[应用文书]红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略.doc

毕 业 论 文The Differences of the Connotation of the Color Red and Their Translation Strategies红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略 学院 专业 级 班学生姓名 学 号 指导教师 职 称 完成日期 Abstract: Color words and culture are inseparable relationship, and it as a part of a language, color words have the rich cultural connotation. The different cultures of Chinese and western has shown the larger difference in the language. The appearance of color words is the need of language and cultural development, although there is a similarity between different cultures, different nations for the same color may confer different symbolic meanings; red is a basic color. Because of the general characteristics of human culture, the symbolic meanings of red have many similarities in Chinese and western culture. However, because the differences of habits and customs, lifestyles, historical backgrounds and religious beliefs, There are more differences between Chinese and Western. For example the red in this paper, red is a kind of objective existence、special physical form. People in both emotionally and visually have a respond on the red to a certain extent. This paper expounds connotation difference of Chinese and Western culture on the red, it explains that mastering red words deeper meaning in the two language, is a way of better understanding of Chinese and Western cultural connotations so that we can take reasonable, effective translation strategies.Key Words: red; culture; connotation; differences; translation strategies【摘要】颜色词与文化有着不可分割的关系，而且它作为语言的一部分，有着丰富的文化涵义。中西文化不同，表现在语言上有较大的差异。颜色词的出现是语言和文化发展的需要，虽然不同文化之间有相似之处，不同民族对同一种颜色可能赋予不同的象征意义；在中西方文化中红色是基本廉色。因为人类文化的一般特性，红色的象征意义在中西方中有很多相似之处。不过,因为风俗习惯，生活方式，历史背景和宗教信仰等的不同，两者之间有更多的不同之处。本文以红色为例，红色是一种客观存在的、特殊的物质形态。人们无论在情感上还是视觉上在一定程度上对红色做出反应。本文阐述了中西文化中红色的内涵差异，说明掌握表示红色的词语在两种语中的深层含义，有利于更好的理解中西文化中的内涵差异，从而采取合理、有效的翻译策略。【关键词】红色、文化、内涵、差异、翻译策略ContentsIntroduction.11. The Relationship between Language and Culture.12. The Connotation of the Color Red .2 2.1 Chinese culture and “红”.2 2.1.1 Advocating the Historical Origin of Red.2 2.1.2Concrete Performance of Advocating Red.2 2.1.2.1 The Symbol of Authority and Dignity.2 2.1.2.2 The Symbol of Festival and Lively.3 2.1.2.3 The Symbol of Beauty and Health.3 2.1.2.4 The Symbol of Prosperity and Success.4 2.1.2.5 A Symbol of Loyalty and Revolution.4 2.1.2.6 The Symbol of Exorcisms and Peace.42.2 Western Culture and “Red”.5 2.2.1 The Main Reason for Hating Red.5 2.2.2 Specific Performance of Hate Red.5 2.2.2.1 The Symbol of Blood and Violence.5 2.2.2.2 The Symbol of Debauchery and Obscenity.5 2.2.2.3 The Symbol of Danger and Warming.6 2.2.2.4 The Symbol of Unpopular.63. Properly Policies Should Be Taken in Translation.7 3.1 Literal Translation.7 3.2 Free Translation.8 3.3 Substitution Method.9 3.4 Mutual Substitution Method of Basic Color Terms and Real Color.10Conclusion.10Bibliography.12Acknowledgement.13IntroductionColor is connected with human life, if color doesnt exist, humans life will become tedious. In order to distinguish between the various color, color word also appears in succession. Color words not only have the natural attribute, but also contain rich culture connotations and symbolic meanings. Although the color words is only a small part of the language, but the use of color words, especially the symbolic meanings of color words can greatly enhance the rhetorical effect to make the language vividly. According to some researches show that, except human color blindness, the visual system of observing the color in physiology is no different, therefore, with different national culture, color perception ability in theory should be no distinction. So in English and Chinese culture, there should have some consensus in color perception ability and the symbolic meanings of color words, sometimes those can be partial equivalence. But each language has its own unique language system and construction, every nation has their own habits and customs, way of thinking, language psychology, behavior norms, values and cultural traditions. For any one color, complete equivalence in semantics and cultural between the two languages are extremely rare. In addition, even the same color can also stimulate different ethnic peoples different emotion, so “red” reflects the different language and culture connotation in these two languages and has different symbolic meanings.1. The Relationship between Language and CultureThe relationship between language and culture is very close. Language is the carrier of culture, it also a mirror of national culture, language cannot leave the culture exists, more cannot be separated from language education and continues its development. Culture is the human living environment, all aspects of human life are affected by the cultural. Humans living in the colorful world, naturally, it has a lasting and profound influence to social culture and color. In turn, color also reflects a little of culture. Color not only has the obvious function of aesthetics. At the same time also has the function of transmission of information and riches cultural connotation. People living in such a rich and colorful world, the feeling of color is inevitably affected by the impact of a countrys traditional culture. “Peoples color concept is the organic component of cultural values”. Color words not only reflect different cultural connotations, also belong to different culture created by the cultural characteristic words.As French linguists Sapir in the book-linguistic said: “language has something behind, and the language cannot leave the culture exists.” It can be seem that language is the product of culture. A nations culture has a directly impact on the nations social organization and cognitive style. Therefore, peoples feeling and expression on red are not the same, so the connotation of red between Chinese and Western culture will make a big difference, only grasp these differences can we profoundly understand the meanings of the original text and take accurate translation strategies, this paper take the differences of the connotation of the color red as an example, In order to study the differences of cultural connotation and adopt the corresponding translation strategy.2. The Connotation of the Color Red2.1 Chinese Culture and 红2.1.1 Advocating the Historical Origin of Red“Red” is the main tone in the Chinese nation color spectrum, Chinese favor for red with a long history. Since ancient times, from the old to the youth, all has a deep interest and affection in red. Because in the Chinese language and culture, “red” is closely linked with marriage and festival and the color of happiness, which contains active, positive color meaning and cultural connotation. Red has always been decorated with Chinese life and festivals, “红” in the Chinese culture is derived from the sun, because of the hot sun like fire, its color is red. The ancients believed that sun rise and all creations wake up. People feel all things breeding and full of vibrant under the sun, thus have a warm feeling on the red. In addition, the Chinese nation is fond of red, which evolved from blood worship, fire worship and sun worship in the ancient times. In the primitive society, the hunting activities inevitably will be bloodshed and death. In some original tombs, red iron ore powder sprinkled on the ground beside the corpse. The ancestors used to turn undead and pray for regeneration. Visibly, blood can lead to evil or ward off evil spirits. While fire can resist cold and wild animal, and baked food, so ancestors think it can get rid of evil and eliminate disaster. As for the sun, it rises with fiery red, which has dazzling rays of light and burning temperature that brings light and warmth、hope and peace to the mankind. People think this is the gift of god to send power to make everything vitality, therefore, our ancestors full of worship for the mysterious of red. Owing to the Chinese cultural has a long history, there was never a fault, making the Chinese nation enrich and continue the worship of red.2.1.2 Concrete Performance of Advocating Red2.1.2.1 The Symbol of Authority and DignityBecause different nation have different historical development, describing the physical of the same color in all languages is generated by the psychological meanings cannot be identical, often with distinctive ethnic characteristics.In ancient Chinese primitive society, red is the first one to be applied to human life in color and a symbol of the ancient Chinese southern. In addition, “红”in China is considered as a happy festive color, means solemn and noble. Before the 11th century, Zhou dynasty, palace buildings generally use red, and spread to future generations. Because the imperial palace is the supreme rulers activity place, it must show supreme、noble and rich everywhere and all the time. Therefore, since the ancient times, people have already treated red as the supreme color. Senior official monopolize “红”, officials、residence and dress are also mainly in red. Du Fu said:“朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨”，“朱门”means the red door, it is known that only ancient high officials and noble lords can use red as wealthy homes, not only people cannot use it, low-level officials also cannot use. So the Chinese ancient high officials and noble lords house known as“朱门”, a powerful persons sedan is called“朱轩”, the clothing is called“朱衣”.Tang dynasty regulated that lords and the officials of the court above third grade, whose clothing are purple, while above fifth grade, their clothes are red. this is the reason why people described a successful people as“大紫大红”,Ming dynasty canceled hundreds of years the most noble colorpurple, red instead. it regulated that the color of first to forth grade is “绯色”,绯色 is red. From them on, fresh red is becoming the noblest color after yellow. it is visible that red has been regarded as noble by the feudal rulers, and widely be used in various items, such as the doors color、the color of the clothes, the palace,“丹书” is a special certificate that imperial given special treatment to a person who does a great thing, and the surface of the book is red. Now the government issued the important documents that also called as red tape.In the western, people prefer to purple, In ancient Greece，the ancient Rome emperor, archon and general are wore in purple, purple is a symbol of nobility and dignity, throne and reign. “wearing purple clothes” means a high statue, such as to raise to the purple(升为红衣主教)；to be born in the purple(生于帝王之家)，to marry in to the purple(与皇家联姻) and so on.2.1.2.2 The Symbol of Festival and Lively Red is the most commonly used and one of the most popular colors. As early as six-seven thousand years ago, the ancestors can use hematite powder dyed linen into red. People associated red with the sun. In Chinese, traditional custom and folk festival activity have to use red , for example ,in the Spring Festival, people often hang red lights and covered with red cloth ;The elder give the younger generations New Years money or elders saw the newly-married couple in their first time and given them a gift, which is called as “red packets”; a businessman do his business after the Spring Festival, at that time the prices of the goods is called “红盘”, some rural areas of Shanxi, the bridegroom, bride and bridegrooms parents and brother will paint their faces into red faces, that indicated more and more prosperous after married life; when celebrating a opening business or cooperation, people always use a bright red silk tied into a big red flower, all these are for good luck. Of course, bearing a baby is a great thing in China, so if a family has a new child, they will distribute “red eggs” to their relatives and friends. In traditional wedding banquet, red expresses happy smiling faces. New house、Bridal chamber and the furniture are posted with red double happiness; burning red candle; The groom wears a red flower in the front of his chest ; the bride put on a red dress and covered a piece of red cloth on her head. “红尘” refers to the dust raised by horseshoe in the old time, now it means the hustle and bustle world. In the English-speaking countries, it is also a symbol of festive, but not far from widely used in China.A red-letter day marked in red ink, that day means a day that was worth remembering something important. This is because the Catholic church in ancient times uses red ink to write festivals and holy days on the schedule.2.1.2.3 The Symbol of Beauty and HealthIn China, “红” have many extensive meanings, while in English without some of those meanings. “红” often related with woman , such as “红妆”,“红颜”,“红粉”,“红袖”,“红闺”.While “red” has no that corresponding meanings. Thus people use it to describe the womans youth and beauty appearance, such as “红粉佳人”、“红颜知已”, the young girls room is called as“朱阁”，the writing paper is known as “红笺”. The powder used to make up a person ,which is called“朱粉”,In addition, “红”is a symbol of the meaning of “health”, it obviously reflected in China, for example, when it comes to a boy or a girls red face, meaning that he (or she) is beautiful; “红光满面”means a person in a good and healthy physical condition, whose face with ruddy cheek and look good. In English, when describing a persons health, they need not to use the word of “red”, but use rosy cheeks (红光满面), in the pink condition (身体健康).2.1.2.4 The Symbol of Prosperity and SuccessPeople are fond of “红”，it embodies the pursuit of spiritual and material of the Chinese people. “Red” is the most commonly used in our country that can express the meaning of one of color word. From the old to the young, they all have a deep interest and affection in red, “红”means smooth and success in Chinese, such as “红运”, “开门红”, “满堂红”, etc. all these shows smooth and very good luck; In the stock market also use “红利”,“分红”,“开门红”and so on, those words are used to express all things goes best. If your name on the “红榜”, of course，means that you have achieved success in one aspect and get the publics approval; If you are famous of acting, became a “红角儿”, or singing made you known to everyone, became a “红歌星”, that means you have very popular with the audience. In English-speaking countries, “red” have very few in this connotation. The word “red shirt” is not represent a winner, but that refers to the scores is bad and sports skills are excellent in American university students.2.1.2.5 A Symbol of Loyalty and RevolutionIn the traditional Beijing Opera, Guanyus face symbolizes the qualities of his loyalty and upright；in Chinese, “赤胆忠心，碧血丹心”also used to describe peoples loyalty and justice.;“红”symbolizes the meaning of revolutionary with commendatory term and progress, besides, “红” is closely linked with the blood, it symbolizes dauntless national integrity、the spirit of patriotism、strong revolutionary will and the communist ideal. In ancient China, farmers organize a army named “赤眉军”；in modern times,“红军”,“红色娘子军”,“红色政权”,“红卫兵”as revolutionary words are known to every family. Now we also easily find in our country that there are still a lot of political meanings ,which are related to 红. Such as the national flag of China is a red flag with five stars, the national emblem of China is red, and the meetings of the communist party of China are decorated in red. “红枫” is a symbol of revolutionary enthusiasm, “红烛” means the spirit of dedication, etc. During the cultural revolution, even apply “红海洋”to signify revolution. In short, in our country “红” represents the Chinese peoples indomitable spirit and strong national spirit.2.1.2.6 The Symbol of Exorcisms and PeaceIn the traditional custom, in ones year of birth considered in relation to the12 Terrestrial Branches, regardless of adult or child ,they will buy a red belt that commonly known as“扎红”, the child will wear red vest and red trousers ,people think in this way it could hasten lucky and eliminate all catastrophe. Today this custom is still popular everywhere, every Spring Festival, many shops sell “吉祥带”、“吉祥结”,with red and yellow ribbons. This life year people will be fastened that on their waist and wrist for good wishes. In some countryside, many children die of poor medical health condition and poor nutrition in young time. For the sake of peace and health, parents will tie a red line on the neck of their children until the adults. Some places, a tree hung on red ribbons, people usually treat the tree as “sacred tree”, and hung a red ribbon to pray the peace of the whole family.2.2 Western Culture and Red2.2.1 The Main Reason for Hating RedWestern civilization pay attention to the exploration and application of science research method, people take pragmatic science attitude to the objective world and the objective understanding. so in Western cultu