On the Cultural Connotations of Color Words in English and Chine
Abstract: Every nation has its own language system,and color words are an esntial part of the language system.Culture differences of color words happens for the reason.The fact that color words are widely ud in a language shows that they are functionally practical.Due to the differences between culture,history,aesthetic psychology,and language,people need to master language background well .The different connotations of color words in Chine and English language are discusd from the aspect of cultural comparison so as to explore the caus of the differences.
Key words:,similarity,diffence,background
帝国的终结1.Introduction : Among English words, terms of color make up a group of words that are particularly rich in cultural associations. This means that they can be ud either literally to refer to different colors or metaphorically to convey their associative meanings in different languages and cultures. The conceptual meanings conveyed by the terms of color are roughly the same in English and their equivalents in Chine. But the same terms of color i
n the two languages may have different cultural association. It is natural that English terms of color may have cultural association that is not transparent to Chine learners of English as a foreign language. Color words are frequently ud both in Chine and English. It is esntial to grasp the difference and similaritity between the literal meaning and associative meaning. Further, it is practically uful to identify the differences, thus promoting the cultural communication and translation practice.
2 Similarities of color words
Color words are frequently ud in Chine and English.
color cognition, is the most basic human cognitive categories.people share great similarities in terms of color perception . as a reflection of language, although a variety of language expression of color are distinguished, the expression of the basic vocabulary of color among many languages, such as black, white, red, yellow, green, blue, are the same and very consistent.Due to the commonness of the language, some color words may have the same meaning in two specific cultures.
2.1.1 Red
Red symbolizes happiness, pleasure, blesdness and blessing both in China and the English-speaking countries. So there are lots of similarities in using it. It often connects with success and importance. The phra “give somebody a red carpet of reception” means make a warm welcome to some important person. When the Spring Festival is coming, Chine often put the red couplets on doors and windows. Red also means that someone is healthy and sanguine both in China and the English-speaking countries. For example: a fine old gentleman, with a face as red as a ro. This ntence means that the old gentleman is very healthy and sanguine. Red is often ud to show some emotions in English. For example, become red-faced, turn red, and e red. The phra “become red with anger/shame” is the same as the phra “脸红” in Chine.各种煲汤
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2.1.2 Black
Black is not a good word both in Chine and in English-speaking countries. It is often ud to express one’s anger or some evil things. When black is plus with a noun, it often
means bad things and something without any hope, as in black market(黑市), a black heart(黑心), black money(黑钱), black guard(恶棍), a black sheep(害群之马), and black eye(丢脸),etc. All the new phras can be directly translated into Chine.
2.1.3 Green
Both green light in English and “绿灯”in Chine are associated with authoritative permission to go ahead with some project. Apparently, they are derived form traffic regulations.
3.differences : the vocabulary of color words are very rich. attention needs to be paid not onlyto their own obrvation of the basic meaning,but also symbolic meaning, in that their symbolic meanings in different languages often have different characteristics.
3.1 ,the cultural connotations of red大嗓门妈妈
Red is the basic color people cherish in chine culture , it embodies the spirit of the Chine people and material pursuits. It is a sympol of good fortune, joy,and also revoluti
on and progress. it means the smooth going, success,and beauty.while red in Western culture differs greatly from that in china, it symbolizes a brutality, bloodness.it is symbolic of the radical, violent revolution, danger, and tension .It also symbolizes debauchery, obscene.
3.2, the cultural connotations of white
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In Chine culture, white ,on the contrast, is a basic taboo words,.it reflects the Chine people’s abandon and disgust in material and spiritual world. White is exhausted without blood, without the performance of life, symbol of death, ill omen. White psychological functions in their development process due to the impact of political functions, symbol of corrupt, reactionary, backward.it also symbolized the failure, stupid, no profits available, it also symbolizes cattywampus, insidious.finally, it also symbolizes knowledge shallow , no fame.
西安市限号white symbolic significance in Western culture mainly focus on their own colors, such as the new snow, fresh milk and the color of lily . Westerners think white shows grace and p
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urity.so it is the color in respect of Western culture . It symbolizes pure and innocence, it also a symbol of integrity, honesty.
3.3, the cultural connotations of black
In Chine culture, black has a heavy n of mystery, a solemn and rious tone.and its symbolic significance is more complex due to the influence of Western culture. On the one hand, it symbolizes a verity the other hand , becau of its own people in the dark matt giving people insidious, sinister and terrifying feeling, It symbolizes evil, reactionary.it tells crime, illegal.
Black is the basic taboo color in Western culture with the spirit of the rejection of the West and obnoxious. It symbolizes the death, ill omen, disaster, symbol of evil, crime. it is also symbolic of shame and disgraceful,frustration and anger.
