DifferenConnoaionofBasicColorWordsinEnglishandChinese_开题报告

   Language is the carrier of the culture. English and Chinese have its own characteristics, there are some difference on expression and culture practices between them. Words show the colors of the colorful world. Color words, in the English and Chinese culture, have similar and different meaning. From the different meaning of color words, we can see the same and difference between English and Chinese society and psychological factor. Culture is the environment of human beings, it affects people’s life. Color words reflect not only the colors’ physical property, but also society attribute and characteristics of the times. 

Life is a blank piece of paper, since get the development from green, the passion from red, the loyalty from yellow, the purity from blue, the hope from pink, the sadness from gray, then finish this draw, finally black offers the death, from now on, I am falling love with my lift, because I love its color. ( color, Wen Yiduo)

There are numerous substance on the plant of earth, each of which possesses distinctive color. Color term are used to show colors and all sorts, so color term is a recognized symbol describing each color in the world. Color terms are of utmost important to all nations and people. On one side, they are reflections of understandings to natural environment. On the other side, the color terms are satisfied to meet the need for different nations and people so as to show their outlook, perceptions, philosophy, economic and political stand.

As Lamb observes, “it’s clear that religion and culture are inextricably entwined”. Most experts think the sage of color in religions and their sacred writing exert great influence on the connotations of the color term.people are using the color words in daily life all the time, so it is important to learn the difference implications of basic color words in English and Chinese. It helps us to have a better understanding of different culture, promote and strengthen the communication and correlation between English and Chinese.

Color words, as a special classification in the language vocabulary system, which have striking characteristics and historical inheritance, not only make human language more ample and vivid, but also let us understand rich and hidden culture through them. Color terms in Chinese and English reflect physical property of the color as well as national marks, and develop accompanied by evolution of their own cultures．

It is well-known that the formation of the meaning of color words is the result of the effect of many elements such as culture, politics, folk-custom, production practice and religion. Moreover, these color words have been inherited from generation to generation and acquire their own cultural implications. The paper chooses the six basic color terms that are widely accepted by scholars to make a comparative analysis of cultural connotations of basic color terms in English and Chinese, and further confirms that connotations of color terms embody culture. Then, the features and the causes of connotations of basic color words can be drawn through the study. At last, the paper states the significance of knowing the connotations when we are dealing with cross-cultural communication and foreign language study.

Introduction

1.Overview of Color Terms and Culture

1.1 Comprehension of Color,Color Term and Basic Color Term

1.2 Comprehension of Culture and Culture Connotation

1.3 Relationship between Color Term and Culture

Comparison of basic Color Terms between English and Chinese from Culture

2.1 Comparison between Black and 黑

2.1.1 Culture similarities between Black and 黑

2.1.2 Culture difference between Blcak and 黑

2.2 Comparison between White and 白

2.2.1 Culture similarities between White and 白

2.2.2 Culture difference between White and 白

2.3 Comparison between Red and 红 

2.3.1 Culture similarities between Red and 红

2.3.2 Culture difference between Red and 红

2.4 Comparison between Blue and 蓝

2.4.1 Culture similarities between Blue and 蓝

2.4.2 Culture difference between Blue and 蓝

2.5 Comparison between Purple and 紫

2.5.1 Culture similarities between Purple and 紫

2.5.2 Culture difference between Purple and 紫

Cause for Culture Similarities and Differences in Basic Color Terms

3.1 Religion

3.2 Social Political System

3.3 National Psychology

3.4 Natural and Social Background

Conclusion

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