人）and "yellow-belly" （可鄙的胆小鬼）. Yellow in the west mostly has derogatory meanings. Here are some examples: yellow alert: alert in advance; a yellow dog: a contemptible person; yellow looks: suspicious looks; yellow streak: tending to be coward and chicken-hearted. In English, yellow has some particular meanings in certain texts that have no relationship with sentiment. For example, the yellow pages is the telephone dictionary, yellow boy is the golden coins.

2.6 Blue
In Chinese, "蓝色" stand for "pure", "neat", "broad" and "extensive". For example, "蓝天白云", "蓝田玉生"(比喻名门出贤弟子)and "蓝图" . It seems that blue is a favorable word to Chinese.The blue sky, can arouse us to yearn for a better future.
In English, "blue" have varied of meanings. The Black Americans like singing "blues"—a sorrowful music when they are forced to manual labor. As a result, "blue" is not only a color word of a clear sky or the sea, but to describes the feeling of sadness. For example, "blue Monday" (倒霉的星期一), "tossing the blue"(垂头丧气). Besides, blue