英汉习语的文化差异与翻译大学本科毕业论文.doc

学 士 学 位 论 文

题 目 英汉习语的文化差异与翻译
学 生 史 伟
指导教师 胡振伟 讲师
年 级 2006级
班 级 专升本三班
学 号 0603150319
专 业 英 语
学 院 外语学院

长春师范学院
2010年5月

英汉习语的文化差异与翻译
史伟

摘要：习语是人类语言文化的结晶，共翻译更是引起了翻译界的普遍关注。习语来源于各种不同的文化创迨之中，它负载了很多文化内涵。它们能够直接而深刻地反映出不同语言的文化因素。英语和汉语走当今世界上两种拥有最多伎用孝的语言，二孝都拥有大量的习语。对英汉习语中文化因素的误解常常迨戍英汊跨文化交际的失败。因此对比研究英汉刁语中的文化因素意义深远。对比研究走进行语言文化研究的重要方法之一。近几十年来，英汉对比研究在我圉获得了长足的发展。虽然一些学者进行过英汉习语对比研究，但是由于习语中的文化因素的复杂性，还有必要从文化角庋对英汉习语进行更多的研宪。本论文的目的就是进行英汉习语文化差异的对比研究以及翻译。本文对英汉习语中的文化因素的对比研究揭示了这样一个事实， 要掌握两种语言，必须掌握两种文化。除了引论和结尾，论文划分为三章。首先，作者明确了英汉习语的定义和种类。紧接着的第二章从文化角庋对英汉习语进行对比分析，作者分别从不同的居住环境、不同的历史典故、不同的宗教信仰和不同的传统文化方面研究英汉习语的差畀。第三章是翻译理论的学习及其在实践中的应用，介绍了诸如：直译、意译、苴译加意译等翻译方法。作孝希望通过对习语的对比研究激发学生对翻译的热情，提高学生的翻译能力，培养大家的跨文化意识，最终服务于英语教学，取得更好的教学效果。
关键词：英汉习语 习语翻译 对比研究

Contents

Introduction 1
I.Definition of Chinese and English Idioms 2
1.1Definition of Chinese idiom 2
1.2 Definition of English idiom 3
1.3.1 Set phrases 3
1.3.2 Common sayings 4
1.3.3 Proverbs 4
1.3.4 Two- part allegorical sayings 4
1.3.5 Vulgar expressions 5
1.4Classifications of English idioms 5
1.4.1 Idiomatic expressions 5
1.4.2 Proverbs 5
1.4.3 Slangs……………………………………………..................................6
II.Cultural Similarities and differences in English and Chinese Idioms 7
2.1Cultural Similarities in Engish and Chinese Idioms 7
2.2 Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Idioms 8
2.2.1Differences Rooted in Geographical Conditions 8
2.2.2 Differences Rooted in Social Customs 8
2.2.3Differences Rooted in Religious Beliefs 8
2.2.4Differences Rooted in Historical and Literay allusions...........................9
III.Translating Methods of English and Chinese Idioms 10
3.1 Literal translation 10
3.1.1LiteraI translation examples of set phases： 10
3.1.2Literal translation examples of common sayings： 10
3.1.3 LiteraI translation examples of proverbs： 11
3.2 Liberal translation............................................................................................11
3.2.1Two-part allegorical sayings' translation 11
3.2.2 Idiom originated from historical events,fables,etc...............................12
3.2.3 Idiom with dim images 12
3.3Combination of literal and liberal translation 13
Conclusion 14
References 15

Introduction

Culture and language depend on each other for existence. It is impossible to translate a foreign language text without taking into account the culture it embodies. In this sense, translation becomes a cultural exchange as a cross.linguistic, cross,cultural and cross.social communicative activity.

Idioms, formed in a particular period and passed on from generation to generation, reflect various cultural elements. They are comparatively fixed in matters of meaning and structure, that is, the meaning of idiom cannot be determined by the meanings of its words, To let the whole people be familiar with other nations, cultures, it is really valuable to translate various idioms into different languages.However, idiom is difficult to translate in that it is of peculiar cultural origin and therefore reflects clearly national or cultural characteristics. It is impossible for the translators to avoid cultural elements in idiom translation. Chinese and English belong to diferent language families. Although they share many things in culture, each language has its own specifc cultural property. There are some similarities between English and Chinese cultures, which make idiom translation possible and easy. However, there is more dissimilarity between the Chinese culture and the English culture than similarities. Accurate understanding and proper translation of idiom is the key to the breakthrough of barriers in intercultural communication.This paper tries to analyze idioms from the perspective of cultural,translation with the purpose of illustrating how cultural factors influence the translation and comprehension of idioms, and exploring effective principles and strategies of idiom translation.

I.Definition of Chinese and English Idioms

Idioms, conventionalized multiword expression,exist as a sub-group of vocabulary. Refined and accepted by long usage，idioms have been described as the crystallization of language．Idioms，as the essence of language，are frequently used in literary works and our dai1y life。NevertheIess，it is no easy job to give a clear-cut definition to it.

1.1Definition of Chinese idiom
According to the Chinese dictionaries:《现代汉语词典》(Modern Chinese Dictionary）by Commercial Press and《新华词典》（xinhua Dictionary）by Commercial Press，A Chinese idiom，which is called习语，is described as"a fixed phrase， can Only be used as a whole unit， no element in it can be changed at random,and usually can't be analyzed by ordinary regular word¨formation."
Chinese idiom is newly described as "a Chinese idiom，constituted by words，re1atively fixed in structure, is a narrative 1anguage unit which can perform a multiple functions."
Both definitions stress two features that an idiom manifests.First,an idiom must be used as a who1e unit，and the phrase has no meaning by its individual words，like不管三七二十一，胡说八道etc. Second,no element in an idiom can be changed at random. For example，we can on1y say垂头丧气，but not低头丧气though “垂” and “低” has the same meaning;八九不离十，not七八不离九.Third，in terms of grammatical function，both an idiom and a word can serve as parts of a sentence, while an idiom can be used as an independent sentence and frequent1y quoted in

different contexts.

1.2 Definition of English idiom
According to the latest Webster's New World College Dictionary, the third edition, ''idiom'' is ''a phrase, construction or expression that is recognized as a unit in the usage of a given language and either differs from the usual syntactic patterns or has a meaning that differs from literal meaning of its part taken together. '' In Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionarg idiom is ''a group of words in a f1xed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meaning of each word understood on its own' '' Longman gives such a defnition: ''a group of words with a special meaning which is different from the meaning of the individual words.'' Oxford defines idiom as follows: "phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit.''
Among all of these explanations, the first one is the commonest and the most popular meaning of the word ,'idiom''. From the above definition, we can see that the meaning of an idiom cannot be understood only by its individual words, but by a whole unit.

1.3 Classifications of Chinese Idioms
Idiom in Chinese, in the broad sense, can be roughly c1assifed into set phrases, common sayings, proverbs, two-part allegorical sayings and vulgar expressions.
1.3.1 Set phrases
Set phrases, whose storehouse seems to be inexhaustible, play an important role in our mother tongue. Generally speaking, a Chinese set phrase is a ''well estab1ished f1xed phrase or short sentence with terse sty1e and pithy meaning habitually used by peop1e for a long time'' .Chinese set phrases are ''phrases with 2 p1us 2 pattern with descriptive or informative fmction.'' (Wen 2005: 290). From the above defnition，it is clear that four—character with two-meter in poetry form is essential attribute of chinese set phrases，which distinguishes Chinese set phrases from other types of Chinese idioms，such as proverbs common sayings or allegorical sayings．Chinese set phrases may possess three features:comprehensiveness，c1assic and fusion。
Such as the idiom“倾盆大雨”，referring to raining cats and dogs or raining heavily which is used to describe the image of raining in figurative language.The idiom“卧薪尝胆” means to sleep on brush-wood and taste gall to undergo self-imposed hardships so as to strengthen one's resolve to wipe out a national humiliation.The phrase“胸有成竹”means to have bamboos in one's chest，implying to have had ready plans or design in one's mild.
1.3.2 Common sayings
Chinese common saying，widely used in the colloquial 1anguage．Most of them
are created by working peop1e and reflect their 1ife experiences and wishes．Common sayings are "Non-four-character, non-informative expressions 1ike proverbs，an idiomatical unit which has descriptive function".
The common saying"老油条"referring to an old deep-fried twisted dough sticks，is often used to describe a hard-boiled slippery person.The idiom‘‘不管三七二十一”which means to consider nothing at all，is one of the conventional cases.
1.3.3 Proverbs
Chinese proverb is a stock expression，too．Chinese proverb，widesρread among ordinary ρeople，is conclse，fixed phrase or sentence in which a profound truth is implied by simρle and informal language.An appropriate use of proverbs will add to the variety and force of language.The proverb“看菜吃饭，量体裁衣”,is to teach us to act according to circumstances．
1.3.4 Two- part allegorical sayings
Two-part a11egorical saying is a special kind of idioms which is unique to Chinese without any counterpart in any other languages，which is composed of two parts with the first part like a riddle and the other part like an answer to theridd1e。Usually only the frst ρart will be spoken，the actual meaning 1ies in the second part. But now it is quite common to state both the former and 1atter parts.As it contains an analogy,the a11egorical saying is then vivid and full of imagery．Allegorical sayings display the most salient feature of colloquialism among Chinese idioms.The following are several examp1es of allegorical sayings:
和尚打伞一无发（法）无天 When a monk opens an umbrella，there is neither hair（law）nor sky---to deny all laws，human and divine；to become completely lawless.
泥菩萨过江——自身难保Like a clay idol fording a riverowho is hardly able to save oneself, let alone anyone e1se.
1.3.5 Vulgar expressions
They are only used in co11oquial speech.They are used so frequent that most of them do not have their origina1 rneaning any more.People＇s attention has been paid to their rough images.Below are some examples of this kind of set phases∶
狗杂种Son of bitch
王八蛋Son of a gun

1.4Classifications of English idioms
A Concise English—Chinese Dictionary of English Idioms include idiomatic phrases， proverbs and slangs． Γhe classifcation of English idioms is to be elaborated in the following∶
1.4.1 Idiomatic expressions
An idiomatic phrase belongs to the cornmon core of the idiom，which makes up
a large part of English idiom.And the rneaning of the whole unit is not the sum of the meanings of its individual components.
Such examples are great in number as follows: as cool as cucumbe1 to do harm, sooner or later, one after another, to fall in love, to run into debt, in full swing, go all out, to jump to conc1usion, to kick the bucket, to go Dutch, etc.
1.4.2 Proverbs
In Webster's third New International Dictionary the defnition of ''proverb'' is ''a brief epigrammatic saying that is a popular byword: an of-quoted pithy and ingeniously turned maxim; adage, saw," Proverbs are usual1y brief and easy to remember and operate with mouths and ears. We wi1l get better idea of English proverbs fom the old saying ''Carry coals to Newcastle.'' which reveals the truth of unnecessary to do something by comparing with a plain action of carrying coals to Newcastle, where coal is abundant.
1.4.3 Slangs
S1angs can be defined as ,'very informal words, phrases, etc' They are commonly used in speech, especially between people $om the same social group or who work togethe1 not considered suitable for formal contexts and ofen not used for long. '' (Oxford Advanced Learner English-Chinese Dictionarg extended 4 edition, 2002).Slangs are natural products of verbal communication and very common in a 1anguage. Slang expression is se1dom used in the forma1 contexts. People ofen use them in informal speech and writing. The paper here gives out some instances:
Behind the eight ball (sports): in a difficult position; in trouble
A bad trip: a disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the inf1uence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension, a bad experience in general.

II.Cultural Similarities and differences in English and Chinese Idioms

Since a contrastive study is going to be made between Enghsh and Chinese idioms，both of the similarities and differences between them should be analyzed.

2.1Cultural Similarities in Engish and Chinese Idioms
First of all,we are going to discuss the similarities betwteen English and Chinese idioms.When we read some idioms in Eng1ish and Chinese，we can find a surprising coincidence between them that some of them are extremely similar and evcn identica1 in mcaning and form. This shows the fact that human beings are 1iving on the same earth，have experienced similar developmenta1 procedures in history so that they have similarties in their languages as we1l as their cultures.People from different cultures are not isolated from each other.Intercultural communication activities have never stopped. With the constant development of modem media， there are more frequent interculural communication activities between different cultures that provide people with a 1ot of opportunities to get in touch with each other's culture.Though native English speakers and native Chinese speakers have different cu1tural backgrounds， their use of idioms in communication has something in common∶For examp1e，the Chinese idiom“以眼还眼，以牙还牙”（eye for eye，tooth for tooth）was actually borrow from English；and the English saying "paper tiger" was aotually borrowed from the Chinese saying“纸老虎.”It is such similarities that provide a basis for mutual understanding，which in turn make idiom translation possib1e.

2.2 Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Idioms
Having studied the similarties between Engksh and Chinese idioms，it is time to study the differences between them.
The different 1iving environments of the two peoρle are responsible for the different cultural values embodied in the idioms of the two languages. In order to do good translation，the translators shou1d have an eye on the use of the words in the idioms.
2.2.1Differences Rooted in Geographical Conditions
The different conditions in each country have played an imporant role in geographical determining national characteristics idioms. For example， the Chinese idiom“不到黄河心不死”（not stop until one reaches the Yellow River-refuse to give up until all hope is gone）is apparently related to the Yellow River，the second 1ongest river in China and the Cradle of Chinese civilization；the idiom“不到长城非好汉"who does not reach the Great Wa11 is not a true hero is clearly re1ated to the Great Wall，one of the well-known scenic spots in China.
2.2.2 Differences Rooted in Social Customs
Chinese-speaking peop1e and English-speaking people hav