简论色彩的翻译

On Translation of “ Colors”

本文通过对色彩翻译的例证进行分析,指出尽管从物理学角度来说,同样的色彩具有同样的物理属性。但是,由于各个民族、国家的地理环境、民族心理、宗教信仰等因素的影响,同一种颜色对于不同民族的人所引发的联想和象征意义却不同。我们翻译时不能只局限于概念意义更要注意颜色的社会属性和联想意义。

This paper generalizes the precedent practice of the translation of colors, and points out that colors perceived by different peoples and interpreted in different countries have various associative meanings due to different geographical environment, religions, psychological elements, cultural tradition and customs, although the same color is always the same as far as the physical properties and conceptual meanings are concerned. As a result of this, we should make our translation express not only its conceptual meanings but also the associative meanings——the attached social properties.