On Translation of Color Words

Abstract

Translation is to convey the cultural information of another language through a language. So language can not live without culture. [7]AS Wang Zuoliang write “The biggest difficulty of translation is different culture”.[8] and through the difference between Chinese color words and English color words, It’s not hard to see that national psychology, aesthetic standards and other factors can affect color words translation. The symbolic meaning of color words in English and Chinese and the difference of feeling can be totally different. It is a great difficulty for English learners and translators to overcome.

  Franz Boas pointed out: “In terms of thinking, The most obvious influence on language and culture is vocabulary ”.[1] Color words is a kind of sensory word.which reflects the relationship between language and social culture. Different cultural values, beliefs, historical traditions and customs caused the same color in Chinese and English national psychology caused by the cultural connation is not the same, so the translation of color words can not be ignored.

Key words: Translation, Color words, Different, Vocabulary, Culture 

Content

Ⅰ、 Introduction……………………………………………………….………4

Ⅱ、Difference between English color words and Chinese color words………………………………………………………….4

Red…………………………………………………………………………….4

White…………………………………………………………………………..4

Black……………………………………………………………………….…..5

Blue…………………………………………………….…………………….....5

Green……………………………………………………….…………………..5

Yellow…………………………………………………………………………..5

Ⅲ、Translation strategies of color words……………………………………...6

Foreignization…………………………………………………….…..6

（一）Literal translation………………………………………..…………...6

    (二) Literal translation plus annotation……………………………………7

 (三) Domestication…………………………………………………………..7

 (四) Free translation…………………………………………….…………..7-8

 (五) Free translation plus annotation……………………………………..8

IV、Conclusion………………………………………….……………..………..9

V、References……………………………………………………………………9