Semantic Comparison Between Chinese and English Idioms Containing Color Words

Xin WANG

Abstract


Idiom is the crystallization of the thought which coagulates through the long-term practice and people’s cognition, reflecting their wisdom. Because of the richness of language, there are a number of idioms which contain color words in both English and Chinese. Color idiom is an important part in these two languages. This paper analyzes such idioms containing three representative color words in both English and Chinese and basing on that, it discusses their semantic similarities and differences. The purpose is to help language learners use idioms properly and improve their language communicative ability.

Key words: Idioms; Color words; Semantics; Similarities; Differences


Keywords


Idioms, Color words, Semantics, Similarities, Differences

References


Brent, Berlin & Paul, Kay (1969). Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution. University of California Press.

Humboldt, W. Von., Peter Heath & Hans Aarsleff. (1988). On Language: The Diversity of Human Language -- Structure and Influence on the Mental Development of Mankind. Cambridge University Press.

Leech, G. (1981). Semantics: The Study of Meaning. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

George, Yule (2000). The Study of Language. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

Pan, Wenguo (2005). Chinese-English Contrastive Outline. Beijing: Language and Culture University Press.

Xu, Bo (2008). Comparative Appreciation of the Two Extracted English Versions of the Dream of Red Mansion. Journal of Sichuan College of Education, 24(2), 47-49

Verne, F. Ray (1953). Human Color Perception and Behavioural Response. Translations of New York Academy of Sciences, 16(12), 98-104




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.css.1923669720120805.4510

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