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1、英汉原色对比研究【关键词】原色；英语；汉语；文化；翻译. IntroductionThe study of color words associations belongs to the subject of contrastive and comparative linguistics of Chinese and English languages, which is one of the basic methods to investigate languages. As we know, there are two ways that contrastive and comparati
2、ve study can move on, one is the contrastive and comparative study of fact, and the other is the contrastive and comparative study of theory. This paper, depending on the facts, analyzes the primitive colors associations in English and Chinese cultures.Many researches have studied the color words, a
3、nd most of them have shown that all cultures group colors into the same categories, that is to say, color hues are mostly shared by all nations, even though we do not all share the same linguistic and naming definitions. In Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution1, Berlin& Kay indicated
4、that despite these differences, most cultures automatically make the same color distinction or categories. Moreover, further tests based on the organization of samples of color bear this assumption out. In the experiment, subjects from various cultures were given a mix of color samples and asked to
5、organize them in the most logical way. The results show that, no matter what kind of their culture is, they will still organize color into the same similar piles based on similarityi.e. into red, yellow, blue areas. We can hardly be surprised that everybody across the world associates the color red
6、with the meaning of warning or apple, however, less concrete color associations such as those involved with emotion and memory can often be quite different. Our culture inherently influences the way we learn, act, remember and feel. All the nations, including Chinese and English people, organize the
7、 colors in a similar way but each nations perception of color is dictated by its cultural background. Coloring association or color meaning, therefore, should be an important consideration for every English learner and translator.II. The Classification of Primitive ColorsPrimitive colors are classif
8、ied into red, yellow and blue. Each of them is relevant to certain culture or history.Firstly, taking red as an example. Red is usually associated with celebrations and joyful occasions, which is true in English-speaking countries and in China as well. So in English we find red-lettered days(holiday
9、s such as Christmas and other special days), to paint the town red(to celebrate wildly), the red-carpet reception(a lavish welcome, as in: President Bill Clinton received a red-carpet reception as he arrived at the Xian International Airport in China). Similarly, in Chinese we have Hong Shuang Xi(红双
10、喜)(double happiness written in red), the color red being a traditional symbol for an event of special joy, such as a wedding; Kai Men Hong(开门红), the color red bringing in good fortune.Chinese people seem to have a particular preference for the use of“Hong” in their daily speech. Native speakers of C
11、hinese must be very familiar with the following phrases: Hong Ren(红人), Hong Li(红利), Hong Lv Deng(红绿灯), Hong Yun(红运), Hong Guang Man Mian(红光满面). The character“Hong” cannot be literally translated into its English“equivalent”, red. A sound translation(or explanation) of these phrases should respective
12、ly be: a favorite with somebody in power; honor roll; bonus/ extra dividend; traffic light; good luck; ones face glowing with health.Similarly, some English words with the color red, however, can hardly fine their equivalents into Chinese. The phrase red-handed, for instance, cannot be translated in
13、to Chinese as“Hong Shou”(红手) as it might suggest; rather, it means“caught in the act of doing something wrong”, as in: They caught him red-handed while he was just putting the stolen diamonds in his pocket.Yellow in Chinese history might be the most respected color, symbolizing sacred, authority, an
14、d solemn. As the symbol of imperial power, yellow was always monopolized by imperial kinsmen and because the special-purpose color of emperors as in“Huang Pao Jia Shen”(黄袍加身)，which literally means to be draped with the imperial yellow robe by ones supporters, i.e. to be acclaimed emperor; to seize p
15、olitical power after a coup. In 1986, when UKs Queen Elizabeth visited China, she had a yellow suit made in order to show her wish to do as the Chinese do when in China.However, in English countries especially in the Christian world, yellow is not a color worshipped by people, since in accordance Ju
16、das who betrayed Justus was in yellow clothes. In fact, it is always associated with jealous. Yellow in“yellow peril” is a contemptuous form of address used by the Westerners towards the Orientals. Instead, they much prefer purple as in born in the purple, i.e. born in a royal or very aristocratic f
17、amily since a Roman emperor or a cardinal are in the purple or the crimson robes, and when a clergyman is promoted to cardinal or someone who is to be enthroned, they would say“raise to the purple”.In English, people tend to use the word“blue” when talking about something pornographic or vulgar, suc
18、h as in a blue joke, a blue movie. There are, however, a few expressions using“blue” that have positive connotations as in blue blood and blue chip. The former refers to a member of a noble or socially prominent family, and the latter, a stock issue of high investment quality that pertains to a subs
19、tantial well-established company. And the Chinese word for the blue music, Blues, virtually has no meaning.Conversely, some Chinese expression with the color blue may never find their equivalents in English. A most commonplace example is the phrase“青天大老爷”, literally meaning a“dark-blue sky official”
20、. English speakers may never think of it as referring to an upright government official who always makes sure that justice is done and the poor peoples legal rights are protected. The Comparative Study of Connotations of Primitive Colors between Chinese and Western CulturesAlthough a couple of color
21、 words from Chinese and English can match with each other in terms of literary meaning, their associations are not totally corresponding, even reverse. The reason is that English and Chinese are different in the following aspects: philosophies of value system, historical development, social environm
22、ents and system of thoughts, thus, leading to influence understanding the coloring association. Learning a foreign language well means more than merely mastering the pronunciation, grammar, words and idioms. It means learning also to see the world as native speakers of that language see it, learning
23、 to understand their“language of the mind”2. Learning a language, in fact, is inseparable from learning its culture. Coloring words in a different language may not be easily understood. Therefore, we should comprehend the culture behind language in order to be proficient in translating source langua
24、ge to target language.Language, as the form of culture, it acts as a tool to help us to cognize the world. Therefore, we can conclude that the feature of language equal to that of culture, and they depend on each other for existence.A. The Same Colors with the Same Connotations between English Cultu
25、re and Chinese CultureThere is no absolutely equal association between Chinese primitive and that of English, but the overlapping association is founded in a certain range.Let us take red as an example: The color of red makes some common senses in both Chinese and English cultures.In China, on holid
26、ays, everywhere is decorated with red lanterns and streamers for celebrating. On Chinese traditional wedding, the new couple is customarily dressed in red, their bridal chamber illuminated by red candle, and the furniture is pasted with red paper-cut of Chinese character“Xi”. If the couple gives bir
27、th to a baby, their relatives will be invited to eat red eggs. These activities are called“Hong Xi Shi”(红喜事).Similarly, English people prefer red in the ceremonious occasions. When an honored guest visits Britain or other English-speaking countries, the“red carpet” is necessary on the welcoming cere
28、mony. Besides,“The red-letter day” indicates that holidays, festivals, and saints days have been marked in red ink on calendars since the 15th century. Red-letter days were memorable and usually happy ones, so the expression red-letter day eventually came to mean, more broadly, any pleasantly memora
29、ble day a lucky day more important than the most.But red also has bad connotations. In Chinese, the slang“白刀子进，红刀子出” and“杀红了眼”depict a bloody scene.“面红脖子粗” is used to describe an angry person who is stirred enough to fight with others. And English people stick the color of red to violence.“Red battl
30、e” is a bloody battle. In the soccer and some other ball games,“red card” is displayed by the referee when ejecting a player from a game for a serious infringement of the rules, which results from a violent foul to his rival.Chinese often euphemizes a sexual affair with the color of red, because the
31、 Chinese implicative meaning of“红杏出墙” is used to figure an adulterous wife. The English phrase“red-light district” also concerns sex. Red-light district is an area known for it houses of prostitution the term is first recorded in the late 19th century.The color of yellow sometimes draws the same ima
32、ge in Chinese and English.Yellow makes a sick association in China. While yellow brings out the implication of illness,“yellow fever” is an infectious, often fatal viral disease of warm climates, transmitted by mosquitoes and marked by high fever, hemorrhaging, vomiting of blood, liver damage, and“y
33、ellow flag(or quarantine flag)” indicating that a ship or hospital which is in quarantine.Yellow is the color of autumn, when leaves wither, and everywhere rustling in the air.Chinese and English poets use the color of yellow to symbolize the decline, desolation and even death. Taking one Chinese an
34、cient poem for example:岁去人白头，秋来树叶黄。搔头向黄叶，与尔共悲伤。伤秋唐?卢纶3The desolate Yellow also appears in The Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley, English poet, one of the most influential leaders of the Romantic Movement.O Wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumns being,Thou, from whose unseen presence the l
35、eaves deadAre driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O Thou,Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed.4B. The Same Colors with Different Connotations Between English Culture and Chinese CultureRed is a primitive color,
36、which is very familiar to both Chinese people and English people. Although the color of red is identical in their eyes, it reflects different associations in their minds respectively.On the contrary, red is often a derogatory color in English. As well known, most English people live in the Capitalis
37、m society. Due to the influence of the former Soviet Union in the long period between 1917 and 1991 and the hostile attitude of their government, they are extremely afraid of communism. Red brings out radicalism, violence and bloody revolution in their minds. In the Capitalism society, there is a po
38、litical jargon“red regime”5, which alludes to the dictatorship of Communism. And Communists are called Reds because the red flag was the national.English people connect vulgarity with the color of red,“Red-necked”, an American slang, is an offensive term for a white farm hand in the southern United
39、States, especially one regarded as uneducated or aggressively prejudiced.“Red Indian” is also an offensive name for Native Americans, but a historical term applied by the British to North American Indians, apparently because of“their copper-colored skin” and to distinguish them semantically from the
40、 Indians of India.Moreover, red symbolizes the warning, anger and danger in the western culture. As we know, the traffic lights first are invented by the westerners, and red light is intended for stop and warning in the roadway system and railway system.“Red rain” is an alarm shouted in marine comba
41、t artillery units when radar operators detect incoming fire from enemy mortar or artillery. This cry of“Red rain! Red rain!” was often heard in the second Iraq War in 2003. Red alert or state of readiness for emergency is a warning or alarm that indicates a situation of the highest priority or great
42、est urgency, especially an imminent attack, or the state of readiness to deal with such a situation.Red is always linked with disease. The Red Cross is a widely known organization for healing the wounded and rescuing the dying.Red often makes people think of poor financial situation and deficit.“Be
43、in the red” shows that a businessman loses his money in his business.“Red ink” is not the ink with red color in terms of literal meaning, but the financial deficit. And“red figure” expresses the same meaning. Recording surplus in black and deficit in red are regulations in accounting.The origin of C
44、hinese tender regard for the color of red can track back to the Zhou Dynasty(1045-256B.C)“周人尚赤”礼记?檀弓上In Chinese language, red is红色（赤色 or朱色）. It is one of favorite colors to Chinese people, and it is usually associated with happiness, riches and honor, prosperity and loyalty. On holidays, everywhere
45、is decorated with red lanterns and streamers. Especially, at Spring festival, the most ceremonious traditional one, the elder will give“红包”( a red packet within some money) to the junior, as a propitious symbol. In the stock market, Chinese businessmen call dividend“红利”. And Chinese people often hav
46、e come across words like these:“赤胆忠心” or“赤诚” to express wholeheartedness and absolute sincerity. China is a Communism country and our national flag is the Five-Starred Red Flag and the color of CCPs party flag is also red, so red represents communism and progressive forces. For example,“红色政权” is the
47、 symbol of Communism Party,“红军” and“赤卫队” are the name of revolutionary army. A famous sentence“一颗红心永向党” expresses firm and unshakable loyalty to the communistic undertaking. And“又红又专”( both red and expert) describes a both socialist-minded and professionally proficient person. In Chinese Idioms,“红墙碧
48、瓦” and“朱门绮户” describe rich and honorable families.“红火”and“开门红” mean the undertaking goes into prosperity. In addition, Chinese endow red with love or affection. For instance,“红娘” is matchmaker in English, and Chinese idiom“红豆相思” indicate that red beans inspire the memory of ones love. Red is also as
49、sociated with beauty, such as“红颜薄命”( a beautiful woman suffer a harsh life.)and“红颜易老”( beauty is a fragile good.) In China, red expresses praise. A red flag or star will be given to individual or unit, which makes a great progress.Yellow makes an association polarity in Chinese and English cultures.According to the story of Bible, Judas often wore a suit of yellow robe. Thus,