Abstract:This study aims to discover the importance of color words’ connotative meaning in translation practice by studying the different meaning of color words in both Chinese and English. By analyzing Mo Yan’s masterpiece Red Sorghum, this paper underscores the great importance of a clear understanding of culture-loaded words in translation practice, from the prospective of the historical and cultural background, connotative meaning and translation method of color words, through a careful examination of the translation examples of color words in Red Sorghum.

Key words: color words; cultural connotations; translation

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1.Introduction.1

2. Historical Background of Color Words in Chinese and Western Cultures.1

  2.1 Color Words in Traditional Western Culture

  2.2 Color Words in Traditional Chinese Culture

3.Connotative Meanings of Color Words in Different Cultures2

  3.1 Factors of Different Connotative Meanings of Color Words

    3.1.1 Religious Differences

    3.1.2 Historical and Cultural Differences

  3.2 Cultural Diversities and Basic Color Terms In Red Sorghum

    3.2.1 Color Blue

    3.2.2 Color White

    3.2.3 Color Black

    3.2.4 Color Yellow

4. Translation of Color Words.6

  4.1 Literal Translation

  4.2. Substitution

  4.3. Free Translation

5. Conclusion.8

Bibliography10

Acknowledgments.11