Cultural Connotations of White in Chinese and English and Its Translation 白色在中英文中的文化内涵及其翻译.doc

白色在中英文中的文化内涵及其翻译 Cultural Connotations of White in Chinese and English and Its Translation一、 课题(论文)提纲0 引言1. 白色在英汉语言中的文化蕴涵 1.1 白色在汉语中的文化蕴涵 1.2 白色在英语中的文化蕴涵2. 白色在英汉语中的文化的相似之处 2.1 白色在英汉语中的联想意义比较相近 2.2 白色在英汉语中有异曲同工的效果3. 白色在英汉语中的文化的不同之处 3.1 历史传统的不同 3.2 民族心理的不同4. 白色在英汉语言中的互译4.1在英汉互译时，对词义重合的白可采用直译4.2在英汉互译时，对词义不重合的白可采用意译4.2.1 在互译时，汉英语言中的白字理解为另一种颜色4.2.2 汉英语言中的白字没有颜色意义，可用直译加补充信息法或直接进行意译4.2.3直接与意译相结合4. 结束语二、内容摘要颜色与人类生活息息相关，从某种意义上说，没有五光十色的色彩就没有多姿多彩的生活。色彩是人类认识世界的重要领域，它不仅具有自己的物理属性，还具有丰富的文化内涵。白色是各民族语言中的基本颜色之一，由于文化价值观、信仰、历史传统和风俗习惯的不同，英汉民族对白色的文化内涵的理解存在差异性。本文主要讨论了“白色”在英汉两种语言中的文化蕴涵。即，“白色”在英汉两种语言中各有其褒贬涵义，以及“白色”在英汉两种语言中互译的方法。直译、意译和直译与意译相结合是汉英颜色词白的主要翻译方法。以便能更好地促进两个民族之间的文化交流。三、 参考文献1. Agnes Michael Websters New World College Dictionary z. Liao Ning Education Press 2001.2. Nida, Eugene a Language Culture and Translating M. Inner Mongolia University Press 1998.3. 包惠南 文化语境与语言翻译M .北京 :中国对外翻译出版公司, 2001 .4. 曹筱萍 汉英颜色词白与white 的文化内涵对比及其翻译 ,江西南昌高专学报 ,2008年出版.5. 范莉娣 ,马姝 .英汉颜色词的象征意义及其文化内涵J .大连海事大学学报(社会科学报) .2004.6. 牛津高阶英汉双解词典 ,第 6 版 . 牛津大学出版社.现代汉英词典 . 外语教学与研究出版社.7. 潘燕萍 .颜色词在英汉语中的应用及翻译J .广州大学学报 ,2001. 8. 王志勤 ,姚连兵 ,刘菊芳 汉英语言中白色的文化差异及翻译 . 西华师范大学学报(哲学社会科学版) ,2006.9. 王同亿 .英汉辞海Z .北京 :国防工业出版社 ,1998 .10.张祝祥, 杜凤兰 .汉英基本颜色词黑 、白的认知语义分析J .外语教学 ,2007 .5. Abstract: Color is closely related to human beings life. In a sense, if there is no color there will be no colorful life. Color is an important area for humans to know the world. It is not only having its own physical attributes, but also having rich cultural connotations.  White is one of the basic colors of all kinds of national language. Due to the different of the cultural values, beliefs, historical traditions and customs, there are differences of understanding cultural connotations of white for English and Chinese.   This article focuses on the cultural connotations of white in English and Chinese. White has its Compliment and Derogatory in English and Chinese. This essay also probes into the translation method of white in the two languages: literal translation, free translation and combination of literal translation and free translation. That would be a great help to promote the cultural exchanges between two groups of people.Key words: white, English and Chinese, Cultural connotation, Translation0. IntroductionLanguage is a kind of social phenomenon, which is a communication tool for human, and also is an important part of culture. Different ethnic languages are not only well received by the constraints of the national society and culture, but also reflect their specific cultural content. The linguist, Franz Boas, said in the Language and Thought: “In terms of thinking, the vocabulary has the most obvious influence for language and culture.”   Color words are a kind of sensory verb, it is one of the most important parts of the English lexicon, and it reflects the relationship among language, social and culture. However, due to the differences of the cultural values, beliefs, historical traditions and customs, the same color for the English and Chinese nations are caused by different cultural connotations in their heart. Therefore, the translators way to deal with the translation of color words could not be ignored. And the relevant research shows that white is not only the basic colors of the national languages, but also the theme of the trunk to constitute of the color words in real life. This paper mainly discussed the cultural differences of white in the Chinese-English language and its translation problems, aiming to find out a translation guide meanings in Chinese-English language.1. Cultural connotations of white in English and Chinese. Human life is colorful, the color can be identified up to seven millions in the world, but the color words have just only a few hundred. However, there are a amount of different words and classifications to express the colors for the national languages of world. It is basically the same to the classification of colors for English and Chinese people .They are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Mao Zedong said: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.Who is dancing, waving this colored ribbon against the sky?The Sun returns slanting after the rain.And hill and pass grow a deeper blue.However, because of the differences of culture and Language of expression for Chinese and English, there are also many differences in the use of basic color words to people. This paper examines the cultural connotations of white in Chinese and English, as well as how to translate, aiming to find a translation guides meanings in two kinds of languages.1.1Cultural connotations of white in Chinese In ancient China, white is basically belonging to taboo color. It reflects the Chinese peoples rejection and disgust in the material and spirit. And white is the depletion or no bloody and inanimate object; It symbolizes death and knell. For example, since ancient times, after the death of their loved ones, family members must wear white mourning, white shoes, and white flowers as a way to express their condolences and pay tribute to their loved ones. Therefore, white is always associated with funerals, evil, inferior, poor, etc. and the color of clothing are used to indicate the color of hierarchy, the officials robe do not have a white, because it is the color of mourning. In China's feudal society, white is the color of civilian population, people's clothes could not be enforced color. It is also a symbol of failure, foolishness, and no profit available. When beaten in the war, the losers always take a white flag to show surrender. To mental retardation called idiot, it is also a symbol of treacherous, insidious. Just as wearing the white makeup of the stage villain; it is also a symbol of shallow knowledge, no fame. Also, a pale-faced young scholar symbolizes young scholars who have no experience in affairs of business).In modern Chinese, the white, in addition to the color white, also has the meaning as follows: Firstly, clearness and understanding; secondly, purity. For example, as pure as a lily; thirdly, it means in vain or ineffective. Such as, blind lighting wasted wax; fourthly, not adding anything. Such as, boiled water; no cost, no pay; fifthly, eating something without pay; sixthly, it means description and statement. Such as, confession; seventhly, and it means Political opposition. Such as, White terror. Of course, white is also the usage of compliment in Chinese culture. White is the meaning of pure, clean and innocent. For example , it has written to praise a national hero, Yue Fei：Honored the green hill is to provide eternal resting-place for the loyal soul;Innocent is the iron used to cast the image of the hated traitorous ministers.White symbolizes justice, light and kindness. Such as: white light (It means fig of unprejudiced judgment).White symbolizes the legitimate; White income (Legitimate income of the residents)White is usually described as hair color ; Such as , An elderly person with white hair and rosy face ; To continue to study even in the old age ; To remain a loaf from each other though associated till the hair is white; Remain a devoted couple till the end of their lives;In Chinese, there are also many words with white does not stand for the original meaning, and it even has nothing to do with it when translating it into English, which is just constitute the phrase with other words. For example :White means doing something in vain， Such as wasting ones words ; daydreaming ; eating without pay ; And it also means Non-doped , Such as , plain boiled water ; blank sheet of paper ; exam inactions paper unanswered.And it also has the meanings of explanation and demonstration; Such as, confession; unburden oneself to somebody.White are always means something in vain or without cost. such as , all in vain or a waste of time and energy ; no use or no good ; to give away something free of charge ( for nothing ) ;to build it up from nothing ;Judging from the ethnicity. We often say the black people, the yellow people and the white people, but she has a white people. We cannot translate it like this. We should translate it as “she has a fair skin or complexion instead”. For another example, Its speakers cover one quarter of the globe ranging from the faired-skinned people of the British Isles through every gradation of color and race the world cover. (M .B McNamee, Reading for Understanding).1.2Cultural connotations of white in EnglishIn the West, the symbolism of the white primary focuses on its own color; it is the worship of color in Western culture. White is the symbol of God, angels, happiness, beauty, joy and purity. In ancient Greece, people believe that wearing white pajamas to sleep can be guaranteed to have a good dream. Egypt's pharaohs also believe that white is the supremacy, and their crown is white. The Bible story of the angel is always one with a pair of white wings, floating with silver-white Halo on the head.In Western culture, white is the symbol of purity and loyalty. In some countries, it is a traditional customs for a bride to wear the white .The color white for many people in the western world is seen as representing purity and goodness. Western Wedding is called white wedding (a traditional wedding, especially in a church, at which the bride wears a white dress). White lie (It is a small lie that you tell someone, especially in order to avoid hurting their feelings). White magic (magic used for good purposes). It is stands for purity and innocence. Such as, a white soul; white headed boy;It symbolized good fortune, lucky or auspicious, such as: a white day; holy white; white wedding.It has the meanings of lawful and legitimate. Such as, White market; white list (a list of individuals organizations having security clearance from government officials); It also symbolizes integrity and honesty .White witch (a person, typically a woman, who practices magic for altruistic purposes); white spirit (a volatile colorless liquid distilled from petroleum, used as paint thinner and solvent); white men, white hand. And so on.In English, white is the symbol of authority or power. Such as: White House (The president of the U.S and the people who advise him); White Hall (a way of referring to the British Government); White Paper (a government report that gives information about something and explains government plans before a new law is introduced); White Knight (It is a person or organization that saves a company from financial difficulties or an unwanted change of ownership by putting money into the company or by buying it).White is closely related to the economy. Such as, White sale (on sale) ,white war(economic war ) ,white goods(white household linens , such as sheets ,pillowcases, towels, napkins, and table-clothes, and heavy household appliances such as stoves ,refrigerators, and washing machines of coated with white enamel ); white coal (The hydraulic power required).Furthermore, there are the meanings of pale to the white. Such as, White-lipped (peoples the pale lips for fear).A symbol of purity, hope, peace, happiness, light, power, it is the dominant orientation of the meaning of white in English. But in certain occasions it is also used as a derogatory. Such as, White livered (weak and timidity ) ;White sepulcher (a person who pretends to be morally than he really is , a hypocrite ) ;White feather(a symbol of fear ,cowardice or timidity ) .The early attacks on Britain from the air were noticeable enough for a naval officer to be heard saying playfully to another . “What! Going to sea, are you? So you are showing the white feather!” White slave (a white-skinned, especially one inveigled into a foreign country by the promise of other employment).Similarly, A white area ;a white army(any of the armies which opposed the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War of 19181921 );a white party (reactionary party ) ; White flag ( something that shows that you accept that you have failed or been defeated ) . e.g.: If things are starting to go well, why raise the white flag? White handed (do not work, rely on to secure ) ; White trash ( an insulting expression meaning white people who are poor and uneducated ) ;White wash (to hide the true facts about a serious accident or illegal )2. The similarities of culture of white in English and ChineseThe Chinese and English nation on the natural qualities of understanding and feelings are generally consistent, but owing to the differences of local customs, geography environment, ways of thinking, religion, national psychology, and other cultural backgrounds and language in their ways of expression. Variety of colors for different ethnic groups is the same as the symbolic meanings, associative meanings in the visual and psychological.2.1The comparison of associative meaning of white in English and ChineseWhite can both refer to purity or innocence in English and Chinese.In Chinese, white is the symbol of virtuous, pure, bright and clean, elegant, honest, bright elements. Now I give you an example, his history is like a blank sheet (That means his historical innocence, there is no stain).In English, white also symbolizes purity, innocence, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. Such as, Im black but my soul is white. White wedding (a traditional wedding, especially in a church, at which the bride wears a white dress). White lie (It is a small lie that you tell someone, especially in order to avoid hurting their feelings).2.2 White has the same effect in English and ChineseFor example, white Christmas is a Christmas in which there is a layer of snow on the ground.It is the auspicious meaning, and is similar with the China's “A snow year, a rich year”.White has the meaning of nothing, no value in English and Chinese culture. Such as, waste ones word; in vain; give away something free of charge; without pay; common people in Chinese feudal society; rise in life without help.In English , white elephant (a position that is useless or troublesome ,especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose it ) .This story from the story that the kings of Siam gave such animals as a gift to courtiers considered obnoxious ,in order to ruin the recipient by the great expense incurred in maintaining the animal . White hope is used ironically; for those who desire to bring great success).In addition, it is gradually produced some of the words shared by Chinese and Westerners in the process of the exchange in English-Chinese culture. Such as , white flag( something that shows that you accept that you have failed or been defeated ) ; white collar worker(the people w