| 2006年第3期：文化環(huán)境影響論下的英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)翻譯（英文） |
| 時(shí)間：2006-12-4 |
| On Translation of English Idioms in a Cultural Approach Gu Xiao-yan (College of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Maritime University) Abstract: This paper attempts to study how to overcome the differences by a cultural approach in translation of English idioms. The paper first sets out with the definition and the classification of idioms and the cultural characteristics of English idioms. Then it lists many specific examples to illustrate how to make use of the cultural knowledge while discussing the techniques of idioms translation. This paper is concluded with the idea that the cultural approach can help achieve more accurate and lively translations. Key words: translation; idioms; cultural approach Idioms are embodiment of culture. They are language essence and the most difficult part to handle with, which involve a country‘s history, geography, local conditions, customs and cultural background. Thus you can not understand idioms correctly without the help of the cultural context, which in turn requires that you have the knowledge of the culture. Both English and Chinese are expressive languages, which are very rich in idiomatic expressions. So, it is greatly necessary to make use of the cultural knowledge while translating English idioms. Ⅰ. Definition of English idioms What is an idiom? An idiom is an element of a language that possesses a unique way of expression based on its time-honored use. According to Longman Dictionary of English Idioms (Longman Group ltd.:1979), “an idiom is a fixed group of words with a special different meaning from the meaning of the separate words”.. Webster‘s Dictionary (Random House, 2000) has defined it as “an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meaning of its elements”. Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of the individual elements. For example, “green hand”(新手), an idiom meaning “an inexperienced person”, has nothing to do with either the green color or the human hand；“red meat”(牛肉或羊肉)， refers to beef or lamb rather than any meat that is red in color; “As stubborn as a mule”, “pigheaded”, another two typical examples are used to express a person who is stubborn , while in Chinese, we translate them into “有個(gè)牛脾氣”, “像頭犟驢”. Therefore, the process of understanding and translating English idioms is actually a process of cultural complement. “The purpose of using idioms in both speech and writing is to add local and cultural color or to intensify conciseness and vivacity to a mental process or state, a concept, a person, an action, a quality or an object, or to trigger imagination of the readers.” Ⅱ. Classification of idioms Classification can be approached from different criterion. There are a variety of criteria for classifying English idioms. This paper prefers the criterion of cultural style. By this criterion, English idioms may be classified into five groups: colloquialisms, proverbs, slang, allusions and phrasal verbs. Such classification will be more helpful in the actual use and translation of idioms. Generally speaking, English idioms have different styles, most of which are used in any situation, some in formal style or in slang. The knowledge of this classification of English idioms will undoubtedly be beneficial to learners and translators. 1. Colloquialisms Colloquialisms are oral words or expressions used in daily conversation. For example, “The washing machine is on the blink.”, “on the blink” (不靈，出故障) is a kind of colloquialism, means “not working properly; out of order”; “hang in (there)”(不放棄)，means “not to give up”; “big wheel”(重要人物)，means “an influential or important person”. 2. Proverbs Proverbs are short, pithy sayings in frequent and widespread use that express a basic truth or practical precept. For instance, “A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.” (吃一塹，長(zhǎng)一智); “Do as they do at Rome.” (入鄉(xiāng)隨俗); “Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.” (良藥苦口利于病). 3. Slang Slang is a kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect. Slang enjoys popular use, because it is colorful, blunt, expressive and impressive. “Dough and bread”(金錢), for instance, means “money”; “kick the bucket”(翹辮子), means “die”; “cancer stick”(香煙), means “cigarette”. 4. Allusions Allusions are often used where the more general terms reference would be preferable. Allusions apply to indirect references in which the source is not specifically identified. For example, “the Trojan horse”(特洛伊木馬，比喻隱藏的危險(xiǎn))，comes from the historical story of Trojan War; “a Sphinx riddle”(斯芬克斯之謎，比喻難解之謎)，among which, “Sphinx” is from Greek Mythology , means “A winged creature having the head of a woman and the body of a lion, noted for killing those who could not answer its riddle.” 5. Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs are idioms which are composed of a verb plus a preposition and/or a particle. For example, “get away with”(逍遙法外), means “do something wrong without being punished”; “put down to”(把…歸結(jié)為), means “state that something is caused or explained by”; “look into”(調(diào)查), means “investigate”. Ⅲ. The cultural characteristics of English idioms The abundance and variety of English idioms may be to a great extent accounted for the historical development of the language. Many idiomatic expressions come from the everyday life of the English people from all walks of life. The Bible is also one of the chief source from which idiomatic expressions have sprung. After the Bible, Shakespeare‘s plays are the rich literary sources of English idioms. Many idioms also come from fables, myths or legends. Besides, English idioms are created by people in different trades and occupations. A large proportion of idioms are first created by working people such as seamen on the sea, hunters in the woods, farmers in the fields, workmen at mills, housewives and cooks in the kitchen and so on, using familiar terms that are associated with their own trades and occupations. For example, “in deep water”(陷入困境的), “tide over”(渡過(guò)難關(guān)) were first used by seamen; “kill two birds with one stone” (一石二鳥)used by hunters; “have all one‘s eggs in one basket” (孤注一擲)used by farmers; “new brooms sweep clean”(新官上任三把火) used by housewives; “boil down” (歸結(jié)，濃縮)used by cooks, etc. Such expressions prove terse, vivid, forcible and stimulating so that later they broke out of their bounds and gradually gained wide acceptance. As a result, they became part of the common of core of the language culture and are now used in different situations. Because the cultural backgrounds between English and Chinese languages are different, so there are some visible differences between the two. As a part of langue, idioms reflect the rich and colorful features of a nation. Therefore, there are some cultural differences between English and Chinese idioms. They are as follows: 1. Living environment differences Idioms have tight relationships with people‘s work and lives. England is an island, so it cherishes water very much. Then in English, it has such idiom as “spend money like water”. While Chinese people mainly live in the inland, so there is the Chinese equivalence“揮金如土”. 2. Conventional differences The typical conventional difference should be people‘s attitude towards the animal dog. In most Western counties, dog is associated with “loyalty, faithfulness”, it is a “close companion” to people, whereas in Chinese, the word dog usually has a negative meaning. So in English, “You are a lucky dog”（你是一個(gè)幸運(yùn)兒）, the word dog here has no contemptuous meaning. 3. Differences in religious belief Religious belief has a great impact on the English idioms. They bring many new ideas and customs that are related to religious belief. For example, “God helps those who help themselves.”（上帝幫助自助的人）; “Go to hell”（下地獄去）. 4. Historical differences Quite a few English idioms are born just due to particular historical events. “To cross the Rubicon”(渡過(guò)魯比肯河,比喻決定冒重大危險(xiǎn)，采取斷然行動(dòng)), “to meet one‘s Waterloo”(一敗涂地) come from Napoleon and the breakdown of his empire; and the American Civil War is the source of “by the grapevine”(秘密情報(bào)或謠言不脛而走) and so on. Ⅳ. Techniques of idioms translation In his book A Book of English Idioms V. H. Collins states: “In standard spoken and written English today idiom is an established, universal and essential element that, used with care, ornaments and enriches the languages.”In fact, it is difficult to speak or write English without using idioms. English idioms are a kind of special language form that is peculiar in grammatical structure, meaning and usage. The correct understanding and translating of idiomatic English must be one of the main aims for nonnative learners. Thus, it is necessary for us to grasp some techniques of idioms’ translation. (1) Literal translation Literal translation does not mean to translate word for word, but to reserve idioms‘ vivid local colors style in translating on the condition that doesn‘t violate the language standard and evoke wrong imaginations, in other words, to express its meaning without too much extension. Although there is “cultural gap” between Chinese and English, there is much cultural overlap, too. A translator can easily find out some English idioms completely or almost equivalent in both image and meaning with the Chinese ones, for example: 1. time flies like an arrow 光陰似箭 2. spend money like water 花錢如流水 3. blood is thicker than water 血濃于水 4. as a man sows, so he shall reap 種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆 5. kill two birds with one stone 一石二鳥 However, the meanings of quite a few of idioms can not be understood and translated directly because they possess specific significance in English culture. For such idioms, the most effective translation procedure is “transference”. For example: 1. a Jude‘s kiss 猶大之吻（指背叛行為） 2. Trojan horse 特洛伊木馬（比喻暗藏的危險(xiǎn)或敵人） 3. armed to the teeth 武裝到牙齒 4. packed like sardines 擠得像罐頭里的沙丁魚 5. crocodile tears 鱷魚的眼淚（比喻假慈悲） 6. olive branch 橄欖枝（和平的象征） 7. a gentlemen‘s agreement 君子協(xié)定 8. A cat has nine lives. 貓有九命 Literal translation is not only faithful to the content and style of the original, but also helpful to keep the local color of the original language and to create vivid images of local culture in terms of readers. (2) Free translation Not all English idioms have their equivalent Chinese ones, because these English idioms are specific to English-speaking countries. For those idioms, literal translation will cause misunderstanding among Chinese readers. So, free translation is used on the basis of faithfulness to the original. 1. break the ice 打破僵局 2. make two ends meet 量入為出 3. white elephant 昂貴而不中用的東西 4. Jack of all trades 樣樣通，樣樣稀松 5. keep the pot boiling 謀生 6. a bull in a china shop 魯莽闖禍的人 7. have all one‘s eggs in one basket 孤注一擲 8. jump at the bait 輕易上當(dāng) 9. It rains cats and dogs. 大雨滂沱 10.Where there is smoke, there is fire. 無(wú)風(fēng)不起浪 (3) Equivalent translation Some English and Chinese idioms are completely equivalent both in content and in structure. They have the similar figurative meanings, so they can be translated equivalently. 1. fish in troubled waters 混水摸魚 2. Walls have ears. 隔墻有耳 3. (in) black and white 白紙黑字 4. a nodding acquaintance 點(diǎn)頭之交 5. a drop in the ocean 滄海一粟 6. Man proposes, God disposes. 謀事在人，成事在天。 7. to be on thin ice 如履薄冰 8. add fuel to the fire 火上澆油 One thing noteworthy is that, there may be several translations for one idiom and the translation methods to English idioms can be overlapping sometimes. The translation of an idiom may be different from that of the same idiom according to different translation approaches. A translator should employ different idiom translations in consideration of various contextual and cultural situations. V. Conclusion To sum up, English idioms are the valuable asset of the language. They form an important part of the English vocabulary. They reflect the characteristics of a nation and a culture. Therefore, English idioms are colorful, forcible and thought-provoking. When it comes to the translation of English idioms, the culture implication and the language context are very important and the cultural approach plays a very important role to achieve more accurate and satisfactory translations. So, a translator should not only grasp the correct and exact meaning it expresses, but also need to understand the cultural information it implies. It is strongly suggested that a translator should try every effort to preserve the color and image of the original idioms in cultural approach when translating English idioms. Reference： [1]《英語(yǔ)的習(xí)語(yǔ)》.載上海外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院《外國(guó)語(yǔ)》. 1979年第4期p.1 [2]李軍，韓曉玲．The Translation and Application of Common English Idioms. 青島海洋大學(xué)出版社, P4, 2002 [3]孫立恒. English Idioms and Their Translation. 陜西師范大學(xué)學(xué)報(bào), Nov, 2002.P110. [4] A Book of English Idioms: with explanations. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1956, P.Ⅵ. [5]北京外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院英語(yǔ)詞典編寫組. A Chinese-English Dictionary of Idioms. 商務(wù)印書館,1982 [6]林承璋, 劉世平.《英語(yǔ)詞匯學(xué)引論》.武漢大學(xué)出版社, 2005年2月版 文化環(huán)境影響論下的英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)翻譯 顧曉燕 （上海海事大學(xué)外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)院05級(jí)翻譯研究生） 中文摘要：本文致力于研究如何克服由文化環(huán)境影響下英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)的翻譯差異。本文首先陳述了英語(yǔ)習(xí)語(yǔ)的定義和分類以及文化特點(diǎn)，然后通過(guò)很多具體事例來(lái)闡明在討論習(xí)語(yǔ)翻譯的技巧時(shí)如何利用文化知識(shí)。本文結(jié)論認(rèn)為文化環(huán)境影響論能幫助獲得更準(zhǔn)確、生動(dòng)的翻譯。 關(guān) 鍵 詞：翻譯，習(xí)語(yǔ)，文化環(huán)境影響論 |
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