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A Study of the Cultural____ Differences of Color Words in Chinese and English

A Study of the Cultural____ Differences of Color Words in Chinese and English
A Study of the Cultural____ Differences of Color Words in Chinese and English

A Study of the Cultural Differences of Color

Words in Chinese and English

摘要

在英、汉两种语言中都有丰富的颜色词汇。在学习过程中,我们不能仅仅局限于了解它们的基本含义,还要着眼于探究其深层的内涵和象征意义,因为它们的象征意义在不同语言中可能会有所不同。这种差别主要是由不同的文化风俗、地理位置、历史传统、宗教信仰和审美观引起的。它是在社会和历史发展中形成的一种永恒的文化现象。本文从中英文化对比的角度出发,旨在分析和探索颜色词的文化差异。

关键词:颜色词;文化差异;内涵意义;象征意义

ABSTRACT

In both Chinese and English, there are rich color terms. We should not only pay attention to their basic meanings, but also focus on their deep connotations and symbolic meanings, because their symbolic meanings are different in different languages. This difference is caused by the difference in cultural custom, geographical location, historical tradition, religious belief and aesthetic standard. It is an everlasting cultural phenomenon formed in the development of society and history. This paper, from the point of view of Chinese-Western cultural comparison, is intended to analyze and explore the cultural differences of color words.

Key words: color words, cultural difference, connotation, symbolic meaning

CONTENTS

0. Introduction (1)

1. The theoretical study of color terms (1)

2. The significance of the research on color terms (1)

3. The cultural differences of color terms in Chinese and English (2)

3.1 A general comparison of color terms in Chinese and English (2)

3.2 The cultural differences of some basic color terms in Chinese and English (3)

3.2.1 Black (3)

3.2.2 White (4)

3.2.3 Red (5)

3.2.4 Blue (6)

3.2.5 Green (7)

3.2.6 Yellow (8)

3.2.7 Purple (9)

4. The translation of color words across Chinese and English (10)

4.1 To translate the color words literally (10)

4.2 To change the original color words (11)

4.3 To add color words to the original text (11)

4.4 To translate the color words freely (11)

5. Conclusion (12)

Works Cited (14)

0.Introduction

Our world is a colorful world, where there are numerous kinds of colors. Color is one important field of human cognitive world. It is closely connected with our human life and we are contacting with it all the time. We find that word-for-word translation of color terms across languages is frequently impossible, because different languages have different backgrounds. No word in one language corresponds exactly to a word in another. For example, there is no single word in French that covers exactly what brown does in English. Facts of this kind were frequently cited until the end of the 1960s (Lyon 313).

1.The theoretical study of color terms

Before we study the cultural differences of color words in Chinese and English, we should first have a brief review of the research on color terms.

In 1969, Berlin and Kay experimentally investigated the color terms of twenty languages. For each language, they listed the basic color words and calculated the focus of each color in each language—the best and the most central chips for each other.

According to Berlin and Kay, an analysis of the basic color terms found in a wide range of languages reveals certain very interesting patterns. Some languages have only two color terms: black and white. If a language has three colors, the third one must be red. The fourth and fifth terms must be yellow and green. The sixth and seventh terms are blue and brown. Finally come the terms like gray, pink, orange and purple, but not in any particular order (Wardhaugh 230-231).

Although these findings are controversial, the Berlin-Kay findings provide a relatively clear case in which speakers of different languages categorize similar physical stimuli differently.

2.The significance of the research on color terms

In addition to the facts that different languages may have different divisions of color, different languages entail different color-related associations. At present, with the development of international exchange, people of different languages communicate with each other more frequently, and the world is becoming smaller and smaller. In the international communication, misunderstandings often occur because of the cultural differences of different languages. Color terms are one important aspect. For example, English has the term green-eyed which means jealous and envious. However, in Chinese, an expression often used to describe envy or jealousy is 眼红or害了红眼病—literally red-eyed. Quite different colors are used to describe the same feeling. Without proper cultural background knowledge, we may think green-eyed in English and 眼红in Chinese are used to describe different feelings, because they use different color terms. During the English study, we must pay attention to the translation of color terms across Chinese and English.

3.The cultural difference of color terms in Chinese and English

Due to different language habits, historic background, traditional customs and so on, there are many differences in the use of color and color words as well as in the understanding and mastering of the same color. In this section, we will discuss the differences of color words between Chinese and English by means of contrast.

3.1 A general comparison of color terms between Chinese and

English

Color is a kind of visual phenomenon caused by the light produced or reflected by objects, and it is a kind of fundamental characteristic of human vision—this is the scientific definition of color.

The feudal society only existed for a short time in the western countries, and the modern education and science developed more rapidly in these countries. So in western cultures, the symbolic meanings of color words are more direct and easier to find the

semantic and logical motivations. For example, in the western culture, red is mainly used to refer to the color of t he blood. For the western people, blood is the “water of life”. Once one bleeds, his life is ending, so red makes people think of “violence” and “danger”, which forms a kind of color taboo. While translating the famous Chinese classical novel《红楼梦》,David Hawks realized that red may arouse “violence” and “blood” in the readers’ mind, so he used the original name of the novel《石头记》(The Story of the Stone), instead of《红楼梦》(The Dream of the Red Mansion).

While the feudal society lasted for thousands of years in China, and the science and education were relatively backward, so in Chinese, the color words usually have certain mysterious colors. This is an important reason why the color words have richer connotations and symbolic meanings in Chinese culture.

From the description above, we know that it is very necessary to study the cultural differences of color terms in different languages. In the following section, we will list some basic colors and compare their cultural differences in Chinese and English.

3.2 The cultural differences of some basic color terms in Chinese

and English

3.2.1 Black

Black has similar associations in Chinese and English. It usually has negative meanings in both languages, for example, blacklist(黑名单), black market(黑市), black sheep(害群之马)and many others.

In Chinese culture, black gives people a mysterious feeling. It is a solemn and serious color. With the influence of western culture, the symbolic meanings of black are becoming more complex. On the one hand, it symbolizes seriousness and uprightness, while on the other hand, black gives people an insidious, sinister and horrible feeling. It symbolizes evil and reaction. For example, in Chinese, we have such expressions as黑

心肠(evil mind), 黑帮(reactionary gang), 黑店(an inn run by brigands), 黑幕(a sinister project) and so on.

In the western culture, especially British and American culture, black is an unlucky color connected with evil magic. It is usually used to signify evil, death, mourning and the underground world. Black is also connected with the color of the devil, for example, Satan is called “the prince of darkness”. Black in English usually means evil, melancholy, pessimism, sorrow and unluckiness. Here are some examples: black market (illegal buying and selling of goods or currencies)

the Black Death (wide spread epidemic of bubonic plague in the 14th century)

black-letter day (unlucky day)

black tap(person regarded as a disgrace or failure by other members of his family or group)

Interestingly, in business English, in the black has a good meaning, i.e., running a business profitably. For example:

Since he was made manager, the business has been running in the black.

Since the 1960s, with the development of American Civil Right Movement, black ha s gradually replaced Negro. Some black leaders even advocated that “Black is beauty”. There appeared many phrases and expressions containing black, but without or with less derogative meanings. For example, black culture, black English, black nationalism, etc.

Here, we should point out that black in English is not necessarily equivalent to黑in Chinese, for example, black in black tea is not translated into黑but红in Chinese; in the expression black cloth, black is not translated into 黑but青in Chinese. Besides that, black in English can also be translated into some words having nothing to do with color, for example, black sheep mentioned in the above, was translated into害群之马in Chinese, whose meaning mentions no color word at all.

3.2.2 White

In the Chinese culture, white is the opposite color of red. It is a taboo word

associated with death. Since the ancient China, people have white clothes in the funerals. So white symbolizes bad luck in Chinese.

In the western culture, white is the color advocated by most people. It signifies purity and innocence, for example, a white soul, a white spirit, a white man, etc. It also means legal and harmless, for example, white market, a white lie,etc.

From the description above, we know that white has different associations in Chinese and English. But at present, with the influence of western culture, the concept of Chinese on color has changed a lot. The young people like white clothes, because they think white signifies quietness and is full of imagination. It has become a fashion for the bride to wear white wedding dress in the wedding.

It should be mentioned that in the translation from Chinese to English, care should be taken with Chinese terms or expressions which contain the word白. In some cases, 白may not refer to the color, and the English equivalent of the term or expression does not contain white, as in白菜(Chinese cabbage), 白熊(polar bear), 白蚁(termite), etc. In other cases, 白has nothing to do with color at all, such as 白费事(all in vain), 白送(free of charge). We should bear in mind that白does not necessarily mean white.

3.2.3 Red

In both English-speaking countries and China,red is usually connected with ceremonies and joyful occasions, for example, red-letter days—holidays such as Christmas and other holidays. Why should we use red but not other color words here? Because these days are marked in red in the calendars. So the figurative meaning of red-letter is memorable. The phrase paint the town red means to go out and enjoy a lively, boisterous time in bars, nightclubs, etc. Another example roll out the red carpet means to lay out a strip of red carpet for the reception of an important visitor. This is a kind of international ceremony to welcome important visitors.

Red is also used to express certain emotions. In English, become red-faced or Her face turned red shows embarrassment, as it does in Chinese. But the Chinese may not

easily understand some English expressions involving the color red. For example, see red and wave a red flag are both associated with anger. The former means to become very angry, for example, When he started to criticize my work, I really saw red. The latter means to do something that will make other people angry, for example, The mere mention of his hat ed cousin’s name was like waving a red flag in front of him. (Deng Yanchang & Liu Runqing 35)

Red is the color associated with revolution and socialism. It is true in both Chinese and English. For example, in Chinese, we have 红卫兵(red guard). In English, red refers to the person supporting socialism or communism, but it is usually with derogative meaning, such as in the phrase the conflict between Reds and Whites during the Russian Revolution.

But there are some Chinese phrases containing红which cannot be translated into red in English, for example, 又红又专cannot be translated into red and expert, but both socialist-minded and professionally qualified. It is the same case for一颗红心, we cannot translate it into a red heart, but loyal to the Party or having socialist virtues.

In Chinese and English, the words expressing the color red can sometimes correspond to each other, but sometimes they do not, for example, brown sugar(红糖), black tea(红茶), etc. Besides that,red can arouse different understandings and associations in Chinese people and western people. In translating the classical novel The Story of the Stone,David Hawks thought that 红in Chinese means joyful and happy, but in English it is green or golden that has the similar association, while red means blood, danger and violence. So while translating sentences involving red, he made some changes. For example:

贾宝玉品茶栊翠庵,刘姥姥醉卧怡红院

Jia Baoyu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage; And Granny Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green Delights.

贾宝玉神游太虚境,警幻仙曲演红楼梦

Jia Baoyu visits the Land of Illusion; and the fairy Disenchantment performs the dream of Golden Days.

3.2.4 Blue

Blue has almost no symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, while relatively speaking, it has more symbolic meanings in the western culture. It is a negative and pessimistic color.

Blue is usually associated with unhappy feelings. For example:

in a blue mood (a sad, gloomy or depressed mood)

a blue Monday (the fist day of work or school after a pleasant ,happy weekend)

E.g.It was blue Monday and he just did not feel like going back to work.

Holiday blue (the mood people have when they are confined at home during the winter vacation, feeling bored or lonely)

In English, blue also means pornographic or indecent, such as in blue talk, blue video, and blue joke.

In English, blue is often associated with high social position or means aristocratic, as in He is real blue blood. Also in American English, people call a book with well-known names blue book.

Blue and 蓝seem to be equivalent, but sometimes they are not. For example, in the phrase the blue sky, blue is not translated into蓝but青in Chinese; another phrase black and blue cannot be translated into黑一块,蓝一块but青一块,紫一块(literally: blue and purple).

In English, used together with other words, blue has other meanings. For example:

out of the blue (unexpectedly, without warning)

a bolt from the blue (unexpected event, complete surprise)

once in a blue moon (very rarely or never)

3.2.5 Green

In the traditional Chinese culture, 绿(green) has double connotations. On the one hand, it means chivalrous, for example, the Chinese expression 绿林好汉(people

living in the green wood) refers to those who rob the rich to give to the poor; on the other hand, it means evil, for example, in the old days, the Chinese expression戴绿帽子(literally: to wear a green hat or a green head band) meant to be a cuckold.

In English, green means envious or jealous, for example, g reen with envy, green as jealousy, green-eyed monster, they all mean jealous. But in Chinese, we use 眼红(literally: red-eyed) to express the feeling of envy or jealousy, which is totally different from that in English (Shao Zhihong 56). For example:

I was absolutely green with envy when I saw his splendid new car.

In English, green is also used to indicate that people are lacking in experience, training or knowledge, as in She is a green hand in teaching English. Similar in meaning is green horn—a person lacking experience, or a new comer who is not familiar with local customs.

Because American bill is green in color, in America, green also means money, bill or powerful in economics. For example:

In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the nature has been endangered by the industrial civilization. Human is paying more and more attention to the environment. The Environmental Protection Movement added a kind of nostalgic tone to the basic symbolic meanings of the color green. Some new meanings have been added to the word and many new expressions involving green were created (Shao Zhihong 57). For example:

green food

Green Revolution

the Green Party (political party whose aims are to protect the countryside, atmosphere, etc. from pollution and other dangers)

green belt (area of open land around a city, where building is strictly controlled) 3.2.6 Yellow

Yellow has very different associations in Chinese and English.

In Chinese culture,黄(yellow) is a variation of 红(red). For example, in the old days, people called those days suitable for big occasions黄道吉日(auspicious days). In the feudal society yellow represented power or dignity, so it was the color specific for the imperial family, and the civilians were not allowed to wear yellow clothes.

Yellow also appears in Chinese expressions such as 黄色书刊,黄色电影and黄色音乐. How should we translate these expressions into English? Should they be yellow books, yellow movies and yellow music? Of course not. Because there are no such expressions in English and such terms would not be understood by native English speakers. We should translate them like this: filthy books, obscene movies and vulgar music. But yellow does appear in the English phrase yellow journalism—a kind of journalism with heavy emphasis on scandals, or putting ordinary news in a sensational manner, sometimes even distorting the facts to create a sensational effect.

Also, in most American homes one can find a big thick book called Yellow Pages. This is a book with the telephone numbers of different shops, businesses, organizations, etc., arranged according to different categories. Because its pages are yellow, it is called Yellow Pages, but it is not 黄页in the Chinese sense.

In English, yellow can also mean cowardly, abject or mean. For example:

He is too yellow to stand up and fight.

I dislike Tom for he is a yellow dog.

3.2.7 Purple

In Chinese culture, purple is taken as a very precious color. Since the Tang Dynasty, the government has made a very rigid hierarchy of the usage of colors and gradually formed a color series of yellow,purple, red, green, blue, black and white. Yellow is the color specific for the imperial family, and purple is specific for feudal officials.

In English,purple signifies monarchical power, dignity and nobility. For

example:

be born in the purple (be born in a noble family)

marry into the purple (marry into a noble family)

Purple Heart (medal awarded to a soldier who has been wounded in the battle)

The above seven color words are most frequently used in our daily life. Other colors also carry certain connotations, but will not be mentioned here.

The symbolic meanings of color words have big differences in different cultures. Fundamentally speaking, in Chinese culture, the symbolic meanings of color words are based on the feudal domination, superstition, and the backward development of science and education, so they have strong political and mysterious color. While in the western culture, the symbolic meanings and connotations are formed on the basis of the development of science and education, so they have less mysterious color but more logicality.

4.The translation of color words across Chinese and English

There are various kinds of colors in the nature and our life. Because of the differences in historical background, national psychology and traditional culture, different areas or countries may have different usages of color terms. So when we have translation of color words, we may find that some color words in one language may have no equivalent words in the other language (Li Ruihua 22). While studying English, we should pay attention to this.

For a translator, the first thing to do is to master the basic meaning of the color words. Based on this point, attention should also be paid to the linguistic context and the style of the article. In the following section we will mainly deal with the English-Chinese translation of color words.

Generally speaking, there are four ways of translating color terms from English to Chinese.

4.1 To translate the color words literally

Two different languages, no matter how different they are, must have more or less similarities. Otherwise, it is impossible for people of different languages to communicate with each other. Just because of the similarities between different languages, literal translation becomes possible.

Literal translation of color words is meant to translate the color words according to the original meaning of the article, without any changes or modifications. Because there are some similarities between Chinese and English, people of these two countries may have the same or similar emotional experience. So it is natural that we can translate the color words literally, and people of both languages can understand. For example:

Red Cross 红十字会

white terror 白色恐怖

golden age 黄金时代

Yellow Pages 黄页

red figure 赤字

White House 白宫

4.2 To change the original color words

Because of the differences in cultural custom, geographical location, historical tradition, religious belief and many other aspects, Chinese and English might use different color words to describe the same object or phenomenon, so when we have English-Chinese or Chinese-English translation of color words, we should change the color words. For e xample, an English man’s black tea is not black, but red in Chinese as 红茶; An American might be bruised black and blue, but a Chinese would be 被打得青一块,紫一块(literally: be beaten blue and purple ); green-eyed in English should be changed into 眼红(literally: red-eyed ) in Chinese.

4.3 To add color words to the original text

In the English-Chinese translation of color terms, we often meet such cases where there is no color word in the original English article, but while we translate it into Chinese, color words are added. That is because the word, which signifies color in Chinese, may have nothing to do with color at all in English. For example: He did not try in vain.他没有白干。

Her eyes became moist. 她眼圈红了。

4.4 To translate the color words freely

Some color words have certain symbolic or figurative meanings. In such cases, we cannot translate the color words literally into their so-called equivalents in the other language. Instead, we should translate them into proper words according to the meaning of the article and express the deeper meaning of the color words. For example: He looks blue today.他今天看起来闷闷不乐。

Everyone in the family is in the pink. 合家平安。

He gave me assurance in black and white. 他给我做出了书面保证。

The mismatches of color words in Chinese-English translation also often occur, but this point will not be dealt with in details here. We just list some examples: 红白喜事wedding and funeral

开门红to begin well, to make a good start

红光满面to be healthy and energetic

黑白不分confound right and wrong

红娘match-maker, go-between

红颜 a pretty face—a beautiful woman

红眼green-eyed

From the description, we know that sometimes we cannot simply translate the color words word for word into another language. Therefore, when we make translation, it is necessary to understand the different cultural, historical and geographical background of the color words in Chinese and English. We should always bear this

point in mind.

5.Conclusion

Color is one of the most magnificent phenomena in the world, and color words are the rainbow crossing the kingdom of language. Besides the gorgeous colors, the color words can reflect different cultural connotations and arouse different associations in people’s mind. This acquires us to have some cult ural background knowledge about color words when we have English-Chinese or Chinese-English translation practice. This paper, with the help of some detailed examples, mainly deals with the cultural differences of some basic color words in Chinese and English. It gives us a general idea of the cultural connotations of some color words in both Chinese and English. Therefore, it is practically useful to know and study the cultural differences, thus promoting the cultural communication and translation practice.

This paper, however, just deals with some basic color words. We all know that our world is a colorful world in which there are numerous colors, so this paper has certain limitations. With the development of history, society, science and education, there will appear more and more color words, and the connotations and usages of them will also change. Further studies in this aspect will be put more and greater efforts in our study later, because it is of great significance and benefit to the international communication. We look forward to the splendid future of the study of color words.

.

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