Abstract
As culture-loaded words, red and green are rich in connotations. In this paper, based on the aspects of lexicon, semantic and pragmatic meanings, ample examples are used to illustrate cultural similarities and differences in English and Chinese. Then it draws the conclusion there are many similarities and differences in the cultural connotations of these two color terms. First, it probes into their similarities through peoples’ common recognition of red and green and equivalent pragmatic meanings in both English and Chinese. Then, it compares their different connotations from the aspects of their basic symbolic meanings, duality of their connotations and inequivalent pragmatic meanings. This article analyzes both color terms’ cultural background by introducing their historical elements and peoples’ fondness. The purpose is to let us know more about both color terms’ expressions and their cultural background, which can help us to solve the problem of bilingual translation.
Key words: red and green; cultural connotation; similarities and differences; cultural background
摘 要
作為文化的載體，紅綠兩種顏色有著豐富的文化內涵.本文從構詞、語用、語義的角度出發, 運用充分的例子對紅綠色在英漢語中的文化內涵做1系列比較，並得出“英漢語中紅綠色文化內涵存在異同的結論” 。首先，從人類對紅綠色的`認知及兩個顏色詞在英漢互譯語義相對應方面闡述紅綠色的相同點。接著，從其基本象徵意義和其語義內涵有雙重性的特點及互譯時語義不對應角度比較分析它們的文化內涵差異性的具體體現，並從歷史因素和人們的喜好方面挖掘和分析形成其文化內涵異同的文化背景。文章旨在增加大家對紅綠色詞語的涵義及文化背景的瞭解,從而幫助大家排除互譯過程中的障礙。
關鍵詞：紅綠色、文化內涵、異同點、文化背景