英汉基本颜色词中文化内涵的对比研究

商丘学院毕业论文（ 2011届本科）题目：英汉基本颜色词中文化内涵的对比研究学院：外国语学院专业：英语作者姓名：指导教师：职称：完成日期： 2014 年 12 月 25 日二○一四年十二月1外国语学院毕业论文开题报告35ContentsAbstract（English） (8)Abstract（Chinese） (9)1. Introduction (10)2．Cultural Connotation Differences between English and Chinese Color Words (10)2.1 The Sense of the Basic Colors in Chinese (11)2.2 The Sense of the Basic Colors in English (15)3. Causes of the Differences in the Cultural Connotation between English and Chinese Color Words (18)3.1 Differences in History and Culture (18)3.2 Differences in Geographical and Environmental Background (19)3.3 Differences in Religious Belief (19)4. Conclusion (20)References (21)Acknowledgment (22)7AbstractCulture has distinctive features of the national character, is a unique creation of different ethnic groups in the specific environment, history, geography, religion and customs. Due to the impact of these factors, color terms have connotative meanings as well as conceptual meanings. Color term, a special kind of Culture-bound words, is the important reflection of different cultural connotation. One color may have identical symbolic meaning in different cultures but it may indicate different cultural mentality resulting in different association of ideas, therefore they have different cultural connotations. With the communication and development in every field between China and west countries (English-spoken countries), it is necessary for us to learn that. The article compares the different cultural connotation between Chinese and English and analyzes the reasons, which help us understand different cultures between China and west countries, and communicate with people from different cultural background.Key words: color term, culture, difference摘要文化具有明显的名族特色，是不同人群在不同的地理环境，宗教信仰和历史习俗的独特产物，由于受到这些原因的影响，颜色词不仅具有自身的概念意义，还具有不同的内涵意义。

颜色词作为一种特殊的文化限定词，是反映不同文化内涵的一面重要的镜子。

在不同的民族文化中，同一种颜色可以有相同的象征意义，同时也可以表达不同的文化心理，引起不同的联想，具有不同的文化内涵。

随着中国与西方国家在各个领域中交流和发展，准确理解其文化势在必行。

本文通过分析对比英汉基本颜色词的文化内涵,并剖析其产生差异的原因，让大家更深入地了解英美民族与汉民族文化，从而帮助来自不同文化背景的人们更好进行地沟通交流。

关键字：颜色词；文化；差异91. IntroductionLanguage is the carrier and products of culture, its connotation reflect the different cultural characteristics. Culture is the deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving (Samovar et al 1995). Culture is total accumulation of beliefs, customs, values, behaviors, institutions, and communication patterns that are shared, learned and pass down through the generation in an identifiable group of people. This is probably the most widely accepted definition of culture (Linell Davis 2004). Culture has distinctive features of the national character, is a unique creation of different ethnic groups in the specific environment, history, geography, religion, customs. Due to the impact of these factors, the vocabulary is given a different pragmatic significance, known as the cultural connotation. Color term is an important component of vocabulary. Like other words, color terms have connotative meanings as well as conceptual meanings.In Chinese and English languages, the words and phrases of different colors are very abundant. According to the general study of Brent Berlin and Paul Kay, there are totally ten basic color terms in English, which contain white, black, red, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, gray and orange. However, in Chinese, the basic color terms just include white, black, red, green, yellow, blue, purple, brown and gray. Though it seems that there are fewer Chinese basic color than English, in fact, Chinese is also one of the richest and most colorful languages in the world. Color words can be used either literally or metaphorically to convey their meanings, so it is also an important problem of the research of language and culture, and worthy to be studied thoroughly. 2．Cultural Connotation Differences between English and Chinese Color WordsDue to the respective cultural background and tradition, some phrases containing color words have far surpassed their original meanings, forming different connotations in cultures. The difference of the connotation of the color betweendifferent cultures is determined by each different national and historical background, the different traditions and habits, the different peoples’ life experience, and aesthetic psychology of culture. With the increasing richness of language and the increasing improvement of human mind, color word has extended and escaped gradually and has their own symbolism. For example: red is warm and imaginative, symbolizes celebration and progress. Green is the color of life, a symbol of life, balance and peace. Blue is the symbol of quiet and tranquil, it is the color of truth and harmony. Only by understanding the English and Chinese cultural background knowledge to grasp the deep meaning of the color-word vocabulary in both languages, we can be carried out more efficiently and more smoothly exchange.2.1 The Sense of the Basic Colors in Chinese2.1.1 RedThe most important color for Chinese is the red color. In China, red color is our country’s basic cultural color. It shows the Chinese material and spirit pursuit. It is the color of good luck and is used for decoration and wedding dressing, the brides always wear a red cheongsam or a red wedding dress at wedding ceremony, because in the Chinese traditions, the red color stands for the propitious sign. It is a lucky symbol which can bring happiness and make the brides and grooms’ life better and better. For another example, the money to children or bonuses should be wrapped in red paper, is called by in Chinese Spring Festival “red e nvelope”. The publication of the list of the candidates of the results to be published list of college enrollment and advanced character is called “red board”.Red is also the color of fire, and the fire gives hot warm booming, thriving and flourishing. Thus it als o contains fortune of people, including the success of the cause, the smoothness of the career, the rapid increase of wealth. For example, good luck is called “red luck”. The human condition is very good, and someone who is very popular with others, which are called “becoming red”.Work, study, production, operations and other activities achieve success at the beginning, which is called “begin with a red door”, and so on. Another example, at the APEC meeting of Shanghai, all the leaders wear the Chinese traditional clothes. All the clothes are of11the same style, but the colors are different. Chinese leader chooses the red clothes, while most of the western leaders wear clothes of other kinds of colors. From this example, we can see that the important connotation of red for the Chinese in various aspects of the intercultural communication.Red is also the color of the “revolution”, the banner of revolution is a “red flag”. Red symbolizes the revolution of the proletariat, Marxism-Leninism, socialism and communism, the Communist Party. As a result, the Communist Party’s revolutionary regime is called “red political power”, revolutionary base is called “red base” or “red zone”, leadership of the Communist Party of the revolutionary army is called the “red army”, and a high degree of loyalty to the revolutionary cause has been hailed as “red heart”. These expressions have the typical characteristics of Chinese culture.However, in the Chinese culture, red also symbolizes the meaning of envy or jealousy. In Chinese “red eye”, “illness of red eye” means envy and jealousy.2.1.2 YellowYellow occupies a very important position in ancient China, is the representative the rights and the rule at the all dynasties and the color of the royal family. For example, the basic color of the emperor’s clothing is yellow. “Yellow robe”is the robes of the emperor, and the emperor ascended the throne calle d “with yellow robe”, and so on.Yellow is influenced by ancient Chinese feudal superstition, and it is also the symbol of the gods of heaven or the underworld. For example, Acting in the days of the election depends on “yellow calendar”. “Good day in yellow calendar”, it is appropriate to act in the good days. “Yellow paper” is the paper that people fete for the dead. “Yellow spring” refers to the underworld or someplace like this. The above is formed by the impact of ancient Chinese history and cultural thinking.Yellow is also the symbol of vigilance. Yellow is bright eye-catching, usually used to reminder from the attention and alertness. For example, trackman repair and do the maintenance work on the highway, always dress in yellow clothes, which aims at attracting the drivers’ attention. Before the traffic lights turn from green to red light, yellow light will get light firstly, in order to alert vehicles and pedestrians “red lightwould light up and the road is about to cut-off the line; “Yellow alert” is a preliminary alarm; “yellow line” is the yellow lines prohibit or restrict parking on both sides of the road. To help the user quickly identify and classify commercial telephone number, phonebook is always printed by yellow paper, known as the “Yellow Pages”, and so on.It is the modern times that we connect yellow with pornography fornication, corruption and degeneration because of the “yellow back”in English. So there are expressions, such as “yellow novel”, “yellow movie”, etc. In fact, in English yellow does not directly express the meaning of “pornography”, but the implied meaning of “sensational”. For example, “yellow journalism”means “irresponsible wanton exaggeration, rendering the news reports.”Yellow also shows the immature and ignorant young people, for example, “yellow-haired girl” or“yellow-mouthed boy” in Chinese is also often used to represent.2.1.3 GreenGreen puts people in mind of nature, green grasslands, green grass in Chinese, so it means quiet, nature, and health. For example, green food, green industry, green Olympics and the Green Revolution.Green symbolizes life, and therefore also a symbol of harmony and peace. So people in the traffic signal system with the “green light” to road are allowed to pass. Thus the “green light” has the meaning of approval and release. For example, “Only studio heads can greenlight new movies.” “We are ready to rebuild the our house, we’ re just waiting for the green light from the Council”.However, green is also used to mean “humble” or “of bad reputation”. For example, “green hat” is not necessarily a green hat but often indicates a cuckold. In Chi nese, the color of blue can be replaced by “qing”. “Woman in qing buliding” refers to a woman driven to be a prostitute, for“qing building” in Chinese often implies a brothel instead of a building of green color. In China, especially in the feudal society, the dress of the government official on a lower level was regularized to be green, so it also symbolizes humble. “Green clothing” is the symbol of low position in the official13career.2.1.4 BlueIt seems that blue is a favorable word to Chinese. The blue sky and sea often arouse us to yearn for a better future and the feelings of distance, calmness and justice. In Chinese, the color of blue can also be replaced by “qing”, thus “qing sky” and “qing cloud” both refer to the blue sky. Because “blue sky” in a fine day is always cloudless, making people feel bright and clear, “qing sky” in Chinese often refers to a just judge or an upright person.Blue is often connected with the sea and sunny sky, and it makes people feel comfortable and relaxed. If someone is emotional or wants to calm down, soft blue can take an effective effect. So blue means a symbol of peace and quiet. In addition, “B lue picture” comes from the English word “blueprint.” The former refers to the design drawings, named for its blue. It refers to the construction of the basis used，planning as well as people of the grand vision of the future.2.1.5 WhiteWhite in Chinese culture is used of a wide range of rich colors implication, its symbolic meaning is commendatory but major is derogatory. White symbolizes the meaning of clear, innocence and understanding, for example, “the truth is white”means that finding the truth and putting cause and effect outs of the public to the world. “Wrong is not white” means that it is unable to crack the grievance. “Express the white” or “tell the white” refers to tell the truth, express one’s thought, show one’s love or explain the clear meaning.White, opposite to red, is a basic taboo color in Chinese traditional culture. It is the expression stands for death and ill omen. For example, when one died his family members must dress in white, and held a funeral and this is called “white event”. In Chinese feudal society, the common people were forbidden to dress in any other colors except white, so they were called “white clothing”. The persons with no position are “white man,” their houses are “white house”. Besides, White in Chinese also means failure. In a war, the yielding party will hang “white flag” as a sign of accepting its failure.2.1.6 BlackBlack contains the bad, unlucky or bad imagery in Chinese. The reason is mainly that night often shows dark, fear, terror and pain. In Chinese people who do bad things is called “black heart.” “Black society” means an illegal social organization. “Black shop” refers to an inn ran by brigands. “Black goods” is the unlawful carrying or selling goods. “Black residence” refers to a family without registration.However, black is a solemn and serious color with the heavy sense of mystery, and expresses more commendatory. For example, in traditional Chinese Folklore judge Baogong has a “black face”, an untouchable morally. In traditional Peking Opera Zhangfei or Likui is also painted “black facial makeup”, symbolizing justice, upright and impartial.2.2 The Sense of the Basic Colors in English2.2.1 RedWesterners are accustomed to holiday in the calendar printed in red font, therefore in English the word “red-letter day”, means festival or festive day，so red in English has also been the meaning of joy, but this expression in English is very limited. Besides, in western when Welcome VIP courtesy, red is always used to pay tribute. For example, the common red carpet welcome to the heads of other countries, to symbolize each other’s dignity and square grand welcome reception. Red has also the meaning that one is healthy both in English and Chinese, for example, “red face (with a face as red as a rose)”. “Red is associated with certain emotions.” For example, “She becomes red faces”. “Her face turned red”. “I can see that he is in red with anger”, etc.However, in English-spoken countries, red is always described as derogatory sence. First, red is the symbol of the violence and blood. In western culture, red mainly refers to the color of blood, as soon as the blood trickled down, the flowers of life will wither. Therefore, red is often linked with violence, blood and terror. For example, “the red rules of tooth and claw”, “r ed revenge” and “a red battle.” Second, red is the symbol of debauchery and obscenity. Therefore, activities such as15prostitution, escort fun place are decorated by red lights embellishment, so red also alludes to the debauchery and obscenity. For example, “a red light district”, “p aint the town red”,“a red waste of his youth”. “Is she really red as she is painted?” a nd so on. Third, for a long time, westerners are used to fill with red font a loss of revenue and expenditure figures in the west in order to achieve eye-catching and the alert, therefore red gradually has the meaning of “loss”, for example “in red ink”, “in the red”. This modern practice has been accepted by the Chinese people, so there are expresses, such as “the budget deficit”, “trade deficit”, in Chinese.2.2.2 YellowThe symbolism of yellow is not often used in western culture, the mainly meaning of the “baseness” and “coward”, such as,“yellow dog “,“yellow streak”, etc.2.2.3 GreenIn English, the symbolic meaning of green is associated with nature. But it stressed the forces of nature, vitality. For instance,“a green old age”describes as vibrant, full of vitality. “In the green wood”means the young period. Green also symbolizes the fresh in English, such as “green recollection”, “k eep the memory green”,“a green wound”, and so on. Yellow often expresses the immature, childish in Chinese but in English it used by green, such as, “a green hand”, “a s green as grass”.“The new trainees are still very green”.Banknotes of various denominations in the United States are the main colors of green, so green is often used to symbolize the banknotes. Such as “greenback”, “greenmail”, etc.2.2.4 BlueBlue shows either the eulogistic, can also be expressed derogatory in English. Blue is the symbol of high status in English, powerful and well-born nobles. For instance, “She is a real blue blood”. “Blue book” is published in celebrities, especially senior government officials in the name of the book, “b lue ribbon”, etc. In addition, blue usually contains the meaning of the depression and sadness in English. Such as “the blues”, which is an African-American folk songs, slow melody and sad. “Be in the blues” or “have the blues”. Secondly, in English blue is different in pornographicmeaning but in Chinese yellow, such as “blue film”, “the blue talk.”2.2.5WhiteOf course, there are obvious differences in both language and culture, In Chinese culture white is a mourning color, Chinese people always wear white mourning or funeral to show mourning with the white flowers, while in English-speaking countries white is a symbol of happiness and luck, such as “days marked with a white stone”,“a white day”. When the w edding is held in the church in the Western countries, the bride always wears a white wedding dress, which shows luck and purity. But Chinese brides wear red cheongsam, which reflects the difference between Chinese and Western social customs and cultural background. Nowadays, many Chinese brides also wear the white wedding dress, which also shows the fusion of western culture.Black symbolizes evil, crime, on the contrary, often white symbolizes integrity, honesty, law-abiding. For example, “a white spirit”, “white men”, “white hand”, “white market”, “white list” and so on.2.2.6 BlackIn western culture, black color is the sign of the darkness. In the Bible, the black stands for devil, evil, pain and misfortune. In the figure of speech, the usage of black always gives people the feeling of terror, which can be seen in the following examples, “the black art”,“black and blue”,“black day”, “black dog”, ”a black look”,“in a black mood”,etc. These expressions are all related to the bad, evil, indignant characteristics in western culture.Red is the symbol of “loss”, on the contrary, Westerners is accustomed to black font to note a profitable digital, so there is a saying “in the black”.Black not only symbolizes the death, evil and disaster, at the same time, but it also has the connotation of sobriety and stateliness, black suit and black dress are both the favorite traditional clothes for the westerners. On serious occasions, the celebrities all like black clothes, all the members of the symphony orchestra are all in black suit to show the respect to the audience. In the service industry, the black suit is the one for the high-grade manager.173. Causes of the Differences in the Cultural Connotation between English and Chinese Color Words3.1 Differences in History and CultureColor has different interpretation of the symbolism in historical period, the Chinese nationalities are different from the western cultural environment, and different nationalities form different color concept. Take “red” as an example; during the Spring Festival in China, people have the red goalkeeper, red couplets, red lanterns and red firecrackers. In Chinese people’s minds, red symbolizes good things. Red is the color to make people happy and joyful. However, in western purple is the symbol of dignitaries and royal, for example, “to rise to the purple”,“to be born in the purple”and “to marry in to the purple” in English.Most westerners would be surprised because Chinese people connect white with funeral aversion. However, in western wedding, the bride wears a white wedding. Because the different historical backgrounds and cultural customs between the Chinese and English nation, the color word has been given a different culture meaning.Peking Opera is a representative of Chinese culture, the color of mask has the meaning of Chinese characteristics with an important value. Here is a brief introduction. Black: black is also initially used to represent the skin of people, judge Bao’face shows that his skin is black, As the impartial image of judge Bao’ untouchables is respected, black symbols become into a character characterization，after extension, the black mask is generally used for selfless, upright and straightforward character, Red: red is generally used to indicate the upright and loyalty, shows more positive role. In fact, red mask originally just shows people's skin, and a lot of red and black color roles are very gallant, integrity, and so on. White: white mask is the symbol of the performance of treacherous villains in the Beijing opera, such as the opera Caocao is painted a pink and white face, which shows treacherousness and suspiciousness. Green: In the Beijing opera, green mask is generally used to represent the brave, reckless, hot-tempered character with a blackmask similar intention. Blue: In Beijing Opera facial makeup, blue and green have the similar meaning that are an extension of the black, which means that the character is strong, forthright, and sometimes that shows insidiousness, cunning. Purple: purple is the middle color of red and black and its symbolism represented between red and black, generally expresses solemn, steady, upright and dignify, full of a sense of justice. Yellow: yellow in Beijing opera mask, is brave and sturdy or violent and cruel, yellow mask is generally used for the brave and irascible character. Gold and silver: gold and silver applied more widely, is used to represent the gods of gold shines; sometimes a golden mask shows the prowess of the generals, to increase its eminence.3.2 Differences in Geographical and Environmental BackgroundIn addition to the history and culture, the color preferences of Chinese and English nations are also influenced by the geographical environment that people live. Such as the Chinese nationality regards yellow as their own advocates color, the Anglo-American selects blue color as the national advocate, which reflect a close relationship with the English-Chinese two geographical environment of the national life.Ancient Chinese considers yellow as the high position, because the Chinese nation ancestors live in the world consisting of yellow — the Yellow River and the Loess Plateau. The Yellow River is called the mother river of the Chinese nation. The Yellow River always is connected with our ancestral totem, because the Yellow River as the second longest river in China, from a height overlooking, it is like a dragon meandering in the high mountains of the motherland, it is our nation’s unique totem.Different from Han nationality, the Anglo-American ancestors “Anglo Saxon”lived an island which is surrounded by the sea. For thousands of years, the western trade, battle and adventure, all rely on the blue waves. So, blue represents the color of the land they lived as the yellow for the Chinese nation. Consequently and it is not difficult for us to understand the two nations choose yellow, blue as the color of their own advocate respectively.3.3 Differences in Religious BeliefReligion also has a great impact on social life. As we all know, Christian culture19is far-reaching impact on the British and American people, while China is mainly affected by the Buddhist culture and the Confucian, Taoist culture. In the Bible, black is the symbol of the devil, evil, suffering and misfortune, while angels are always with a pair of clean wings, suspended in the head with silver-white aura. So angels become synonymous with the most lovable people in the literary works. In the Grimm’s Fairy Tales shows that “Snow White”is smart, kind, beautiful, which is popular with children all around the world. In their views, the white is the symbol of purity, happiness, beauty, and goodness. So in western culture, white is well-respected and well-loved. In Chinese culture, Confucianism and Taoism occupied an important position before the Sui and Tang Dynasty, and it leaves a lot of words in Chinese, such as: “Tao”, “Tai Chi” and“Bagua”. With the introduction of Buddhism, a large number of Buddhist vocabularies are used in daily life. The Chinese people enjoy yellow, which is reflected in many aspects, for example, Yellow is the color of the Buddhist scripture; the cloth of the monk Lama is also yellow. Han nationality advocates yellow with certain religious overtones.4. ConclusionAs what mentioned before, language is the carrier and products of culture, its connotation reflects the different cultural characteristics. The colors we see are light waves absorbed or reflected by everything around us. This article analyses and compares of the color word connotations in different cultures. It can be seen that the social and cultural impact of color in word meaning is lasting and deep-rooted.However, the meanings of many color words have changed greatly. The reason for it is clear. With the globalization go deeply into our life, human’s awareness of dependence on each other is enhanced. And from the developing and changing of the color words, we can also find the cultural mixture around the world. The cultural mixture is the theme and general trend to the world cultural development all the way. 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I would like to view the writing of this thesis as an academic experience during which Ms. Hu, with her comprehensive knowledge and great patience in correcting my draft again and again, instructed me how to read and write, and more importantly how to think.I am also indebted to all the teachers who have been instructing and encouraging me during my four years study.My sincere thanks are also given to my classmates, who shared with me the insightful opinions on this issue. Finally, I’d like to express my love and gratitude to my family members. This work is dedicated to them.22。