ABSTRACT

This paper studies the different cultural connotations of basic English and Chinese color words. On the basis of the analysis of basic English and Chinese color words, which are taken as an entry point, similarities and distinctions are found in the two languages. Furthermore, this paper studies, interprets and proves the different culture-loaded words with the examples of geographic conditions, manners and customs, social factors, religion and ways of thinking. What has been found would help to direct the communicative activities and avoid the culture shock as much as possible. Although the number of basic color words are not completely the same in different languages, they are almost the indispensable segment in all languages. Indeed, there are a great deal of color words in both languages. With the deepening communications between the western and eastern world, the different connotations of color words have increasingly become the barrier in contacts. There are already many achievements made in this field. This paper has put forward some personal views on the basis of analyzing and summarizing former results, which are expected to benefit for deeper researches in intercultural communication.

Keywords: basic color words; cultural connotations; intercultural communication; cultural differences

CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1. Introduction-1

2. Cultural connotations of basic Chinese color words-1

    2.1 Cultural connotations of “hong”-1

    2.2 Cultural connotations of “bai”-2

    2.3 Cultural connotations of “huang”-3

    2.4 Cultural connotations of “hei”-4

    2.5 Cultural connotations of “zi”-4

3. Cultural connotations of basic English color words-5

    3.1 Cultural connotations of “red”-5

    3.2 Cultural connotations of “white”-6

    3.3 Cultural connotations of “yellow”-7

    3.4 Cultural connotations of “black”-8

    3.5 Cultural connotations of “purple”-8

4. Comparison between Chinese and English basic color words-9

    4.1 Chinese “hong” and English “red”-9

    4.2 Chinese “bai” and English “white”-10

    4.3 Chinese “huang” and English “yellow”-10

    4.4 Chinese “hei” and English “black”-11

    4.5 Chinese “zi” and English “purple”-11

5. Reasons for different cultural connotations in Chinese and English-12

    5.1 Natural geographical factors-12

    5.2 Religious factors-12

    5.3 Historical and social factors-13

6.Conclusion-13

References-15

Acknowledgements-16