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1、A Study of Connotation of Color Words in English and Chinese Cultures AbstractLanguage is a kind of appearance of culture and it is the products of the social culture development. No language could be alive and develop without a social environment. The vocabulary is the most active factor in the lan
2、guage, and the meaning of color words in the vocabulary is abundant. Color is closely related to peoples life. In human language, the color words are frequently used and endowed with plentiful emotion and cultural connotation. We should pay attention to not only their own basic meaning, but also the
3、ir deeper symbolic meaning. Because of different cultural issues, cultural tradition and culture psychology, the cultural connotations of the English and Chinese color words differ greatly as a result, these particular cultural connotation meanings are cast under different environments by different
4、nationalities. We can have more perfect command of the two language and make better cultural communication on the base of understanding their differences.1 The definition of colorColor words, in whatever languages, are words used for describing the colors of different kinds of things. Different nati
5、onalities have no difference in color esthesia or in the ability to correctly distinguish colors. Though some similarities exist when words are used in English and Chinese, there are more differences due to both the language and the cultural factors such as history, culture, customs and traditions.2
6、 Basic color worsd in Chinese and English culturesIn the colorful world, different languages may have different number of color terms. In Chinese 赤,橙,黄,绿,青,蓝,紫, the seven colors in the rain bow, are thought to be the basic colors. However, in English it is usually considered there are eleven basic c
7、olors, namely white, black, grey, brown, red, green, yellow, blue, purple, orange, and pink. Owing to the different historic cultural background of the two cultures, the same color words have different symbolic meanings.2.1 RedNo matter in China or western countries, red comparatively has something
8、relevant to celebrating. Red in western culture is not so popularly welcomed as in China, but it still reveals happiness and luck on some special occasions. For instance, a red-letter day means a day that is important or remarkable because something happen on it, and the red carpet is specially good
9、 or respectful treatment that is given to an important guest. Affected by English culture, there are some other similar meanings as to the color of red. It is used to express danger, signal of stop, deficit or anger. The color red has also been a representation of love within a relationship between
10、two people. A red rose, given to the bearers lover or more has always been known as a symbol of love. And in Chinese, there are 红豆, it equals to English love pea, it is used to discribe the love.Besides these similarities, in China, people traditionally have a favor for the color red. Red is always
11、related with the meaning of joy, happiness, and good luck. In Chinese, red is the symbol of being welcomed. On a serious welcome occasion, Chinese use 红灯高挂, 披红戴绿 to discribe it. There are some similar phrases when talked about the meaning of good things, such as:红喜字, 红烛, 红包, 红盖头. In addition, red ca
12、n also mean prosper and success in business, such as:红利, 分红, 生意红火, 开门红. On the other hand, red represents revolution and socialism, such as red political power(红色政权), the Red Army(红军), red flag(红旗). Our mainland implement socialism, which reflects in political the preference of red color, including
13、Party flag, National flag, League flag, Pioneer flag and Red scarf.But in English culture, red has its own specific meaning, especially its derogatory meaning. For example, red is thought to be with the meaning of violent or bloodshed. Such as: a red battle, red vengeance. Otherwise, the connotation
14、 meaning of bright red is libidinous or flagrant. Up to now, red light district in a few western nations still implies whorehouse(妓院).2.2 WhiteIn both English and Chinese cultures, white means purity. On wedding days, English girls are wearing white bridal-dresses, for white in their mind is the sym
15、bol of purity and lucky. And in the modern time, some Chinese do this, too. But it does not mean they are the same at any time.In English, white has its specific feature. It stands for luck, such as: a white dog, white Christmas. While in Chinese culture, white is often connected with funeral arrang
16、ement. On funeral, Chinese people often wear white clothes. Meanwhile, white stands for honesty and uprightness. For example: a white spirit, white man, white hand(廉洁, 诚实).There are also some other Chinese phrases about 白: 白手起家 means start from scratch, 白费心机 means bother ones shead for nothing, 白色收入
17、 means income which is legal.2.3 BlackBlack symbolizes wicked and guilty in both English and Chinese. From this viewpoint, their usages are quite similar. Such as: say black is white(颠倒是非), black-hearted(黑心肝). And also, both Chinese 黑 and English black can stands for illegal and commit. For example:
18、 blace-market means 黑市, black money means 黑钱, black-list means 黑名单.However, black in English also mean angry. For example: black dog, black future, a black look, and black thoughts. Meanwhile black is the association of gloomy, dismal and be low-spirited. Otherwise, black stands for death and condol
19、ence in English. On the funeral of English countries, people wear black clothes according to the custom. While in Chinese countries, peoples mourning apparel is always white. In Chinese funeral, people usually just wear a black armband to show their mourns to the death relative.2.4 YellowIn Chinese,
20、 yellow originally represents the colors of the soil. The Yellow Highlands(黄土高原), lying by the Yellow Riverside, is one of the most important cradlelands of the Chinese people, and form which the Chinese ancient culture came into being. The ancient Chinese people mainly depended on the land to live
21、and breed from generations to generations. In China, yellow is an honorable color. It is always connected with honor and glory, and it is the symbol of power and lofty. There are many such words as 黄袍, 黄榜, 黄门 in Chinese language. In the ancient, the emperor in China always dressed in yellow. Yellow
22、is the symbol of the emperor, and other people were forbidden to wear yellow clothes. That is why, up to now, Chinese people always call themselves 炎黄子孙.Also, yellow is generally related to something fithy in Chinese, such as 黄色电影, 黄色书刊, 黄色音乐. But in English, yellow has nothing to do with this. Many
23、 American stores and families have thick Yellow Pages, which are printed basically with yellow paper and known as Yellow Pages. Yellow Union indicates Unions under scabs control.2.5 BlueIt seems that blue is a favorable word to Chinese. The blue sky, blue ocean, can arouse us to yearn for a better f
24、uture. In English culture, however, bule does not associate with happiness and imagination, but gloom and depression. Such as: feel blue, be blue in the face(脸色突变). Blue, in English, also has the meaning of sex, while in Chinese, we use 黄 to express it. For example: a blue film/ movie, blue joke. Me
25、anwhile, bule is often associated with high social status. Blue blood means from an aristocratic(贵族的) family. Blue-book is a book with the names of famous figures, especially top government officials.2.6 GreenGreen can be as the token of safe, hope, peace, health and environment protection. And gree
26、n is also the symbol of vigor and energy, a green old age is associated with an old but vigorous man or woman. Fresh is also a meaning of green. Fresh it means immature, inexperienced and easily fooled, such as: a green hand(生手), as green as grass(幼稚). In both English and Chinese, this symbolic mean
27、ing of green is all identical.However, in English, another connotative meaning of green is jealousy, which is called green-eyed monster.2.7 PurpleIn China, purple is more often adopted by the feudal emperors and the Taoism. They called the auspicious air 紫气, the Taoist books are 紫书, the place which
28、the deity living in is 紫台, the emperorspalace is 紫禁城 (the Forbidden City).In English, purple shares the same connotation as in Chinese language. In the eye of Westerners, purple is the symbol of emperor and power. To be born in the purple means to be born in a royal family. There also have the sayin
29、gs of to be raised to the purple, marry into the purple. Otherwise, purple can express peoples anger, such as: purple with rage(狂怒).3 The translation of English and Chinese color wordsTraditionally, translation is considered as a transformation between two languages. There is no doubt that Chinese a
30、nd English people use different color words to refer to the same thing, even the same color word conveys absolutely different meanings. Because color and culture are closely related, color words mirror different cultural connotation and traditions in different ways. So culture is the most difficult
31、part while translating, not the language itself. As a result, we must guard against translating the color word with the color or machinery translating, and find out about its cultural backgrounds and connotation meaning correctly. Moreover, we should try our best to find in the expression way with c
32、orresponding structure of top layer and deep structure as mach as possible.Translation is a product of a communication of two cultures. We should judge it on the culture aspect. Translation is not only translate language, but culture as well. While in dealing with translating, we should take care of
33、 two kinds of different culture backgrounds, and also give consideration to the habits with corresponding in the two languages. Only fully understanding of the inherent cultural meaning that words bearing that can we translate the color words in accordance with the spirit accurately.4 ConclusionA la
34、nguage can reflect the development of a nations history and culture. The symbolic meanings of color words have great distinction in English and Chinese cultures. They are shaped in the long-term development of the society. The color bring us a wonderful and splendid world, and color words make it ea
35、sier to express our thought, make our expression more apt and vivid. This paper concretely discusses the differences of color words between English and Chinese by the comparison of the two language. Although there are some similarities on the applications of color words between Chinese and English,
36、there are also a lot of differences because of the different ways of thinking, cultural background, historical background,geographic reasons and traditional customs between the two cultures. Only understanding this can people have more perfect command of the two languages and make better cultural co
37、mmunication.References1. 胡文仲. 跨文化交际学概论. 北京: 外语教学与研究出版社, 20022. 邓炎昌, 刘润清. 语言与文化. 北京: 外语教学与研究出版社, 19893. 李瑞华. 英汉语言文化对比研究. 上海外语教育出版社, 19974. 游浩云, 谢旭升. 浅论颜色文化与颜色词的翻译. 浙江万里学院学报. 20055. 白靖宇. 文化与翻译. 北京: 中国社会科学出版社. 20006. 骆峰. 汉语色彩词的文化审视. 上海: 上海辞书出版社. 2004生命列车The Train Of Life1. 不久以前，我读了一本书。书中把人生比作一次旅行。2. 人生
38、一世，就好比是一次搭车旅行，要经历无数次上车、下车; 时常有事故发生; 有时是意外惊喜，有时却是刻骨铭心的悲伤 3. 降生人世，我们就坐上了生命列车。我们以为我们最先见到的那两个人-我们的父母，会在人生旅途中一直陪伴着我们。 4. 很遗憾，事实并非如此。他们会在某个车站下车，留下我们，孤独无助。他们的爱、他们的情、他们不可替代的陪伴，再也无从寻找。 5. 尽管如此，还会有其他人上车。他们当中的一些人将对我们有着特殊的意义。 6. 他们之中有我们的兄弟姐妹, 有我们的亲朋好友。我们还将会体验千古不朽的爱情故事。7. 坐同一班车的人当中，有的轻松旅行。8. 有的却带着深深的悲哀 还有的,在列车上四
39、处奔忙，随时准备帮助有需要的人 9. 很多人下车后，其他旅客对他们的回忆历久弥新 但是，也有一些人，当他们离开座位时，却没有人察觉。10. 有时候，对你来说情深义重的旅伴却坐到了另一节车厢。你只得远离他，继续你的旅程。11. 当然，在旅途中，你也可以摇摇晃晃地穿过自己的车厢，去别的车厢找他 12. 可惜，你再也无法坐在他身旁，因为这个位置已经让别人给占了 .13. 没关系。旅途充满挑战、梦想、希望、离别 就是不能回头。因此，尽量使旅途愉快吧！14. 善待旅途上遇见的所有旅客，找出人们身上的闪光点。15. 永远记住，在某一段旅程中，有人会犹豫彷徨，因为我们自己也会犹豫彷徨。16. 我们要理解他人
40、，因为我们需要他人的理解。17. 生命之谜就是：我们在什么地方下车？坐在身旁的伴侣在什么地方下车？我们的朋友在什么地方下车？我们无从知晓 18. 我时常这样想：到我该下车的时候，我会留恋吗？我想我还是会的。和我的朋友分离，我会痛苦。让我的孩子孤独地前行，我会悲伤。 我执著地希望在我们大家都要到达的那个终点站，我们还会相聚 19. 我的孩子们上车时没有什么行李，如果我能在他们的行囊中留下美好的回忆，我会感到幸福。20. 我下车后，和我同行的旅客都还能记得我，想念我，我将感到快慰。21. 献给你, 我生命列车上的同行者, 祝您旅途愉快!1. Not long ago, I read a book,
41、 in which a mans life was compared to a journey.2. The life of a man is just like a hitchhiking，during which many times we go up and down. Now and then things will happen accidently, some of which are to be unexpected excitement，while some heart-breaking sorrows. 3. When first embraced the world，we
42、are already on the train of life. We take it for granted that the first two persons, our parents, whom we are encountered with, will accompany us all the way.4. Sadly，things do not go on as we thought.Our parents will get off the train at a certain station，leaving us, bereft and helpless.Their love
43、and emotion to us and their irreplaceable company can be found in nowhere.5. However，there will be somebody else who will get on the train. Some of them will have special meaning to us.6. Some of them may be our siblings , relatives and friends, and we will also expereince the imperishable love.7. S
44、ome of our travelling companions are quite light-hearted on the way.8. While some may bear immense sorrow.Still some ,back and forth, are ready to hold out their hands for others who need help.9. Some people alight off the train, yet they are still kept in the mind of the other passengers for long;s
45、ome, to the opposite, leave their seats without being noticed.10. Sometimes, the one,who is dear to your heart, has huddled into another carriage. Nothing but one you can do is just to keep on going, far away from him.11. Of course, during the journey, you may stagger to another carriage to look for
46、 him.12. Its a pity that you will never seat yourself beside him because the seat has been engaged by others. 13. Never mind. The journey is full of challenges,dreams, hopes and departures- but only one thing is that you cant turn back. So, have a good journey with heart and soul.14. Show your good-
47、will to all the passengers you are encountered with, and find the merits of theirs.15. Remeber that someone may oscillate just as we do in the journey.16. We should understand others just as we need others understanding.17. The enigma of life is：Where shall we get off the train of life?And how about
48、 the companions beside us?And our friends?We dont know.18. Sometimes I think：When my time comes to get off the train，shall I miss it？I think I will.It is a suffering when I part with my friends.I will be sorry for leaving my kids going alone.I firmly hold that when we get to the terminal，we will have another reunion.19. When my kids get on the train of life, they have only little luggage in their travelling bags. However,if I can leave the beautiful memor