On

Studies on Color in Different Fields in Western Countries start earlier. Many scholars from different perspectives on the color words are discussed, especially Berlin and Kay, their views on Chinese color words have a greater impact, the research in China has laid a theoretical foundation.

 Berlin and Kay argue that basic color terms in all languages are drawn from a universal inventory of just 11 color categories. [2]According to their theory, every language has between 2and 11 basic color terms and they present a hierarchy which specifies a limited number of evolutionary paths that a language can take when adding new color categories. It points out that among so many color words, we need to find out basic color terms and do research on these color terms. The crucial thing for us to do is to study the differences between basic color terms in Chinese and English culture.

 Subsequently, Kay continue to add and update this argument in the further study, in 1978, Kay and Mike, Daniel two scholars together published articles on the basic color of the general occurrence of the word  to make adjustments, they think the language has six main colors are red, yellow, green, blue, black and white, other colors are based on these six main colors.

  Studies on Color in Different Fields in China is base on Western research. Especially Berlin and Kay’s view. the research of color words is very rich ,and the angle is multi-dimensional. At present, the study of the color words in Chinese is the study of color terms translation and cultural contrast.

  In 1964, Mr. Zhang Peiji published”the word translation and English sound”book, [9]makes a detailed description of the usage of almost all the English color terms and their translation. On the part of the color words, the author expounds the origin, evolution, structure and function of English color words. At the same time, it also makes a comparison of some color words in English and Chinese. This book is the foundation of the study of English color words in our country, which is of great influence. All in all, it lets me know the study of color terms in China, and makes me clearly to compare with these different meanings of color words between China and English.   

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.

   

II．Outline

Title:On Translation Of Color Words

English  Abstract 

（一） Introduction

We are living in a colorful world where there is a variety of colors permeating every area of our daily life. Color itself is an abstract concept and Color terms are the labels and basic color terms are the prototypes in the different color categories. Basic color terms, magic in expression, are the cultural carriers of different languages. It is clear that each progress of research is closely linked with human civilization. Color terms form a special group of glossary and the special quality of color term has been attracting scholars from home and abroad.

（二）Difference between English color words and Chinese color words

1 Red

2 White

3 Black

4 Blue

5 Green

6 Yellow

（三）Translation strategies of color words

3.1Foreignization

3.2 Domestication

3.3Literal translation

3.4Literal translation plus annotation

3.5Free translation

3.6Free translation plus annotation

（四） Conclusion

From the analysis, we can obtain the basic and systematic knowledge about English color words..It is necessary to know the English color words,because they can help us to know this language and its culture, and make language colorful and rich.When we learn English or communicate with foreigners,as second language learners,we should know these social etiquettes clearly,and keep these in our minds,only can we combine language and culture,we could be albe to achieve successful communication and learn English well.

[1]Baker,M.In other words: a coursebook on translation[M].London and New York.Routledge,1992

[2]Berlin.B,P.Kay.Bassic Color Terms[M].Califonia:Berkeley University of California Press,1969

[3]包惠南，包昂。《中国文化与汉英翻译》。北京外文出版社。2004

[4]常宗林。《英汉语言文化学》。中国海洋出版社。2004

[5]刘宓庆。《新编汉英对比与翻译》。中国对外翻译出版公司。2006

[6]宋天赐。《翻译新概念英汉互译教程》北京国防工业出版社。2005

[7]冯庆华.实用翻译教程之英汉互译（增订本）[M].上海：上海外语教育出版社， 2001.3

[8]王佐良。《翻译中的文化比较》。中国翻译。1984

[9]张培基.《英语声色词与翻译》[M]. 北京：商务印书馆. 1964

[10]魏泓。《中英文颜色词翻译对比研究》。太原理工大学。2011