On the cultural Connotations of the Three Primary Color Terms in English and Chinese_英语论文

摘要

我们生活在一个缤纷多彩的世界里，颜色随处可见，在英语和汉语中，分别有相对应的颜色词。颜色词不仅有对应于色彩本身的基本意思，还有丰富的内涵意义。由于文化的不同，英语和汉语的颜色词所反映的民族风俗习惯、宗教信仰等有同有异。随着中西方文化交流的深入，越来越多的人意识到，具有深刻文化内涵的颜色词不可避免地在跨文化交际中形成障碍。研究颜色词的文化内涵成为学界热点。世界上颜色千变万化，只有三原色没有办法被其他颜色混合调成，因此，研究三原色是研究颜色词的一个典型事例。通过英汉两种语言中三原色词的对比分析，总结了中英三原色的文化内涵及其差异，探究了导致差异的原因。研究成果有助于避免中英跨文化交流中因颜色词的文化内涵差异导致的误会，促进交流。

关键词：文化；内涵；三原色；跨文化交际

Abstract

The world we live in is very colorful, and we can see various colors. There are corresponding color terms in English and Chinese. Color terms not only have the basic meanings of colors, but also embodies rich connotations of siginficances. Color terms can reflect different nations’ customs, traditions, and religions in English and Chinese because of different cultures. With the deepening of cultural communications in English and Chinese, more and more people realize that color terms with special cultural connotations may lead to misunderstandings in intercultural communications. There are thousands of colors around people’s life, but only the three primary colors can not be created by others. As a result, studying the three primary color terms plays an important role in color terms. Through the research on the cultural connotations of the three primary color terms in English and Chinese, misunderstandings will not be caused in crosscultural communications and English and Chinese will be develpoed better.

Key words：culture, connotations, the three primary color terms, intercultural commuincation

Contents

1 Introduction1

2 Demonstration3

2.1 Culture and Color Terms3

2.2 Relationship Between Culture and Color Terms3

2.3 Contrast and Comparison of the Cultural Connotations of the Three Primary Color Terms in English and Chinese4

2.3.1 “Red” and “红”4

2.3.2 “Yellow” and “黄”5

2.3.3 “Blue” and “蓝”7

2.4 Causes for Similarities and Differences 8

2.4.1 Causes for Similarities  the Same Perception8

2.4.2 Causes for Differences8

2.4.2.1 Different Histories9

2.4.2.2 Different Traditions and Customs9

2.4.2.3 Different Religions9

3. Conclusion10

Notes12

Works Cited13

Bibliography14