A Contrastive Analysis On Cultural Connotations Of Chinese And Thai Basic Color Words

Words used to express colors are special.They do not only show general connotation of colors but also show symbolic connotation which are specific.It is common that any human being cannot stay away from color.Due to differences of history,society,environment,geography,culture,and life style between China and Thailand,words used to express color in Chinese and Thai are different and the expression of the connotation are different as well.Although yellow Thai and Chinese designates to religion,they refer to different ones.Chinese yellow indicates Buddhism and Taoism,and Thai yellow means Buddhism.Objectives of this study are to contrastive concepts of the connotation of colors in Chinese and Thai cultures,to analyze an influence of belief of Chinese and Thai to the use of words relating to colors of both countries including black,white,red,yellow,green,blue,purple and,gray,and to contrastive the use of word relating to colors in Chinese and Thai.Content is composed of five chapters.Chapter one is introduction which shows background and significance,previous researches relating to colors in both China and aboard.It also includes objectives,information and research methods.Chapter two includes color theories and relation between color expressions and cultures.Chapter three includes comparing and analyzing of definitions in term of cultures for eight basic words of colors in Thai and Chinese,and showing of similarities and differences of words for color expressions.Chapter four includes influences of cultures to words for color expressions in Chinese and Thai.The last chapter is a conclusion part of all parts in this study.Results indicate that words relating to colors in Chinese and Thai have both diversity and identity.These words not only has own meanings,they also express the connotation of color that reflects to distinctive points of the cultures of each nation.Uses of word relating to colors in Chinese and Thai have both similarities and differences.This study found that there are more differences than similarities.Both Chinese and Thai use black and white to express right or wrong,or good or bad,but Chinese uses red to express women,love,luck,and being well-known which are not existed in Thai culture.Thai uses red to express human character,currency and importance.Studies relating to distinctive of social status,custom,and life style of each nation could help to correctly utilize words relating to colors,improve understanding of the origin of the meaning,and reduce mistake of the language use.