英语毕业论文从文化角度看英汉习语翻译.doc

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1、从文化角度看英汉习语翻译Study on the Translation of Chinese and English Idioms from a Cultural Perspective院 系： 外国语学院 专 业： 英语 年 级： 2007级 毕业论文（设计）原创性声明本人所呈交的毕业论文（设计）是我在导师的指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。据我所知，除文中已经注明引用的内容外，本论文（设计）不包含其他个人已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。对本论文（设计）的研究做出重要贡献的个人和集体，均已在文中作了明确说明并表示谢意。 作者签名： 姚文 日期： 2011年5月23日 毕业论文（设计）授权使

2、用说明本论文（设计）作者完全了解红河学院有关保留、使用毕业论文（设计）的规定，学校有权保留论文（设计）并向相关部门送交论文（设计）的电子版和纸质版。有权将论文（设计）用于非赢利目的的少量复制并允许论文（设计）进入学校图书馆被查阅。学校可以公布论文（设计）的全部或部分内容。保密的论文（设计）在解密后适用本规定。 摘要语言是文化的载体，而习语是语言文化的结晶，它如同一面镜子反映出了中外民族的文化特征。习语通常包括俗语、谚语、典故、俚语等类别，它常常用形象生动、浅显易懂的语言，准确地描述社会现象、法则，高度地阐述人文习俗、思想感情。习语在日常生活中的应用非常广泛，甚至成为辩论中唇枪舌战的武器。美国第

3、16届总统亚伯拉罕林肯在他一篇著名演说中引用了圣经里的一句话：“互相分裂的房子无法站立。”来号召美国人民团结一致反对黑奴制度，停止内战。随着文化交流的日益频繁，由于习语在语言中的重要地位，习语的翻译也早已引起了翻译界的重视，因此恰到好处地翻译习语将有助于跨文化交流。本文试图研究中英习语中所体现的文化内涵，并从文化角度来探究英汉习语的翻译。关键词：习语；习语类别；文化内涵；习语翻译 ABSTRACTLanguage is the carrier of culture and idioms are commonly recognized as the essence or the crystall

4、ization of language. It usually includes proverb, colloquialism, slang and allusion and so on. Idioms also represent the social phenomenon and natural rules accurately with lively and plain words so that they might be compared to one of the mirrors which best reflect the special features of a nation

5、 or a culture. In fact, idioms are widely used in our daily lives, even debates are often interspersed with idioms which become oral weapons that are difficult to argue against. The 16th US President Abraham Lincoln once quoted an idiom derived from the Bible: “A house divided against itself cannot

6、stand.” in one of his famous speech, calling on people to fight against slavery and Civil War. With the increasingly frequent development of cultural exchanges, idioms play an important role in language use and an adequate translation of idioms is not only helpful but also essential in cross-cultura

7、l communication. This thesis attempts to make a brief study of the cultural connotation existed in Chinese and English idioms and explores the role of the culture in understanding and translating Chinese and English idioms. Key words: Idioms; Classification of idioms; Cultural connotation; Translati

8、on of idiomsTABLE OF CONTENTS Page1 INTRODUCTION12 DEFINITION AND MAIN CLASSIFICATION OF IDIOMS32.1 Definitions of Idioms32.2 Main Classification of Idioms42.2.1 Slang42.2.2 Allusion52.2.3 Proverb52.2.4 Colloquialism63 UNDERSTANDING IDIOMS AND TRANSLATION FROM A CULTURAL CONTEXT73.1 Relationship bet

9、ween Idioms and Culture73.2 Relationship between Translation and Culture94 DISCUSSION OF IDIOM TRANSLATION114.1 Literal Translation114.2 Free Translation134.3 Image-shift Translation145 CONCLUSION17REFERENCES18ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS191 INTRODUCTIONLong in history, large in quantity and rich in cultural in

10、formation, both English and Chinese idioms are deeply rooted in life. Nowadays, people take strong interests on cultural studies and talking about cultural studies has become a fashion in the circle of present culture and academia. According to the traditional theory of translation, people considere

11、d translating as a process of transfer between two languages. Recently, to some extent, translation tends to become cultural rethinking. Accordingly, some scholars both at home and abroad have tried to replace translation with cultural translation studies and interpretation. Naturally, we can think

12、that translation is an activity to represent the meaning and implication that the context has from a cultural perspective. Consequently, translation is considered to be a cross-cultural communication, which involves not only the transfer between languages, but also the transfer between cultures. How

13、ever, the problem of the interpretation and expression of cultural connotation should be solved at the first place in cross-cultural communication. It brings headaches to translation theorists and translators because the translators not only should have bilingual abilities but also should have the k

14、nowledge of two cultures, even several cultures. English idioms and Chinese idioms are beautiful gems of the two languages as well as the crystallization national cultures. Both Chinese and English have hundreds of idioms, whose succinct forms and profound meanings make themselves more condensed and

15、 expressive. Whats more, it is one of the most difficult things to understand the cultural connotation and get the implication from literal words of idioms. Idioms vividly describe the cultural characteristics of different nationalities for their rich national, historic and regional connotations. In

16、 order to translate the idioms appropriately, the translators not only should faithfully convey the original spirit and meanings, but also should enrich the Chinese and English vocabularies to provide a broader cultural vision. As a matter of fact, idioms have been accepted and handed down by people

17、 at the present time because of their universal value. Thus, idioms hold an important position in language use, an adequate translation of idioms is not only helpful but also essential in cross-cultural communication. This thesis expounds the close relationship among idioms, culture and translation,

18、 and the issues of the translation of idioms are explored from a cultural perspective.2 DEFINITION AND MAIN CLASSIFICATION OF IDIOMSAny kind of language has its own set phrases and fixed sentences which vulgarly and vividly describe peoples emotion and social phenomenon through accumulation during l

19、ong time. They are called “idioms” in English and “汉语成语” or “熟语” in Chinese. Idiom is a particular part of language which includes proverb, colloquialism, slang and allusion and so on.2.1 Definitions of IdiomsThe word “idiom” is equal to “习语” in Chinese, which possesses several definitions, such as

20、“a language of a people or a country” or “a dialect”. It probably may be defined, according to Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary, as “phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit” (Hornby, 2002, p.73

21、4) Generally, common people think that an idiom is also a kind of a set phrase or sentence fixed by long practical usage. From the above cognition of idioms, we can extract two basic criteria on which to decide whether or not an expression is an idiom. Firstly, an idiom allows little or no variation

22、 in form under normal circumstances, which has a relatively high degree of stability of the lexical components in long practical use. More often than not, any change in the components will result in absurdities or even make the idioms meaningless. For example, “拦路虎”: a lion in the way, we can not re

23、place the word “lion” with “tiger”. In addition, people will say: “a nice kettle of fish.” This word “nice” cant be deleted. Secondly, an idiom usually possesses an implied meaning, in other words, it cannot be interpreted only according to its literal meaning. In most instances, idioms can not be d

24、educed from their individual components and should be learned as a whole unit to catch its metaphorical meaning. For instance, the Chinese idiom “胸有成竹”, it literally means to have the bamboo in ones mind but figuratively means to have ready plans or design in ones mind. Besides, someone will say, “B

25、lack sheep.” It does not mean that a sheep is black. Oppositely, it means an evil member of a group or a good-for-nothing person.2.2 Main Classification of IdiomsIdioms are commonly recognized as the essence or the crystallization of language. In a broad sense, idioms may include proverbs, colloquia

26、lisms, slangs and allusions.2.2.1 SlangSlangs are very informal words and expressions that are more common in spoken English, especially used by a particular group of people, such as children, criminals, soldiers, etc. Slangs are rooted in local peoples life experiences or their customs and occurred

27、 in literary works, such as drama, TV serials, movies and monologue in the novel. Usually, slangs can be divided into three sorts: euphemism, curse words and vulgar language. Here are some typical examples represented the three ones respectively as follows.Close ones eyes (合眼，去世). Damn you (混账，该死的)!

28、 Dont talk crap (不要胡说八道). 2.2.2 AllusionAllusions originate from myth and legend, history and classic and they are actually origins and national characteristics of idioms. Allusions of idioms are used when something that is said or written that refers to or mentions another person or subject in an i

29、ndirect way. On account of the different social background, customs and religious influences, the meanings of idioms are much more remoted from their literal senses. If lacking of the knowledge of the allusions made in idioms, we will hardly read between the lines and catch what they imply. It is sa

30、id that a small part of English allusions draw on sources from the story of Greece and Rome, and most of them are from the Bible. For example, “bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh”, a phrase of biblical origin, is now metaphorically used to refer to “blood relation” or “unity in thought”. On the

31、 other hand, Chinese allusions mostly come from history. For example, give ones enemy a wife and lose ones soldiers as well (赔了夫人又折兵) a phrase refers to a historical story in the period of San Guo, is now used to describe a stupid person. 2.2.3 ProverbProverb is a well-know phrase or sentence that g

32、ives advice or says something that is generally true. Idioms originated from the life, it is comprehensive to generalize the life phenomenon in society and widely used among common people. Most of the idioms are scientific summary of the laboring peoples view on their experienced life through partic

33、ular work. In a word, these terse, colloquial and vivid proverbs are the wisdom of human beings. Here are some typical ones reflecting common peoples lives as the following.farmers will say：“Many hands make light work (众人拾柴火焰高).” or “No mill, no meal (不劳动者不得食).” sailors will say：“He that sows the wi

34、nd will reap the whirlwind (玩火者必自焚).” or “In a calm sea every man is a pilot (在平静的海洋上,人人都是领航员).”2.2.4 Colloquialism Colloquialism is a word or phrase that is used in daily conversation and one most important group of idioms. The form of colloquialism is set and many of them are rather rigid and cann

35、ot show up in any other forms. Colloquialisms play an important role in both English Chinese language because they are inexhaustible storehouses. Here, The author shall select two of them with cultural connotation as the following.Take the idiom “to kick the bucket (死了，一命呜呼)” as an example, the orig

36、in of this phrase can be dated back to a religious ceremony of baptism in Christianity. Another example “to talk of the devil and he will appear (说曹操曹操到)”, here, in order to understanding this phrase, we should know a famous person named Cao Cao in Chinese history.3 UNDERSTANDING IDIOMS AND TRANSLAT

37、ION FROM A CULTURAL CONTEXTIdioms are a particular part of a language, which includes colloquialisms proverbs, slangs and allusions and so on. Culture is a complicated system including and influencing almost all the aspects of life in a society. Translation is a process of changing a text or a work

38、from one language to another for a new readership. 3.1 Relationship between Idioms and CultureEdward B. Tytlor, an anthropologist, wrote: “Culture or civilization taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other cap

39、abilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” (Edward B. Tytlor, 1871 in Zhang Miao, 2003, p.14) This sentence refers to academic subjects, which means that the scope of culture is not measurable. Language is a system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a

40、 country or a nation. We may believe that it is impossible to separate the use of language from our culture. In its most basic sense, language is a set of symbols and the rules for combining those symbols which are used and understood by a large group of people.Language is a part of culture, for all

41、 languages are created along with the cultures produced. Different languages are created in different cultural situations. Thus, languages bear their characteristics in line with those of specific cultures. Language and culture influence each other, reflect each other and co-exist with each other. L

42、anguage is inseparable from culture in that different cultures result in different language and different languages in turn cause different ways of communication.Idioms are an important component of language and culture in a society, the appropriate use of which is a symbol whether a language learne

43、r or not is in command of the language. Idioms are regarded as the kernel and cream of a language, which usually highly specialized in meaning and closely tied to cultural features and cultural attitude. In its most basic sense, idioms are the most culturally-loaded element in any languages vocabula

44、ry, because they are bound up with the geographical environment, historical backgrounds, economic life, customs and mental states of the native speakers. Without idioms, language would become uninteresting. Lets take proverb as an example. Proverbs show some good suggestions on the ground of the dai

45、ly experiences for human beings to follow. Gradually, the most vivid and most useful of these idioms make themselves from popular spoken language into the standard language, and finally get to be universally understood. A bad beginning makes a bad ending (不善始者不善终). This saying indicated how importan

46、t the beginning is.God helps those who help themselves (天助自助者). This proverb shows the strong belief in America that people should show initiative.The above are two proverbs from the English idioms, each of which stresses an important value reflected by the dominant culture.3.2 Relationship between

47、Translation and CultureCultural studies have currently been prevailing both at home and abroad. Translation is a process of transferring the meaning of a text which may be a word or a book from one language to another for the readers. Since language is a part of culture, translation of language can

48、not simply be the transfer of linguistic symbols. Over the past 20 years, with the deepening of cultural studies, it has been commonly accepted that translation refers to both language and culture. To some extent, the way of thinking, beliefs, attitude, and values of different cultures not only lead to failure of misunderstanding i