Idiom Translation between the Chinese and English Cultures 毕业论文结构模板.doc

Idiom Translation between the Chinese and English Cultures论英汉文化背景下的习语翻译Abstract:Nida, a famous translator, says, "For truly successful translation, it is much more important to familiarize two cultures than master two languages, because words are assigned meanings in its particular cultures." Studies of the cultural distinction in idiom translation are still relatively weak in the field of translation in China. Exclusive research on the translation of Chinese and English idioms is still incomplete. In the last twenty years, idiom translation has mostly emphasized the level of inter-lingual communication, but cultural differences were rarely involved in it. This thesis analyses the cultural differences in Chinese and English idioms, then studies English-ChineseChinese-English idiom translation methods from the angle of culture and points out some warnings concerning idiom translation: pay attention to context and choose the right version in line with the style and meaning of the original passage; culture is a whole way of life, when new culture emerges, new idioms also appear, therefore idiom translation should develop with the time.Key Words: idioms; culture; translation摘要著名翻译学家奈达说:“对于真正成功的翻译而言，熟悉两种文化甚至比掌握两种语言更为重要，因为词语只有在其作用的文化背景下才有意义。”习语翻译 中对文化差异的研究在中国的翻译领域中仍然较弱，专门对中英习语翻译的研究还不很完善。近20年来，习语翻译大多强调语际的交流，而很少涉及文化差异。本文通过分析中英习语的文化差异，进而从文化角 度研究中英习语翻译方法，并指出中英习语翻译要注意的问题:联系上下文，选择与原文风格，意思相符的 翻译；文化是一种生活方式，文化在变化，出现新的习语，习语翻译要与时俱进。关键词：习语；文化；翻译Contents2. A Comparison Between English and Chinese Idioms 2.1 The Cultural Differences Between English and Chinese Idioms 2.1.1 Geographical Conditions2.1.2 History2.2 The Similarities Between English and Chinese Idioms 2.2.1 Colours2.2.2 Numbers3. Methods of Idiom Translation3.1 Literal Translation3.2 Free Translation3.3 Translation with Notes3.4 Replacement with Similar Idioms4. Some Warnings Concerning Idiom TranslationIntroductionIdioms exist in every language. An Idiom is a word or an expression that cannot be literally translated from the source language into the target language because its idiomatic meaning cannot be understood by literally defining its component parts. In a broad sense, idioms contain set phrases, proverbs, colloquialisms, slangs, maxims, allusions, etc. (YinLi, 2007:9) In Chinese, they also include enigmatic folk similes. Newmark, a British translation theorist, in his work A Textbook of Translation, said, "I define as culture the way of life and his manifestation that are peculiar to a community that uses a peculiar language as its means of expression. " English Idioms derives from English cultures and daily life. In real context, idioms explain themselves: nine times out of ten they carry their own explanations. If we are unaware of these, we will find ourselves in a state of confusion since we will assign literal meaning to them. The Chinese Idioms, especially the four-character idioms, have their own unique origins which are closely correlative to the Chinese history and cultures. In view of the difficulties in understanding idioms, we should pay due attention and efforts to understand their cultures and customs. This thesis is designed to dig into the cultural differences between Chinese and English and then elaborates on the translation theories applied to idioms.ConclusionOne of the major characteristics identifying us as human is our ability to use language. Language plays a very important role in peoples daily life; it enables people communicate with each other and understand others' feelings. Language has close relations with culture. It is impossible to separate language from culture. As the essence of language, idioms also have close relations with culture. The contents of them range from society, history, psychology to customs and other various social phenomena. So, in the process of translation, translators should pay more attention to the cultural factors, in doing this, he can dig up the implicit meanings. Only the cultural factors are concerned, translators can have a satisfactory translation. Besides, people should get acquaintances with the cultural background when using idioms to avoid embarrassment in communication.Bibliography1 Li Mei. Mother tongue and translation. Shanhai: Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 20082 Li Qingming. A Comparison of the Cultures between the Chinese and English Language. Xi'an: Northwest University of technology Press, 20073 Nida Eugene. The theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 19824 Nida Eugene. Language, Culture, and Translating. Shanhai: Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 19935 Susan Bassnett, Andre Lefevere. Translation, History, Culture. Shanghai: Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 19876 Luo Shiping. A Research on English Idioms. Shanhai: Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 20067 Li Yuping. English Idioms and their Cultural Origin. Tianjin: Nankai University Press, 20088 李云(Li Yun).新编大学翻译教程. 北京：世界知识出版社, 20079 马爱英(Ma Aiying).中英文化翻译. 北京：科学出版社, 2006待添加的隐藏文字内容210 孙致礼(Sun Zhili).新编英汉翻译教程. 上海：上海外语教学出版社, 2008Note1. “Translation provided information, reveal feelings, and affects peoples thought or behavior. Without translation, the worldwide civilization would not be possible.”Li Qingming. Translation. Northwest University of technology Press, 20072. “Translators must grapple not only with structural differences, which requires precision and the ability to convey the speakers or authors approach or attitude.”Susan Bassnett, Andre Lefevere. Translator. Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 19873. “An idiom is an expression which function as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate parts.”Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics. Idiom. 19854. “No word is an island entire to itself, words do not only have dictionary definitions but are associated with other users, social circumstances, and the sources from which they are produced.”Nida Eugene. Words definition. Shanhai Foreign Language Education Press, 19935. “An idiom is a set phrase or a sentence whose meaning should not be understood from the meanings of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit.”Li Yuping. Idiom. Tianjin: Nankai University Press, 2008