汉颜色词对比及翻译

哈尔滨师范大学学年论文题目英汉颜色词对比及翻译学生阚骁指导教师尚云鹤年级2008级专业英语教育系别英语教育系学院西语学院哈尔滨师范丸学TERMPAPERENGLISHDEPARTMENT

HARBINNORMALUNIERSITYTITLE:TheContrastandTranslationofEnglishandChineseColorWordsSTUDENT:KanXiaoTUTOR:ShangYUnheGRADE:Grade2008MAJOR:EnglishEducationDEPARTMENT:EnglishDepartmentCOLLEGE:FacultyofWesternLanguagesandLiteraturesFebruary,2011HARBINNORMALUNIVERSITYTheContrastandTranslationofEnglishandChineseColor

WordsKanXiaocommon,Abstract：Colorsrelatetohumanlifeclosely.Itisoneofthemostimportantareasforthehumanunderstandoftheworld.Colordoesnotonlyhavephysicalattributesbutalsohaverichculturalconnotation.However,asEnglishandChinesebelongtotwodifferentculturallanguages.Thetwonationsthinkofthesamecolorareinsometimesaredifferent,andsometimesisoppositecompletely.Sowhenwetranslatethesentenceswithcolors,wemustunderstanditsrealmeaning.Becausesometimescolorwordsdoesnotbedescribedthecolors.Buttranslatetheothermeanings.SothiswillcomparethesimilaritiesanddifferencesforpartofEnglishandChinesecolorwordsinthelanguagefeaturesandculturalsignificance.Underwehavebetterunderstandingthendiscussthetranslationofwords.Inacrossculturalinteraction,becauseofdifferentrace,differentculturebackgroundoralthoughbelongtotogetherarace,sameculturebackground,thecentbelongstodifferentandsocialgrouporhierarchicalmemberinsocieties,feelstoknowtoeverykindofcolorsigntoisdifferent.Thiskindofisdifferenttohavethepositivemeaningonthelinguistics,itmakethecolorphrasehavevariousassociationofthoughtsmon,KeyWords:English;Chinese;color;meaning;differenceTosuccessfullytranslateexpressionsincludingbasiccolorwordsfromEnglishtoChineseorviceversa,itisakeysteptomasterthebasicandextendedmeaningofthecolorwords.BycomparingandcontrastingthedifferencesofthecorrespondingcolorwordsbetweenEnglishandChinese,generalrulesoftranslatingthecolorwordsareprobedintoandconsequentlyfourbasicpracticaltranslatingmethodsaregeneralized.ContrasttheEnglishandChineseColorWordsTheConceptsandAnalysisofColorWordsBothinEnglishandChinesehavealargenumberofcolorwords.ColorwordsinEnglishandChineselanguagetobedividedintothreeparts.Basiccolorwords,colorwordswithcolorsofobjects,colorworldsinshades.Theconceptforthebasiccolors,EnglishandChinesehasthesameideaincommon.Basiccolorwordsmeansthecolorwordscanexpressthecolorofthings.EnglishandChineseontheclassificationofbasiccolortermshavelittledifference.ChinesehasRed,orange,yellow,green,green,blue,purple.AndEnglishhavered,white,black,green,yellow,blue,purple,gray,brown.Colorwordswithcolorsofobjectsarethewordsusethecolorinthenaturetoexpressthecolor.Forexample:silver,gold,lead-gray.Thesewordsareusedindailylife.Colorworldsinshadesmeansthelightfromthesunshineondifferentcolorshavedeepcolorsandlightcolors.Likedarkblue,deepgreen,lightyellowandsoon.Fortheaboveclassifications,thisarticlediscussessomepartsofthebasiccolorwordsinEnglishandChinesecolorwordscomparisonandtranslation.Firstofall,comparethebasiccolorwordsofthesimilaritiesanddifferences.ComparisonofBasicColorWordsInalllanguages,colorswordshaveveryrichmeanings.EnglishandChinesecolorwordsnotonlyhaverichmeaningsbutalsohavewiderangeofapplications.Althoughthecolorsarenaturalphenomena,forthousandsofyears,asdifferentnationsareinfluencebynaturalenvironment,culturaltradition,costumes,nationalaesthetic,andemotionalawareness.Theyhavedifferentunderstandingwithcolors.Theywillhavedifferentideasonthesamecolor.Andmakethesamecolorwordsindifferentnationsbecomedifferentsymbolisms.Iwillchosethecolor"red,white,black,blue,yellow,green"thesixbasiccolorsfromallkindsofcolors.RedInEnglishandChinesethetwolanguages,themeaningofredintwolanguageshavemanydifferences."Red"isthecoloroffireandblood.InChineseredmeansjoyous,happiness,success,popular.Redisbasicrespectforcolorinourculture.ItreflectstheChinesepeopleinthespiritualandmaterialneeds.Forexample:Ontraditionalweddingthebridedressedinred.Thenewhousehungupredlanterns.Wedescribelively,prosperousas"红火".Englishofthe"red"couldalsobeabstractedextended.Suchas“topaintthetownred”the"red"inthesentencesreferstothecarnival,festive,butcontainsnoisyimply;andas“redcarpettreatment”，expresses"thekindofcourtesyordeferenceshowntopersonsofhighstation",because"redcarpet"itrepresentsthegrandandnoble.Andas"ThevisitingprincesswastreatingtotheredcarpetinRome"expressestheprincessinRomewastreatedwithgrand.Redsymbolizesrevolutionandsocialism.Suchas“redguard”translateinto“红军”.The“Red”whichwascapitalinEnglishuseas“thecommunists”or“communistpartymember”，butitalsohasderogatorysense,suchasredhotpoliticalcampaign.“Red”sometimesexpressessomefeelings,forexamplebecomered-faceorherfaceturnedred,meanssorry.But,sometimesinEnglishredisnoteasytounderstand,suchastoseered,wavingaredflag.Thefirstonemeanangry,theotheronemeanssomethingmakesomebodyangry.Forexample:Themerementionofhishatedfusion'snamewaslikewavingaredflaginfrontofhim.Ontheotherside“Red”Willalsobringgrief、abhor、disgracetopeople.Ofcourse,thesebasicallyuseinEnglish-speakingcountries.Suchas“theredlightsdistrict”aimthebrothels;andas“runningthebusinessinthered”express“losingmoneymanagement”.“Redlight”isthesymbolofwarning,dangerous.UseindailylifemeanswemuststoporItisdanger.White'White”meanspureandinnocenceinChinese.Butthereisalsosomecontainingmoredifferent.InChinesewhitemoreusewithdeathandzombieassociated.Forexample,inChinese“wearredorwhite,thatis,atweddingsorfunerals”Oneofthe“white”meantthefuneral.Thedeceased'sfamilydressedinwhite,wearwhitehats,andwearwhiteflowerssaidmemorial.Butthe“white”inwesternculturemeanspureandcherubichappinessGiovannicoollygiggle.Suchas“Whensomepeoplegetmarriedtheyusuallydressedinwhite”Contactwhiteandmourningtogethercancausewesternersantipathy.Putfuneralsintohappyoccasions,cancausethewesternerssurprised.InChineseculture,thesaiddeathtakesthingsphilosophicallyreactionChineseattitude.MostofChinesepeoplethinkthattheoldpeoplediedareagoodthing.Tooldpeople,dieisliberation.Asthedevelopingoflanguage,the“white”inChineseandEnglishhasitsownspecialmeanings.InChineseitmeansfruitless,novalue,vacant,clear.AndinEnglish’White”meansinnocence,goodwill,lucky,honestyandsoon.Suchas“awhitelie”means“aliewithgoodwill”,“whitewar”,“whitesale”,“thewhiteway”,and“Oh,don'tforgetBlackandWhite”;andas“awhiteday”means“Luckyday”.Inaword,thewordwhiteisnotusually“white”.Black“Black”inChineseandEnglishhavelittledifferent.Theybothmeandeath,suffering.InChineseblackusuallyputtedtogetherwithbad,dark,evil.AndinEnglish,suchas“blackmarket”(Illegaltrade)andas”blackhand”(mafia)andsoon.Interestingly,inbusinessEnglish“intheblack”meansgood.Indailylifethosepeoplewhohasnoaccount,wecallthem“blackaccount”.Inthebible“black”meansdevil,evil,unfortunate,pain.Suchas“blackFriday”meansabadday;andas“blacksheep”meansevilmemberoftheherd.Peoplealsouseblackmeansmajesticanddark.InChinesepeopleuseblacktosymbolintegrity,fortitude,disinterested.Inwestern,whenpeopletakepartinamajesticparty,theyusuallydressedinblacktoexpressmajestic,solemn.Blue“Blue”inChineseandEnglisharedifferent.BlueinEnglishisameaningveryrichcolorword.Thecoloroftheskyandtheseaisblue,soblueinChinesemeansquiet,reedandhappy.Suchas“blue”whichmeansgooddreamsordreamdreams.ButinEnglish“Blue”usuallymeansunhappy,melancholy.Suchas“inbluemoon”(depressed),italsoexpressafteragoodholidays,wemustgobacktoworkorschoolagain.“ItwasblueMondayandhejustdidn'tfeellikegoingtoschool.”And“Blue”alsomeanshighstatus,powerfulandnobilityidentitySuchas“Heisarealblueblood”(Heisatruenobility).InAmericanEnglish“BLUEBOOK”isabookwhichpublishescelebrities.InEnglish,bluealsomeansbawdyandpornography.Suchas“Bluefilm”meanspornographicmovie.“blue-eyedboys”meansthepeoplewhowaslikedbyhisboss.“bluecollarworkers”meanstheworkerswhoworkonphysicallabor.“abluemoon”meanswecanhardlyhaveachancelikethis.“blueskymarket”meansthemarketisopenintheair.YellowItissimilartoread.ItisdifferentfromEnglish.InChineseyellowrepresentpowerandmajestyThecolorinChinaisveryimportant,becauseonlytheemperorcanwearyellowclothes,andothersarenotdaringtodressinyellow.Yellowalwaysmeansgloryandhonor.ButinEnglish“yellow”doesnotmeanthemeaninginChinese.InmodernChineseitusuallymeansnastyandfall.Andmostmeanssex.Intheculturalofwesternthe“yellow”meansjustice,wisdom,andgloryInwesternartSt.Peterdressedinyellow.Besidesyellowmeansbadorbadthings,italsomeanscowardly,unreliableandjealousyGreen“Green”inChineseandEnglishisalsodifferent.InChinesepeopleusuallyputgreenwithspring,meanslife,hopeandpeaceandsoon.Forexample“GreenPeaceOrganization”InmodernChineseithasbeenendowedwithnewmeaning.Likeidioms“wearagreenhat”meanshiswifeandothersadultery.Inwesternculture,greenalsosymbollifeandspring.FamouspoemsLanai'sverse“vernalbreezesgreentheThameswithakiss”(meansspring).“Green”inEnglishalsoexpressesjealousy,suchas“Greenwithenvy”.Itstillmeansfresh,noexperience.Suchas“greenhand”，“greengoods”，“greenhouseeffect”.Asdollarsaregreen,greenalsomeansmoney.Forexample“greenbank”.“greenpower”meansthepowerofmoney.“greenpound”meansthepriceofagriculturalproducts.“lookgreen”meanssomebodydosenotlookverywell.“givesomebodyorsomethinggreenlight”meansshonebodydosomethingforbeingconvenientforsomebody.Accordingtothestatementbelow,wecouldknowthesamecolorindifferentlanguagesmaybesimilar,andmaybeopposite.Everycolorwordinourdailylifeisflexible.Especiallyinthetimewhichcommunicateclosely.Thetwolanguages,EnglishandChinesemutualinfiltration,mutualfusion,mutualreferences.Soincommunicativeapplicationprocess,wemustbaseondifferentculturalbackgroundanddifferentlanguagedifferencestolearnandunderstand.TheTranslationofColorWordsSocalledtranslation,justmeansthroughalanguageconveysinformationofanotherlanguage.Thereforesayanytranslationisinseparablefromtheculture.Experiencedtranslatorsandtranslationresearcherspaymoreattentiontocultureandtranslationrelationship.AsthesirWangZuoLiangsay:"...translatormustbearealmenofletters".(thetranslationofculturalcomparison",1984.1."translationcommunication").AndthroughcomparisonofEnglishandChinesecolorwordsabove,wecanseethat,becauseethnicpsychology,aestheticstandardsaredifferentandmanyotherfactors,Englishlanguageofsymbolicmeaningofcolorwordsandemotionalcolordifferenceisbigger,isEnglishlearnersandtranslatorsmustconqueradifficulty.Asweknow,differentnationalitiesfromdifferentperspectives(with)observation,forexample:startingfromthecontentofChinesenoticebutEnglishisattentionfrombackgroundof.Forexample,soromanticbluenecessarysymbolshouldpayattentiontointranslationpractice,cannotbeseparatedfromthecontextofthespecificcircumstancesofisolatedcomprehensionandtranslation,wemustunderstandtheoriginalcolorwordsinthemeaningoftheoriginalbasis,combiningwiththewholetothecolorwordflexibleprocessing,canavoidthetranslationerrorordietranslationphenomenon.Normally,colorwordmeansnothingmorethantwoaspects:basicmeaningsandculturaljargons.Accurateunderstandingofcolorwordsmeaningisfaithfultranslationsmoothcolorwordsfoundation.Ithinkthatcolorwordtranslationmethodscanberoughlydividedintotwokinds,“literarytranslation”and“freetranslation”LiteraryTranslationSocalledliterarytranslationmeanswhenweconveytheoriginalmeaningmakethetranslationofexpressionsandsyntaxstructuretokeepconsistentasfaraspossible,cancompletelyequivalentiscompletelyequivalent,cannotcompletelyequivalenceasfaraspossibletoequivalence.Mainlyusedforbetweenbasiclanguageandtargetlanguagewithculturalcommonality.InEnglish-Chinesetranslationcolorwords,somecanbefoundinthetargetlanguagecolorcorrespondingwordtotranslation.Forexample“blackmarket”，“blacklist",“whitehouse”，“yellowpages”，“greenlight”,“Red,orange,yellow,green,blue,indigo,violet,whoisdancing,wavingthecoloredribbonagainstthesky?”FreeTranslationSocalledfreetranslation,meanslayparticularstressontranslatedintothelanguage.Justmeansbreakthesemester,anddigoutthelanguageitsrealmeaning.WhenChinesecolorwordsisjustaimpliedmeaning,intranslatingintoEnglishonlyintroduceitsmeaning,avoiditscolor,totakefreetranslation.Andfreetranslationhasavarietyoftranslation.Here,basicallyintroducesthreekinds.ConvertColorLexicalBecausethedifferencesofEnglishandChinesecolorwordsoftheculturalstillbehaveindifferentcolorwordbehaviorthesameconnotation.Intheprocessoftranslatingcanuseconvertcolorlexical.Inotherwords,wecanusethecolorwordswhichthereaderknowstochangetheoriginalcolorwords.Forexample:blacktea,brownsugar,brownbread,purplewine,bluefilms,greeneyes,andwithredeyes.RemoveColorLexicalWhenthecultureofEnglishandChinesecolorwordsarenotthesame,wecanuseremovecolorlexical.Forexample:“Thepopstarisnowattheheightofherpopularity”,“greenhouse”,“redlight”,“whitehands”,“blacksheep”，“blacklie”.AddedthatColorMorphologyWhenthecultureofEnglishandChinesecolorwordsareblankandopposite,wecanuseaddedthatcolormorphology.Inotherwords,keeptheoriginalwords,andaddedit,showthecultureoftheoriginalwords.Forexample:Whitegoodsconsume80percentoftheelectricityinhisapartment.ConclusionVocabularyisthemostactivepartoflanguage.Itcandirectlyreflectthesocialchangesandculturaldevelopments.Invocabularyisthemirrorofthesocietyandculture,soarecolorterms.EnglishandChinese,aslanguageswithalonghistory,arebothabundantinbasiccolorterms,andalmostallthebasiccolortermscarrytheirownpeculiarconnotations.Withthedeepeningofthecross-culturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandwesternworld,ithasbeenrealizedthatbasiccolortermsformanareainwhichmisunderstandingsoccurincross-culturalcommunications.ThroughthecontrastivestudyontheexpressionsofbasiccolortermsbetweenEnglishandChinese,itisfoundmuchculturaldiversitiesintheaspectssuchassocialpsychology,custom,religion,andphilosophyaswellascolororientation.OfcoursetheEnglishandChinesecolorwords,andtranslationmethodscontentisfarmorethanthese.Therearemanycontentsarenotinvolved.Butfromwhathavediscussedabove,wecanconcludethatthecolorwordsarequitewidespreadusedinChineseandEnglish.Andbecausethatthetwolanguages'habitsaredifferent,customsaredifferent,thewaysandwordsweusetoexpressthecolorarenotthesame,andtounderstandingandusingofthesamecoloralsohasdifference.Forcolorwordtranslation,weallknowthatknowthattranslationinvolvesnotonlytwokindsoflanguage,italsoinvolvestwodifferentcultures.Asthedevelopingofhumancivilization,thewordstoexpresscolorsalsohavebeendeveloped,themeaningofthewordsarealsoproducedmanynewmeanings,andthewordsmakehumanlanguagemorelivelyandimage,richandcolorful.Intheprocessoftranslationcolorwords,weshouldpaymoreattentiontothedifferencesoftwocultureandmakeclearthetruemeaningsoftheminordertobemoreeffectivesmootherapplicationthem.Andweshouldmastertheusefulknowledgeofcolorwordssothatwecanapplythemtoreallife.Bibliography:JiangFeng;DingLijun,2005practicalEnglishtranslationBeijing:Pekingpublishinghouseofelectronicsindustry;86WangZhenya,2004;practicalEnglishlanguagecultureBaoding:universitypress,heiferBaoding85FengQingsheng,2001;practicaltranslationtutorialofEnglish-Chinesetranslation(Z