Idiom Translation According to the Differences Between English and Chinese Culture从英汉文化差异中看习语的翻译.doc

从英汉文化差异中看习语的翻译Idiom Translation According to the Differences Between English and Chinese Culture ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSUpon the completion of this paper, Idiom Translation According to the Differences Between English and Chinese Culture, I am grateful to those who offered my sincere encouragement and generous support during the course of my study for the Bachelors degree.First and foremost I am deeply indebted to my supervisor, Mrs. Yin Yiqun, who guided me with academic expertise, critical insights throughout each stage of my study and initiated me into my research. Her instruction enabled me to express my idea in a better way. Without her patient and insightful supervision, this paper would not be possible.Whats more, I also extend my heart-felt thanks to my classmates and friends, for their valuable guidance and sincere help.Last but not least, I would like to express thanks to my parents, for their encouragement and support. ABSTRACTIdiom is a centralized embodiment combined with national language and culture .It has strong cultural features, and also can reflect a country's geography, history, and religion and culture background. In translation, not only the images and figurative meanings of the original idioms should be translated, but also the national characteristics and regional features should be focused on. This thesis will explore the subject of idiom translation on a cultural perspective.The body of the thesis is composed of four parts. Part 1 gives the definition of idiom, and emphasizes “faithfulness” in idiom translation. Part 2 deals with the influence of culture on idioms. The influence can be summarized as follows: environment and climate, history, life experience, religious beliefs and literature. Part 3 presents translation strategies for three different types of idioms with emphasis on the preservation of the aesthetic effect of the source culture. And at the end of the thesis, the author draws the conclusion that idiom translation should be culture-oriented; that is to say, preserve the source language culture as much as possible.Keywords: idiom, culture, translation 内 容 摘 要 习语是一个民族语言和文化的高度浓缩和集中体现,具有鲜明的文化特征,它可以反映出一个国家的地理、历史、宗教等文化背景。在翻译时不仅要译出原语习语的形象、喻义,还要译出其民族特色和地域色彩。 本文从文化的视角探讨习语的翻译。此论文由四部分组成。第一部分分析了习语的定义并强调了翻译时要忠实于原文。第二部分处理了文化差异对习语翻译的影响。其中的影响概括为以下几个方面:环境、气候、历史、生活经历、宗教信仰和文化。第三部分提供了三种不同类型的翻译策略并强调原语言美学效果的保留。文章的最后,得出结论:习语翻译应该以文化为向导;也就是说,要尽可能地保留原语言文化。关键字: 习语 文化 翻译 CONTENTSAcknowledgeAbstract 中文摘要.Contents1 Introduction 12 Influence of culture on idioms 12.1 Influence of environment and climate on English and Chinese idioms.12.1.1 Geographical conditions and features reflected in idioms.12.1.2 Influence of climate.32.2 Influence of history.42.3 Influence of life experiences52.4 Influence of religious beliefs52.5 Influence of literature.63 Strategies for idiom translation .83.1 Literal translation.83.2 Liberal translation.103.3 Combination of literal and liberal translation 114 Conclusion 15Bibliography 16Idiom Translation According to the Differences Between English and Chinese Culture1 IntroductionAn idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made Wikipedia. An idiom is generally a colloquial metaphor?a term requiring some foundational knowledge, information, or experience, to use only within a culture, where conversational parties must possess common cultural references. Therefore, idioms are not considered part of the language, but part of the cultureBecause of the different background between China and British, there is a big difference in history, geography, religious beliefs, folk culture etc. English and Chinese idioms bear the different national features and cultural information. Therefore, the cultural factor is often the difficulty in the translation of idioms.Idioms are fixed and brief in form, concise and expressive in meaning. Idiom translation should not only present meaning of the original idiom faithfully and correctly but also preserve metaphorical images, rich imaginations, rhetoric effect and features in idioms of the source language as much as possible. Therefore, it is a significant problem to deal with “faithfulness” in idiom translation.2 Influence of culture on idiomsThe idiom of a nation is closely associated with its culture. English and Chinese idioms are no exception to the rule. British and Chinese geographical conditions, life experiences, histories, religious beliefs and literatures are all stamped on their idioms.2.1 Influence of environment and climate on English and Chinese idioms2.1.1 Geographical conditions and features reflected in idiomsIn view of British sea girt geographical environment and its long-term leadership in navigation, there are many related English idioms. The following are some such examples:Spend money like water挥金如土Sink or swim成败与否Go with the stream 随波逐流Plain sailing: A course of action that is free from difficulties 一帆风顺A cold fish: a person who shows no emotion or is very aloof冷漠的人A queer fish: a person whom others find hard to understand难以理解的人On the other hand, China, since time immemorial, has been a large inland country, only with seas to its east, and chiefly lives on agriculture. So a great number of Chinese idioms derive from agricultural production. The following are some examples:种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆。As a man sows, so he shall reap.瑞雪兆丰年A snow year, a rich year卷土重来 Stage a comeback面如土色Look ashen; look pale.一败涂地 Fail completely; suffer a crushing defeat; be routed.呼天抢地 Lament to heaven and knock ones head on earth?utter cries of anguish 2.1.2 Influence of climateThe climate in Britain is the oceanic climate, while China is a big country and climates in different areas of China are quite different. There are also some idioms about the climate both in Britain and China. The following are two examples:Rain cats and dogs: rain very heavily倾盆大雨It never rains but it pours: events of the same esp. bad kind seem to come together.不雨则已,一雨倾盆。清明时节雨纷纷 Unbroken spell of wet weather around the Qingming Festival山雨欲来风满楼 The wind sweeping the tower heralds a rising storm in the mountain.2.2 Influence of history Both Britain and China have a long history, and the historical allusions have become the gems of their cultures. These allusions bearing the distinct cultural personality and rich historical and cultural information can best embody the historical and cultural characteristics. For example:Sword of Damocles: To be in danger of having something unlucky or bad happen.千钧一发In the year 4 B.C., in Syracuse, there was a tyrant Dionysius. He had a chancellor named Damocles who admired the royal very much. One day, the king let him sit on his throne, when looking up; he saw a sword hanging over his head. The king made this arrangement to make him understand that though the body was in throne, the pressure to be killed at any time existedTo cross the Rubicon: to do something which will have very important results, which cannot be changed later.孤注一掷The allusion is from Julius Caesar. After he let his army unconstitutionally cross the River Rubicon in 49 B.C., his province was separated from Italy, which led to the Civil War directly.卧薪尝胆 To sleep under the straw, taste bitter when eating and sleepingThis idiom describes people who work very hard in order to be successful. This allusion is about Gou Jian, the Emperor of Yue in Warring State Period. When his country was beaten by Wu, he was captured and served for 3 years in Wu palace as a slave; however, he did not lose heart. Gou Jian hung gall under the ceiling, whether in or out, sitting or standing, even eating and sleeping, he often tasted the gall to encourage himself. And at last he beat Wu Country.2.3 Influence of life experiences Most idioms have their national characteristics because of their different life experiences. For example, the English idiom “a piece of cake” 小菜一碟 means something easy to do. The cake is a kind of common food in Britain, so they use “a piece of cake” to refer to things easy to do. While in China, things are different. Eating a dish of side dishes 一碟小菜 is more commonly used to refer to something easy to do, just like “a piece of cake” in English.What is more, the key difference between Britain and China is the attitude toward "dog”. To British and American ethnic groups, dog is the most loyal friend to human beings, often, they use dogs to describe people. While in China, people often show their contempt for dogs. Please look at the following examples:Every dog has its day: everyone enjoys good luck or success or later.人人皆有得意时Love me, love my dog: if one loves somebody, one will or should love everyone and everything associated with him爱屋及乌狗拿耗子多管闲事a dog trying to catch mice?too meddlesome狗嘴里吐不出象牙 a dogs mouth emits no ivory?a filthy mouth cannot utter decent language2.4 Influence of religious beliefs Because of different religious beliefs, the images that British and the Chinese use in their idioms are different.“God”, “heaven”, “devils”, “church”, etc, are often used in Christianity, whereas “佛(Buddha)”, “庙(temple)”, “和尚monk”, etc, in Buddhism. For example:God help those who help themselves天助自助者As poor as a church mouse一贫如洗跑得了和尚跑不了庙 The monk may run away, but the temple cannot run with him.借花献佛 To represent Buddha with borrowed flowers?to borrow something to make a gift of itThe Bible and the Buddhist scriptures have contributed a great deal to English and Chinese idioms. The following are some examples:A tooth for a tooth以牙还牙The phrase comes from the punishment of perjury. It means a punishment as severe as the injury that was suffered苦海无边,回头是岸The sea of bitterness has no bounds, repent and the shore is at hand.2.5 Influence of literature Literature is an art to reflect life experiences, convey thoughts and express emotions. It is an important part of spiritual culture. In ancient times, people created myths, legends, and fables. As time goes by, novels, plays, poems, etc. spring like mushrooms. These literature works have not only enriched peoples spiritual culture, but also provided plentiful resources for idiomsGreek and Roman civilization have had great influence on the English language. Please look at the following examples:Achilles heel: the one weak spot in a mans circumstances or character. The allusion is to the god Achilles whose heel is his vulnerable spot阿克琉斯之踵Trojan horse: any subversive group or device insinuated with the enemy ranks. This phrase comes from the Trojan War.特洛伊木马There are also some idioms derived from ancient legends and fables. The following is an example:Hobsons choice: The acceptance of what is offered when there is no alternative, no choice霍布森的选择Hobson was a legendary figure who hired out horses. However, he always insisted that a hirer should take the one nearest the stable and gave no choice to his customers.Chinese ancient myths and fables are also generalized in idioms. The following is an example:守株待兔To stand by a stump hoping to catch a hare just because once a hare accidentally dies there?trust to chance and windfalls.Idioms are always associated with literary characters and popular words in novels and plays. For example, “To claim ones pound of flesh” 索要一磅肉 from Shakespeares “The Merchant of Venice” means to insist on ones rights and ruthlessly exact payment or service, even when that means extreme hardship. “There is the rub” 难就难在这 from Shakespeares “Hamlet”. Chinese idiom “言必信,行必果” comes from “Analects of Confucius”3 Strategies for idiom translation3.1 Literal translationSome idioms in both English and Chinese show no difference in each element of their meanings. Since China and UK are both countries with a long history, an ancient civilization and a brilliant culture, they surely share a lot in their respective cultures, national experiences and in people outlook of the world, and there are a lot of this kind of idioms that may contain similar message and images. For example, “burn ones boat” and Chinese “破釜沉舟”, “burn ones boat” is related to the Ancient Roman Emperor Caesar: it was recorded that in 49 B.C. when Emperor Caesar led his men to cross the Rubicon River, he ordered his army to break the cauldrons and sink the boats after crossing and showed his determination that he would rather die if he couldnt succeed; while “破釜沉舟” is about an historical event in the Han Dynasty of ancient China: it is said that Xiang Yu led his army to cross Wujiang river, he commanded his men to break their cooking pots and sink their boats to express their determination to win the battle against his opponent Liu Bang. These two events have the same meaning: to make up ones mind, not to give up till coming to a dead end. Both we Chinese and the English will borrow some expressions from other languages. For instance, we Chinese borrowed an English idiom “a wolf in sheeps clothing” and turned it into our own idiom “披着羊皮的狼” referring to “a person who pretends to be good but really is bad; a dangerous enemy who plausibly poses a friend; a hypocrite”(Peng Zaiyi, 1987; 10). And the English also borrowed some idioms from Chinese culture. For instance, native English speakers have already accepted the two Chinese idioms “to lose ones face丢面子” and “to keep face”保面子.To keep the rhetorical method and the national and local color of the source language, the first method in idiom translation is literal translation. Literal translation is not equal to word to word translation. It refers to the translation in accord with the literal meaning without any extra meaning. The following are some examples:To fish in troubled waters 浑水摸鱼As light as a feather 轻如鸿毛Walls have ears隔墙有耳Still water runs deep静水流深We never know the worth of water until the well is dry井干方知水贵Sing different songs on different mountains 到什么山唱什么歌画饼充饥 To draw cakes to allay hunger三人行,必有我师。Where there are three men walking together, one of them is bound to be able to teach me something.There are also some idioms which maintain the national flavors of the source language. They have not only enriched the target language, but also have broadened the cultural vision of the readers. Look at the following examples:To kill two birds with one stone一石二鸟Th