Chinese Lantern Symbolism

A dictionary, to some extend, can reflect the specific cultural background and cultural values of the lexicographer. Therefore, even in a particular field, different dictionaries have their own methods of inclusion, interpretation, and example. This paper, based on the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary and the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary, aims to researching the inclusion and translation of Chinese traditional cultural vocabulary. The former, whose author is Hornby, represents the western cultural values; according to his first-hand teaching experience, and in order to meet the special needs of non-English speaking learners, he compiles the "Oxford Advanced English Dictionary", which is the world's first "learning dictionary”.

Every year before and after the Lantern Festival in the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, people set up a red lantern symbolizing the reunion to create a festive atmosphere. Then the lantern became the symbol of the Chinese people's celebration.
①. In the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary, the word “lantern” is included as “Chinese lantern”, whose definition is: noun, 1.a lamp that is inside a paper case, with a handle to carry it 灯笼. 2.a plant with white flowers and round orange fruits insides a material like paper 酸浆. The definition method it uses is literal translation, and it covers another unrelated definition that has nothing to do with the Chinese culturally-loaded words,no more examples and no more other relative words are given either.
②. In the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary, the word “lantern” is included as “灯笼 lantern”, whose definition is: illumination apparatus hung up or held by the hand. Lanterns are made using thin bamboo strips or iron wire for the frame, with gauze or paper pasted over, and a lit candle inside. Nowadays lantern use electric bulbs as their light source and are sued for decoration. The definition method it uses is also literal translation, but the author further illustrates its contemporary meaning and usage. Moreover, there are several related words — 灯节Lantern Festival、灯会Chinese Lantern Festival、灯彩decorative lantern-making、灯谜(猜灯谜guessing

Fourteen positive correlation diet vocabularies are found in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary—bean curd, barley sugar, bottled pickles, Chinese cabbage, chop-suey, doner-kebab, dried fruit(gorp), egg roll, flat-jack, pasty, sausage, soya-milk, tea, won-ton, which are corresponding to the words — 豆腐bean-curd、麦芽糖malt-sugar、腌菜、大白菜peking-cabbage、炒杂烩(炒面chow mien)、烤肉串、干果(什锦干果仁)、春卷spring-roll、煎饼pancake、馅饼stuffed-pie、腊肠sausage、豆浆soya-bean-milk、茶、混沌won-ton in the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary. Examples will be analyzed and organized the same as the first theme