红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略(10)

The Differences of the Connotation of the Color Red and Their Translation Strategies红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略

her whole life, which is a symbol of shame due to commit adultery. The ―Scarlet‖ (腥红，鲜红) symbolizes ―debauchery and obscenity‖, which made up a phrase ―Scarlet woman‖ refers to ―淫妇‖. Visibly,“red”is a very unpopular word, the red ―A‖ in her body symbolizes obscenity and shame, the color of ―A‖ symbolizes danger and plague, let people saw it and gone away. In the 50~60s, the domestic brand radio –―红灯‖ once sold oceans and abroad. But as ―红灯‖literal translation in English means ―a red light district‖ made ―红灯‖ brand radio poor sales overseas. Later it changed its name and became best-selling. This is also the different connotation of Chinese and western about red that caused the different understanding.

Throughout《Tess of The D'Urbervilles》，it can be found in her short life course that all deeply engraved with passion, desire, recklessness, shame, tragedy mark. The red image exists as an organization of the use of space art. This strong dazzling color impacts on the people causing a very uncomfortable mind. This harsh color as a symbol of sexual desire or joy of life is negative on life's tragic and helplessness.

2.2.2.3 The Symbol of Danger and Warning

―Red‖ plays a role of warning and inhibition, remembering people to draw attention to risk, even to a certain extent, it makes people feel disturbed. This point is the same in China and English-speaking countries. The red light in the crossroads is a stop signal; of course, in front of the brothel hanging ―red‖ lights, brothels and other nasty places are named ―red light district‖. Among them, red is also a ban and has a deep meaning—sexual impluse. In the translation of “红楼梦”，the famous Chinese linguist(Hawkes)realized that ―红‖can make modern English readers think of violence、bloody, so he uses the original title--《石头记》,it translated as The Story of Stone. In English-speaking countries, ―red‖ is synonymous with the state of emergency, besides, ―red flag‖ is often used as a warning signal of danger or a signal of stop. The US Commerce Commission regulated that inflammable goods and shipping documents must be pasted with ―red label‖(红标签), which is the same in China, such as ―高压危险‖,“易燃易爆品”,“小心火灾”.In the ball game, if players make a serious mistake, the judge will show ―red card‖(红牌); if the unit or individual breaks the law or the rulers, the ―red card‖ should be showed as a signal of warning. Nowadays, financial personnel account the loss of the record in ―red‖ ink; ―running a business in the red‖ means a business operated in loss, so ―red‖ represents a loss. ―red‖ as a warning , like a red month(赤字月), go into red ink(出现赤字), in the red(有亏欠、有赤字)

2.2.2.4 The Symbol of Unpopular

In English-speaking countries, ―red‖ often signifies unpopular with everyone and disgusting. In a bullfight game, the matador always uses a larger piece of red cloth to provoke the cow to attack them. A red cloth is used to enrage bull, while now refers to make people angry, such as ―like a red rag to a bull‖(肯定会使人生气或烦恼的事); ―see red‖ (暴跳如雷、极为愤怒); ―red eye‖(红眼) means cheap whiskey. If someone drinks a small amount of this wine, his eyes will become red. Surely, this meaning is entirely different from ―红眼病‖ in Chinese, ―red chicken‖ is crude heroin, in China it is commonly known as ―红鸡‖; ―red tape‖(繁文缛节、官样文章).All these examples shows the meanings of ―red‖ are unpopular.