【正文】
e translation 1 is more vivid and precise in describing her skin than translation 2. When we translate this kind of metaphor, we should consider the adaptability of the metaphor in the source language to that in the target language. Practicability: It means that translation standard must be practical and used in the translation practice. When we translate the color words “ Black tea ”, we must pay attention to the tealeaves’ color, the tealeaves’ color is red not black, so we can translate “Black tea” into “紅茶 ” not “黑茶 ” in Chinese. At the same time, “ Brown sugar ” is “ 紅糖 ” not “棕糖 ” in Chinese. Here are some more examples: 21) I wrap the book in brown paper before I mail it. 我先把書用牛皮紙包好,然後郵寄 22) Two brown loaves and one large white one, please. On English Color Words and Their Translation into Chinese 9 請拿兩個黑色面包和一個大的 白面包。 Here in example 21) “brown paper” does not mean “ 棕色紙 ” in Chinese. It is easy to understand the word, as you know only a kind of paper’s color is brown, that is “牛皮紙 ” in Chinese. In example 22), “ brown loaf ” is the habitual usage in English spoken countries, while it means “黑面包 ” not “ 棕面包 ” in Chinese. In general it is best to speak of “functional equivalence” in terms of a range of adequacy, since no translation is ever pletely equivalent. A number of different translations can in fact represent varying degrees of equivalence. This means that “equivalence” can not be understood in its mathematical meaning of identity, but only in terms of proximity. . on the basic of degrees of closeness to functional identity. Translation skills to be adopted Since translating is to some degree a skill, it can be best learned by doing rather than by studying the theories or principles which may or may not be applicable to actual performance. With a view to shifting from one language to another naturally, it is more suggestive that we learn some practical translation skills rather than simply focusing on theories or priciples. This section will discuss some skills related to translation of English color words into Chinese. Literal translation Literal translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another “ word–for–word ” ( Latin: “ verbum pro verbo” ) rather than conveying the sanse of the original. For example: 23) The uniforms were no longer of gray cloth but were grass green throughout, as delicately and attractively colored as the field. 制服不再是灰色的,一律是草綠色的,和春天一樣,嬌嫩美觀。 ( Zhu, 15) 24) During the war, we had to make sure windows were carefully blacked out at night. 戰(zhàn)爭時期,我們得細(xì)心檢查,使所有窗子在夜間不露光。 ( Zhu, 15) 25) He was dressed in a Europeanstyle suit of a pale gray material with pale blue stripes. 他穿著一身淺灰色底子淡藍(lán)色條紋的西裝。 ( Zhang, 79 ) As there are not great difference in the colors that are used to describe the things in example 23), 24) and 25), we can just as well to translate them word by word, or in On English Color Words and Their Translation into Chinese 10 another word, translate them literally to save the original meaning in the source language. Translation based on the explicit meaning Every language has its own expressions, and colors are always marked with their own national culture. So we must pay attention to the different color concepts in English and Chinese and respect different usages. For example: 26) Though old now, he was still strong with a brownish tufted beard. ( Zhu, 16) 他雖然上了年紀(jì),身子骨兒還挺結(jié)實,三綹小胡子,黑里帶黃。 27) My finger was caught in the crack of the door and got pinched black and blue. 我的手夾在門縫里,壓得又青又紫。 ( Zhu, 16) 28) Her face turned ashy pale, like a corpse. 她臉色徒然變成灰黃,死了似的。 ( Zhang, 85) Translation based on the implicit meaning As to the different culture element, different cultures have the different expressions on color words. On the other hand, the color words depends on the original meaning. For example: 29) I don’t see why I should stand in a white sheet for something I didn’t do. 我不明白,我為什么要為我沒有做 過的事認(rèn)錯。 ( Zhang, 96) 30) In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them. ( Zhang, 96) 在美國競選中獲勝的候選人通常都是有財團支持的人。 31) His conduct was believed to be the pink of perfection. 人們相信他的品行十分端莊。 ( Zhang, 96) 32) The opportunity one luckily gets is but once in a blue moon. 能幸運地得到這個機會實在是千載難逢。 33) He was born in purple. 他出生于顯貴之家。 ( Zhang, 96) 5. Conclusion From the analysis of the three aspects, we can obtain the basic and systematic knowledge about English color words. From the surface structures ( ways of expression) to functions and translation, we can form a crisscross image about English color words. They are the connection between colors and English. English color words reflect the cultural, On English Color Words and Their Translation into Chinese 11 social, political, and economic peculiarities, and they strengthen and enrich the English expression, culture, and emotion. It is necessary to know the English color words, because they can help us know this language and its culture, and make language colorful and rich. On English Color Words and Their Translation into Chinese 12 Works Cited Oxford Advanced Learner’s English – Chinese Dictionary. Fourth edition. 陳紅 . “英語中‘顏色’的詞語的理解與翻譯” ,山西大學(xué)學(xué)報(哲學(xué)社科類)第 1期, 2021: 109 – 155。 王磊 . “英語中‘顏色’的表達方式” ,外語學(xué)刊(黑龍江大學(xué)出版社),第 2 期, 1993: 2242。 張培基 . 英語聲色詞與翻譯 . 北京 :商務(wù)印書館, 1979。 朱文俊 . 人類對顏色詞的認(rèn)識,人類語言學(xué)論題研究 . 北京:北京語言文化大學(xué)出版社, 2021。 黃欣 . 《科技英語寫作教程》。化學(xué)工業(yè)出版社。 2021, P5。 張尚信 . 《英漢語言美的對比》。湖南大學(xué)出版社。 2021, P97 翁鳳翔。《當(dāng)代國際商務(wù)英語》。上海交通大學(xué)出版社。 2021, P55。