英语习语的中文翻译.doc

Chinese Translation of English Idioms
Abstract: language and culture are closely related to each other. This thesis is a study of the translation of English idioms into Chinese. After giving a definition, it also discusses that culture influences on translation of English idioms from five aspects Greco-Roman mythology and legend, religious cultural differences, historical cultural differences, customary cultural difference and living environment. According to the criteria for idiomatic rendering: faithfulness, expressiveness, elegance, four methods of translation are discussed: literal translation, free translation, literal and annotation translation, free and annotation translation. Xu Jun, foreign language college in Dalian, pointed out three methods for translation: literal translation, free translation, literal and annotation translation. In my opinion, free and annotation translation is also a good translation. The translator ought to be good at both English and Chinese so as to transfer the meaning correctly and skillfully.
Key Words: Definition of idioms,culture, literal translation, free translation, literal and annotation translation, free and annotation translation.

英语习语的中文翻译
摘要：语言和文化是紧密联系的。本篇论文研究的是英语习语的中文翻译。在给出习语的定义后，从5方面阐述了文化对英语习语翻译的影响，即希腊罗马神话传说，宗教文化差异，历史文化差异，习惯文化差异以及居住环境的差异。根据习语翻译的标准：信，达，雅; 在此介绍了四种翻译方法，即直译，意译，直译和注解翻译，意译和注解翻译，大连外国语大学徐君指出三种翻译方法：直译，意译，直译和注解翻译，但在我看来，意译和注解翻译也是一种很好的翻译翻译方法。译者只有同时学好英文和中文，才能够更加准确和熟练的对其进行翻译。
关键词：习语的定义，文化，直译，意译，直译和注解翻译，意译和注解翻译

Chinese translation of English Idioms
1． Introduction
2． Definition of idioms
2.1 phrase or sentence whose meaning is not obvious through knowledge of the individual meanings of the constituent words but must be learnt as a whole
2.2 firstly, the meaning of a semantically restricted idiom is unpredictable
2.3 secondly, when idioms are used in sentences, one must learn the special syntactic restrictions.
3. Cultural influences on translation of English idioms
3.1 Greco - Roman mythology and legend
3.2 Religious cultural Differences
3.3 Historical Cultural Differences
3.4 Customary Cultural Differences
3.5 Living environment
4. Methods for translating idioms
4.1 Criteria for idiomatic rendering
4.1.1 “faithfulness”
4.1.2 “expressiveness”
4.1.3 “Elegance”
4.2 Methods
4.2.1 Principle of literal translation (especially semantic transliteration)
4.2.2Principle of free translation (especially cultural influences on translation of English idioms)
4.2.3 Principle of literal and annotation translation
4.2.4 Principle of free and annotation translation
5.conclusion

Chinese Translation Of English Idioms
1. Introduction
Many a translator thought idioms are untranslatable. Alexander Fraser Tytler was one of them. He deemed that the greatest obstacle that a translator might encounter was to translate idioms. In order to correct this idea, I choose this subject to write down. According to the criteria for idiomatic rendering :faithfulness, expressiveness, elegance, four methods of translation are discussed: literal translation, free translation ,literal and annotation translation, free and annotation translation .The translator ought to be good at both English and Chinese so as to transfer the meaning correctly and skillfully.
2. Definition of idioms
Idioms are widely used all over the world. In literature works, there are many idioms that contain extremely profound meanings. Idioms have been described as the crystallization of language; without idioms our language would become dull and dry, whereas an appropriate use of them in our writing will add to the strength and vividness of our language .As we all know, idiom translation plays a very important role .In this paper, let’s discuss how to translate English idioms into Chinese.
Idioms are not only the core and essence of a language but also the intellectual crystallization of the common people. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, idiom is “phrase or sentence whose meaning is not obvious through knowledge of the individual meanings of the constituent words but must be learnt as a whole.” From this we get the characteristics of idioms: firstly, the meaning of a semantically restricted idiom is unpredictable. That is to say, the deep meaning of an idiom is not the collective meaning of all the words that form it. Meanings cannot be calculated by adding up the separate individual words. This can be fully illustrated by the following examples: ”save sb’s bacon(使某人免于失败或免受损失，伤害等)“does not refer to save sb’s food, but prevent sb from failing, losing, being harmed, etc. ”The apple of sb’s eye(掌上明珠)”,which is not an apple of sb’s eye at all means person or thing that is loved more than any other. Secondly, when idioms are used in sentence, one must learn the special syntactic restrictions. A native speaker will probably feel strange if one says: ”One stitch in times saves nine “instead of “A stitch in time saves nine “(及时一针省九针) .Nor can “go forty-forty be used in place of “go fifty-fifty(平分，均摊),because it destroys the real meaning. In a word, idioms are fixed phrases with specific meanings.
3. Cultural influences on translation of English idioms
Culture is the patterns of customs, traditions ,social habits, values ,beliefs and language of a society. Besides, culture is a wider system that completely includes a language as a subsystem. Language and culture are closely related to each other. The purpose and characteristics of translation are to promote understanding among different countries and nations. Eugene Nida, a famous American translation theorist, defined translation as : Translation consists in reproducing the receptor language the closet natural equivalent of the source language, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. However, to reproduce “the closest natural equivalent “in the target language is more or less influenced by the cultural differences .In the following part, we will talk about how cultural influences on translation of English idioms.
3.1 Greco-Roman mythology and legend
Many idioms come from mythology and legend. For example, Achilles’ heel (唯一致命的弱点)：the weak or vulnerable point of a person (organization ,country ,etc.)The story is that Achilles , one of the Greek heroes in the “Iliad”, another epic attributed to Homer, was taken by his mother when he was a child and dipped in the river Styx to make him invulnerable .The water washed every part of his body except the heel in his mother’s hand. It was precisely at his vulnerable point that Achilles was later killed in battle. The apple of discord: or Alexander, in Greek mythology, son of Priam and Hecuba and brother of Hector. Because it was prophesied that he would cause the destruction of Troy, Paris was abandoned on Mt.Ida, but there was raised by shepherds, and loved by the nymph Oenone. Later he returned to Troy, where he was welcomed by Priam . Paris was chosen to settle a dispute among the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, all of whom claimed possession of the apple of discord, a golden fruit inscribed “to the fairest.”.It had been thrown among the guest at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis by Eris, who sought revenge because she hand not been invited . Hera tried to bribe Paris with royal greatness and riches, and Athena offered him success in war, but Paris awarded the apple to Aphrodite ,who promised him Helen, the most beautiful of women. With Aphrodite’s help he abducted Helen from King Menslaus of Sparta; thus he brought on the Trajan War. In the war Paris killed Avhilles, but was himself fatally wounded by Philoctetes .
3.2 Religious Cultural Differences
Many English idioms come from <>,for example, blood is thicker than water(血溶于水)”,There is no crown without any cross.(世上显赫的王冠全由苦难铸成).”Ask and you shall be given(求则得之).”Do as you would be done by(己所不欲，勿施于人)，“as patient as Job(象约伯一样耐心)，”The golden calt (金牛犊，比喻崇拜金钱)，”kill against the pricks (牛踢刺棒，比喻作徒劳无益的反抗)”, measure for measure”（冤报冤，仇报仇，一报还一报）”, separate the sheep from the goats”（区别好歹），Bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh(骨肉相连，亲生骨肉.)
Religious is an integral part of human culture. Religious culture can be reflected in many ways, such as religious belief, values, worship, etc. Taoism, Buddhism, and Islam are the three main religious in China, while Christianity is the major religion in the west .All of these religious have a profound impact on people’s lives. As a result, we should notice the cultural differences in translation .For example, Raise Cain: Both these two phrases are alluded from <>,”Brand of Cain “means crime of murdering; while “Raise Cain” means to cause an angry fuss. Since Adam and Eva had stolen and eaten the forbidden fruit from Eden, they were driven to the ground and made to work it. Soon they had a son and called him Cain, meaning “acquired”. Later, Eva gave birth to another son named Abel. When they grew up, Cain worked the soil, and Abel kept the flocks. The day came when Cain brought some of fruit of the soil as an offering to the lord; Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering , not on Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry. He asked Abel to go to the field, where he attacked and killed Abel.
3.3 Historical cultural differences
It refers to the culture that come into being in the process of historical developments. As specific historical developments are diverse, so cultures are diverse .It is natural then that with differences in historical cultural contexts, difficulties often arise in communication between nations or countries.
For example: lazy As Lawrence. This allusion is from the roman his history, meaning too lazy to move in the flames now. St.Lawrence was originally a poor shoe-maker and a sincere Christian. He spoke against the rich under Emperor Valerianus for their cruel exploination of the poor, ”What does a Roman judge do with a sant of treasures of his church, comes forward with all its poor people?” he spoke publicly. The Romans burned him on a gridiron over a slow fire. It is said that he addressed his torturers ironically. ”I am roasted enough on this side, turn me round ,and eat.” His enemy thought of him as too lazy to make a movement. But actually he endured, it for the sake of righteousness. Another example is that Burn To The purple. This allusion is from the Roman history, indicating a person of exalted birth. During the Byzantine time, when the empress was about to give birth to her royal child, she was appointed to a special chamber called the Porphyra, whose walls were lined with royal purple. Because purple was a color of kings since the ancient times, it originally meant ”born of royal parentage.” But later, it refers to a person of exalted birth. In order to explain this idea more fully, let’s take the more example; Homer sometimes Nods. This allusion is quoted from the Roman poet Horace, it means that the wisest men may still sometimes make mistakes. Horace,65 B.C.-19A.D.a famous Roman poet .He fought with Brutus at Philipi in 42B.C.,but was introduced to Maecenas’ circle in 38B.C.,and become a loyal supporter and friend of Augustus. His chief work of literary criticism is <>,in which he wrote: ”I think it a shame when the worthy Homer nod: but it is so long a work it is allowable if drowsiness comes on.” Horace mentioned Homer because Homer was the principal figure of ancient Greek literature and the first European poet. He lived before 700B.C.It is said that he was the author of the two great epoch poems--<<Lliad>>and <>, which formed the basis of Greek literature. Some people take the works of Homer as the Bible of the Greek nation in pagon times. Every Greek who had received a literal education was perfectly well acquainted with them from his childhood, and learned them by heart at school .Therefore, Homer is still regarded as the most knowledgeable and wisest man.
3.4 Customary cultural differences
All of us may have a glimpse of the customary culture, for it comes into being in everyday life. Customary culture covers greetings, compliments, apologies, addresses etc. And customary cultural differences are unavoidable in translation, For example, Greek Gifts, which means a gift with some sinister purpose of the enemy. A gift sent in order to murder somebody.
3.5 living environment
As we all know, bread is the main food for western people. So many English idioms have the relationship with bread. For example, as I live by bread(千真万确),bread and butter (赖以谋生的东西)，bread and cheese(粗茶淡饭)，break bread(进餐)，daily bread(日常的粮食)，earn one’s bread (谋生),out of bread (失业)，quarrel with one’s bread and butter(跟自己的饭碗过不去).Cake, pie, pudding, potato, hamburger are also the important food for western people, so many idioms have the relationship with these food. For example, a piece of cake(轻松的事情)，sell like hot cakes(畅销)，have one’s cake baked(生活优裕)，as easy as pie(非常容易)，cut a pie(多管闲事)，pie in the sky(渺茫的幸福)，have a finger in the pie (多管闲事)，as fit as a pudding for a friar’s mouth(非常合用)，live on wind pudding (挨饿)，more praise than pudding (恭维多而实惠少)，small potato(微不足道的人或东西)，hot potato(棘手的问题)，make hamburger out of sb(把某人打成肉饼)。
Britain is an island, and marine transportation developed well, so many idioms have relationship with it. For example, in the same boat with(与---境遇相同)，plain sailing(一帆风顺)，in deep water(在水深火热中)，to sink or swim(不论成败，好歹)，to take the helm(指导)，to nail one’s colours to the mast(以示海战到底，誓不投降的决心)，a good sailor(不晕船)，at all sea(茫然不知所措)，to rest on one’s oars(暂时歇一歇)，to keep one’s head above water(奋力图存)。
4．Methods for translating idioms
4.1.1 Faithfulness
Faithfulness refers to be loyal to the original work. To be faithful in the translation of idioms, the translator must avoid taking the phrase or expressions too superficially and translate them without real understanding. Idioms may be composed by simple words yet have profound indications. e.g. the literal meaning of the idiom have an axe to grind in Chinese is “有斧头要磨”，but we all known that it means “别有用心，居心叵测”.This is just an uncomplicated example. Some idioms have difficult structure, the subtle meaning of which can not be understood without proper deliberation.
Another aspect in the process of Chinese translation of English idioms concerning faithfulness is preservation of its national feature. As we have talked in the above passages, idioms are essentially national in character. The translation of English idioms should reveal the English culture, its life and customs, for example ,never offer to teach fish to swim (不要班门弄斧),beauty lies in the loves eye(情人眼里出西施)，no great loss without small gain(塞翁失马，焉知非福) ,the tailor makes the man (佛要金装，人靠衣装).
4.1.2 Expressiveness
To be expressive, the version must be expressed in popular language, explicit and perspicuous. Most English idioms have est