Culture of Numbers and Translation数字文化与翻译.doc

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1、Culture of Numbers and Translation数字文化与翻译摘要：数字除了表示事物的数量或次序外，还广泛用于成语或词组中，作为夸张和比喻的修辞手段.在科学的数字世界里,它的功能是计算,毫厘分明,精确严谨,是实数;而在人类心灵的语言世界里,它的功能是表义,许多数字经过“泛化”,抒情达意,增强语势,是虚数.由于受民族心理,宗教信仰,语言崇拜等文化差异的影响,英汉语的数字泛化的内涵和外延,虽有共同的规律,但也存在着较大的差异.关键词: 数字; 文化; 翻译Abstract: The numbers not only indicate the quantity or order

2、of things, but also widely used in the phrases or idioms, as hyperbole and analogy. In the scientific world, numbers function is to calculate precisely and clearly, they are real numbers; whereas in the language of human souls world, numbers function is to convey a certain meaning, many numbers gene

3、ralized to convey ideas and feelings or enhance language potential, they are imaginary numbers. Due to the influence of national psychology, religion, language and other cultural differences worship, the connotation and extension of “generalization” in English and Chinese numbers, although there are

4、 common rules, but also great differences.Key words: Number; Culture; Translation I. IntroductionNumbers are used by the whole humanity so that culture of numbers has come into being. Culture of numbers dealts with many fields: politics, economy, history, geography, astronomy, marriage, religion, et

5、c. We know “three representatives” (三个代表); “love triangle”（三角恋）, “the nine heavens” (九重天; the Western culture:the seven heavens), etc. In daily life according to Chinese culture, people like “6” , “8” and “9” better, which are known to everyone. And in English culture, there exists culture of number

6、s everywhere, which deals with many fields, showing that numbers should be paid attention to, too. “seven” is a holy and mysterious number which is made up of “4” and “3” which are regarded as lucky numbers. There are many idiomatic usages with “seven” in English culture: the Seventh Heavens(七重天), t

7、he Seventh Senses(七种官能), the Seven Deadly or Capital Sins(七大罪), etc. (cf. LYL. 2003:115) II. Culture of Numbers2.1 Chinese Culture of NumbersIn Chinese culture, certain numbers are believed by some to be lucky or unlucky based on the Chinese word that the number name sounds similar to. However some

8、Chinese people regard these beliefs to be superstitions. Since the pronunciation and the vocabulary may vary greatly in different Chinese dialects, the rules are not generally applicable for all cases.2.1.1 Favourable NumbersLucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chines

9、e words. The numbers 2、6、7、8,and 9 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings.The number 2 , pronounced “r” is a good number in Chinese culture. There is a Chinese saying good things come in pairs. It is common to use double symbol

10、s in product brandnames, e.g. double happiness, double coin, double elephants, etc. Cantonese speaking people like the number two because it sounds the same as the word easy (易) in Cantonese.The number 6, pronounced liu, sounds like the word for flowing, smooth or slippery which can mean everything

11、goes smoothly.The number 666 is considered one of the luckiest numbers. It can be seen prominently in many shop windows across the country, and people there often pay extra to get a mobile phone number including this string of digits. Coincidentally, that number is considered to be unlucky or demoni

12、c in Western culture.License plate number AW6666 was bought for 272,000 yuan (US$34,000) in an auction by an anonymous bidder on behalf of a motorcycle dealership in Zengcheng, Guangzhou. The number 8, in Chinese (Pinyin: b) sounds similar to the word which means fortune, prosper or wealth (发, Pinyi

13、n: f). In regional dialects the words for eight and fortune are also similar, eg Cantonese baat and faat.There is also a resemblance between two digits, 88, and the shuang xi (double joy), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters 喜 (xi, joy, happiness). Telephone number 8888-8

14、888 was sold for USD$270,723 in Chengdu, China.The Summer Olympics in Beijing are scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08 p.m. A man in Hangzhou offered to sell his license plate reading A88888 for 1.12 million yuan. The number 9 (jiu), sounds like the word for longlasting (久 pinyin ji) means to last

15、 a very long time such as in a relationship between friends or lovers.2.1.2 Unfavourable NumbersNumber 4 (Pinyin: s) is considered an unlucky number in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese cultures because it sounds like the word death (死 pinyin s). Due to that, many numbered product lines skip

16、the 4: e.g. Nokia cell phones (there is no series beginning with a 4), Palm PDAs, the Leisure Suit Larry games, Canon PowerShot Gs series (after G3 goes G5), etc. In East Asian, some buildings do not have a 4th floor. (Compare with the American practice of some buildings not having a 13th floor beca

17、use 13 is considered unlucky.) In Hong Kong, some high-rise residential buildings miss ALL floor numbers with 4, e.g. 4, 14, 24, 34 and all 40-49 floors. As a result, a building with 50th as the highest floor may actually have 36. However 44 may alsobe considered lucky in some cases because it is us

18、ed in “44如意” (si si ru yi) which implies that the number 44 will help your wishes become true.Number 5 can represent me (我, pinyin w), it is usually associated with not (无/無, pinyin w). If used for the negative connotation it can become good by using it with a negative. 54 being not die or no death.

19、 If used for the positive it can be used as a possessive.528 is a way of saying no easy fortune for me2.2 Western Culture of NulmbersAs the same, certain numbers are believed to be lucky or unlucky in the Western culture. However there are great differences, such as western pepple define numbers are

20、 lucy or unlucky based on region more than the pronunciation which is the main and important aspect for Chinese people to define them.2.2.1 Favourable NumbersNumber 7, which has been deified influences the western culture and even to the whole worlds culture. As the rise and the development of relig

21、ions, the number 7 had a strong religious themes and permeated every aspect of society. Christians believe that God created the world with all things in seven days.(Seven days in Creation) Hebrew people like to use swear with “7”, saying “to come under the ingluence of seven things”; in Greece there

22、 are saying like “The Seven Sages of Greece”(希腊七贤) and “The Seven Bishops”（七大教主）. Western religions and cultures often use number 7 to regulate the peoples conducton or summarized historical humanities landscape, social organizations, religious ceremonies, which have an important influence on langua

23、ge and culture. For example,The Seven Virtues(七大美德)：Faith(信任)，Hope(希望)，Charity(仁慈)，Justice(公正)，Fortitude(毅力），Prudence(谨慎)，Temperance(节制)The Seven Deadly Sins(七宗罪)：Pride（骄傲）, Wrath（发怒）, Envy（嫉妒）, Lust（肉欲）, Gluttony（贪吃）, Avarice（贪婪）, Sloth（懒惰）.The Seven Gifts of the Spirit(神的七大礼物)：Wisdom （智慧）, Underst

24、angding（理解）, Counsel（忠告）, Fortitude（毅力）,Knowledge（知识）, Righteousness（正义）, Fear of the Lord（畏上帝）.The Seven Sacraments(七大圣礼), Seven Champions(基督教的七大守护神), The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy(七大肉体善事), The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy(七大精神善事), The Seven enses(人有七感), The Seven Wonders of the World（世界七大奇观)

25、(cf. BHN. 2001:193-195)2.2.2 Unfavourable NumbersNumber 13 is considered unlucky in western countries. In fact, it appears that in ancient times, 13 was either considered in a positive light or (more commonly) not at all (Adams). The association of bad luck with the number 13 has been attributed to

26、the fact there were 13 people at the Last Supper of Jesus, and the thirteenth arriving person is Jude who betraied Jesus to the Jewish authorities just for 30 silver dollar, the dinner date coincides with the 13, 13 to the Jerusalem paper brought misery and misfortune. Since then, 13 was considered

27、unfortunate symbol.13 is also synonymous with betrayal. Another saying is that number 13 originated in ancient Greece. In Greek mythology wrote that in Hafula banquet, 12 gods attended. During The banquet, an uninvited guest Rockies(god represents trouble and rowdy ) a suddenly apppeared. This the t

28、hirteenth visitors entered, causing the gods favorite god- Baierte died.The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. Many hotels have no room 13, and many buildings have no 13th floor. Next time you fly, see if there is a row 13 in the plane. As date, 13 isnt lucky either, especially when

29、it falls on Friday. That was always thought of as a really bad day to start a new project or to begin a ship voyage. Movers, doctors and dentists say their business drops on Friday the 13th. The good news is that a maximum of three Friday the 13th can occur in a year, and sometimes there is just one

30、. III. Translation of NumbersUnder different circumstances, we need to use different translation methods to convey the accurate meaning of the original text. 3.1 Literal TranslationBecause the understandings of semantic and pragmatic functions of vague numbers in English and Chinese are nearly the s

31、ame, the numbers can be translate literally with the premise of without affecting the target language readers understanding.1. 千秋功罪，谁人曾与评说？（毛泽东，念奴娇.昆仑）Who has passed judgement on the good and ill You have wrought these thousand autumns?2. 一个篱笆三个桩，一个好汉三个帮。A fence needs the support of three stales, an

32、d an able fellow needs the help of three other people.3. 将军百战死，壮士十年归同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。 Generals laid down their lives in a hundred battles, And valiant soldiers returned after tin yearsservice. Together they had been in the army for dozen years or so, Yet none had ever kown that Mulan was actually a gir

33、l.4. “When I take an idea firmly into my head,even if the walls are ten thousand feet high,I can not be prevented from doing it .” “我一旦拿定主意，就是万丈高墙也休想阻拦我。”（cf. BHN. 2001:206-207）The usage of vague numbers in English and Chinese exists a certain difference, so some changes are necessary in translation

34、 as to help readers understand the text better.5. 北国风光，千里冰封，万里雪飘。（毛泽东，沁园春.雪）North country scene:A hundred leagues locked in ice,A thousand leagues of whirling snow.The number “thousand(千)” in the original sentence is transformed as “hundred”, “ten thousands（万）” transformed as “thousand”.6. 千山鸟飞绝，万径人

35、踪灭。孤舟蓑笠翁，独钓寒江雪。 A hundred moutains and no bird,A thousand paths without a footprint, A little boat, a bamboo cloak, An old man fishing in the cold river-snow. (translated by Bynner)7. Jurgis was a young giant, boad of back ,full of vigor,a workingman in a thousand.尤格斯，身材魁伟，肩宽背阔，年轻力壮，干起活来，真实百里挑一的能人。（

36、cf. BHN. 2001:208-209）3.2 Free TranslationThere are some specific cultural backgrounds and habits of language expression in the use of vague numbers. When makes readers hardly understand or the sentence is unsound, the meaning of the word is unclear, we must give up numbers and turn to free translat

37、ionto .8. 万一打碎了眼睛，我这一千二百度的近视眼如何走路呢。（杨沫青春之歌）If my glasses got broken, I shant be able to walk very far with these near-sighted eyes of mine.“1,200 degrees”(一千二百度) means having a high degree of myopia , we do not need to translate literally. (cf.WYK,2001:117)9. 泪添九曲黄河溢，恨压三峰华岳低。（王实甫）My tears would more

38、 than fill the winding waters of the Yellow River/And the load of my grief would weigh down three peaks of the Hua Moutain. “three(三)” and “nine(九)” show “many “ or “much” in ancient Chinses, it is unnessary to translate into “threepaths” and “nien windings”. (cf. WYK. 2001:117)10. Across the street

39、 on the side of a house was painted a giant woman with a five-foot smile and long blond hair,holding out a giant bottle.街对面房子的墙上有一幅大型广告画一位肩披金色长发的女郎，笑容满面，手里举者一个大瓶子。“with a five-foot smile” is an exaggerated expression, can not be translated into “五英尺的笑口，it should be “笑容满面”。（cf. BHN. 2001:197）11. -”Wh

40、at is it? What hurts you?”-“My eyes.Theyre hurting like sixty.”(J.London, The Valley of the Moon, Book, ch.III)-“怎么啦？你什么地方疼？”-“我的眼睛，疼得厉害。” （cf. BHN. 2001:210）IV. ConclusionTranslation is not the simple transformation of words or sentences from source language into target language. Since numbers have

41、 different neanings, some are lucky and favorable in some countries but means unlucky and unfavorable in the others. So the translation of number should concern cultural backgrounds ,habits of language expressions and social values. The more we know about the culture difference between the source language and target language, the more accurate the translation will be. Bibliography 1包惠南， 2001，文化语境和语言翻译，中国对外翻译出版公司。2李延林，2003，英语文化翻译学教程，中南大学出版社。3思马得学校，2005，汉英中国文化词典，南京大学出版社。4王冶奎，2001，大学英汉翻译教程(第三版)，山东出版社。5王冶奎，2001，大学汉英翻译教程(第三版)，山东出版社。