中英习语的翻译 学年论文

On translation of English-Chinese idioms

Department of English

Binjiang college

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Abstract: English-Chinese idioms play an important role in the Chinese culture.what's more,it enhances the exchanges between Chinese and English culture.In this thesis,it analyses and compares the cultural differences between Chinese and English idioms as well as the characteristics of the idioms. Eventually,this essay list the methods of translating idioms. Key words: idioms; cultural differences ; influence ; translation methods

摘要：英汉习语不仅对中国的文化有着积极地推动作用，还加强了中西方文化的交流。这篇论文将要研究和比较文化的差异对英汉习语翻译的影响，以及习语的特点，最后，列举出一些翻译习语的方法。

关键词： 习语；文化差异 ；影响； 翻译方法

1.introduction

Idioms exist widely in the country with a long history and rich cultural resources. They refer to the phrases and words witha definite meaning and fine structure,which have been developed and used for a long time. They form gradually in the course of the language development and become more and more accurate ,even to the perfect level.what needs us to notice is that these idioms are fixed and can't be divided or composed roughly.what's more,they represent a common concept of definition,usually as a part of the sentence.

2.the effectsof different cultures on idioms

Knowledge,beliefs,arts,moralities,laws,customs,competence and habits are gained by people as a social member.

Social scientists tell us that the cultures differ much from one another,and each culture is unique and diverse.So we say that languages are diverse,which have some differences.

Since the idioms represent the unique features of the culture,so the translation of the idioms not only evolves the conversion of the culture,but also the cultural exchanges. As far as I am concerned, I think having a better understanding of the

cultural differences in the east and in the west will help you comprehend the idioms better and accurately.In order to have a better understanding of this,this essay will tell you several aspects of the differences.

2.1the differences in geographical environments

In England,it's extremely common to rain, otherwise,people will think it abnormal.so it's natural that some idioms about rain emerge as the time requires. as right as rain非常健康；令人满意

It never rains but it pours 不雨则已，一雨倾盆。比喻倒霉的事情总是一起发生的。

Besides,when people refer to wind,not implying weather,but the sea.people often say where there is the sea,there is the wind. As a result,many idioms about wind come up.

raise the wind 筹钱

Hang in the wind 犹豫不决

2.2the discrepancies in customs

\"Dog\"will be think of as a close friend even a family member,which is very

loyal to his master.so people in the west will say ,\"don't bother getting a dog.in today's world,the computer is clearly your best friend.\"(如今这个世界，计算机无疑才是你最好的朋友。）This implies a computer is as close as a dog in today's world.

There are many words and phrases concerning dog-related . A jolly dog 快活的人 a lucky dog幸运儿

A water dog 水性好的人 as faithful as a dog像狗一样忠实 Top dog 重要人物 dress up like a dog's dinner穿着极其讲究

Anther distinctive example is \"dragon\". In traditional Chinese culture,\"dragon\"is always considered as a kin to the nation,as a symbol of the nation,which has a mysterious power.so there are many phraseshat denote auspicious meanings,such as 龙凤成祥，藏龙卧虎，画龙点睛，生龙活虎. However,in west culture,the \"dragon\"has the opposite meaning.It is a mean and ugly monster. So in English,if a man calls a woman a dragon,it means the woman is not attractive.in revelation,Satan was imaged as the great Dragon.In the literature of Christian,dragon has a relationship with snake,even evil.

2.3the divergences in the social morality

Since people in the west and in the east belong to different cultural backgrounds,they naturally form a diverse ways of thinking and social mentality,even when facing the same thing. For example, people consider their age, salary,property ,etc as their privacy.

What's more,they dislike being refered to as the \"old\"，\"aged\

are young for ever,at least in psychology. Consequently, they have created many ways to express the meaning of the old man. For example,the old man is often called\"the advanced in age\"(上了年纪的人），\"the mature the longer living\"（生活经历长的人）,\"seasoned man\"（历经的人），\"senior man\"(资深公民）等. In the USA,there is a chorus group ,“用不老”译为\"never young\"，而不是\"never old\"。

2.4the diversities in the religious belief

In Briton, people are greatly influenced by the Catholicism and Christianity, so many words and phrases are deeply rooted in the Bibles,for example,as poor as a church mouse (一贫如洗）， no respect of person（歧视）， all things to all men（八面玲珑），beat the air (白费气力）。However, in China,people 's belief is in Buddhism, who manipulate the power and everything. Naturally, many words and phrases have mushroomed .we may take the“借花献佛”，“临时抱佛脚”，“佛面蛇心”，“佛争一炉香”，“人争一口气”等。

It is accepted that different cultures result to the adverse meaning in English-Chinese idioms. With different cultures, different religious belief, life value, it seems that people have different understandingsof the words and phrases,even to the same idiom. So we have every reason to assume that cultural differences have a great influence on the English-Chinese idioms.

3.the problems existing in the translation of the idioms

However,sometimes,when translating the idioms,we fi3d that some mistakes are inescapable,even we have no conscious of them.

When people in different countries and regions exchange with each other,they will come across the language obstacles . People, in different regions of the world,belong to different cultural and value groups,naturally, will have different values and view things differently.So as regard to the translation of the idioms,we often meet some problems.In the following,the essay will present the problems.

3.1 just translate the idioms literally

The idioms\"to ride one's high horse\"means who is haughty,pride and contempt. But some one will translate it literally,means 春风得意的马蹄莲，which is wrong. The correct meaning is 趾高气扬。Another idiom is\" to pull somebody's leg\"in Chinese,扯某人后腿，as a matter of fact,it refers to make a fun of sb, 愚弄某人或开某人的玩笑。The most obvious example is \"rain cats and dogs\\"倾盆大雨\"，but in its literal meaning,is confusing and funny.

3.2 ignorance of the different cultures

An distinctive example:put one's foot in one's mouth,people ,sometimes,will translate it as 把脚放进嘴里，which is funny,considering the different cultures,people in English,will translate \"陷入窘境\"。Another example is \"love me,love my dog\"，its literal meaning is\"爱我就爱我的狗\"，however,people in the west,consider a dog as their faithful and close friend,so when translating this idioms,we should make some conversions,\"爱屋及鸟\"。

4.The methods of translating idioms

With the development of information technology and the requirements of the booming society, the cultural exchanges between the countries have become more and more prevalent,so it is necessary for us to master the translation methods. 4.1metaphase

There are variety of idioms of this kind,for example as follows .

A castle in the air （空中楼阁） to go through fire and water（赴汤蹈火）

To turn a blind eye to (熟视无睹） to kill two birds with one stone（一石二鸟） Heart and soul （全心全意） to turn a deaf ear to （充耳不闻） As easy as turning over one's hand （易如反掌） burn the boat（破釜沉舟）

From the above idioms,we clearly learn that the meaning of these idioms are simple and original,some of the idioms are simple in meaning,which have no deep meaning.

I think,the best way for me to do is to translate them literally, keeping their original order and meaning. 4.2paraphrase

In a pig's whisper （低声地） draw blood（伤人感情）

Hang on sb's sleeve （依赖某人） hang on sb's lips（言听计从） Make a monkey of（愚弄） to be full of beans(精神旺盛）

Get cold feet （开始感到怀疑） a skeleton at the feast （扫人的兴或东西） A loss may turn out to be a gain （塞翁失马，焉知祸福）

When Greek meet Greek,then comes the tug of war（两熊相争，其斗必烈）

Form the following ,we understand that ,in some cases, yon can not translate the idioms literally,you should do some work or modifications to express the meanings in your own words,because their meaning can not be translated in a fixed sequences of the idioms.the methods of paraphrase can be used to deal with them.

4.3substitute

Have an axe to grind（别有用心） neither fish nor fowl （不伦不类） A fly in the ointment （美中不足） call a spade a spade（直言不讳） Hole and corner（鬼鬼祟祟） leave no stone unturned（想方设法） Kill the goose that lays the golden （杀鸡取卵）by the skin of one's teeth（九死一生） The idioms we referred to have a similar meaning,so we can use the equivalent Chinese idioms to substitute them.when we do this research ,what we need to notice is that the translation must be understood of comprehended by the reader,which is very important as well as necessary.

4.4combination of the metaphor and its original meaning: More haste, less speed(欲速则不达）

The moon is not seen when the sun shines（小巫见大巫） The news travels fast（恶事传千里）

There is no smoke without fire（无风不起浪）

The following idioms ,not only have a literal meaning, also have a metaphoric meaning.The metaphoric meaning can represent its meaning through its image or

some concrete things ，not abstract ones.in order to accurately understand the meanings ,we should have a wide range of knowledge as well as a imagination.

5.Conclusion

From this essay,we can fully understand the definition of the idioms ,the great influence of cultural differences on the English-Chinese idioms.What's more, we learn the unique characteristics of the idioms. Eventually, we gain the the methods of translating the idioms. In a word,the translation of the idioms is important and interesting,which represents our traditional cultural prosperity.

References:

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