convey the cultural information clearly and exactly than the common language, however, in order to keep the translation faithful, these features should be preserved. Not only do idioms appear largely in literary works, but also in political and scientific thesis. The qualities of the idioms translation directly affect the whole translation. So it is essential to study the idioms and their methods of translation seriously.
2. The similarity between English and Chinese idioms in rhetorical means
Although there is always some “cultural distance” between Chinese and English, there is much overlap, too, and it shows in many aspects. However, the focal point of the thesis will lie in the analysis of the English and Chinese idioms similarity from the view of rhetorical means.
Both English and Chinese idioms usually adopt rhetorical means, such as alliteration, rhyme, repetition, and antithesis, etc, for the purpose of enriching the rhyme and rhythm.
2.1 Alliteration
“Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of two or more words in succession”[2], which sounds continual and is easy to read and to remember. Both English and Chinese idioms take full advantages of the means, so that they could be passed down from generation to generation. Let’s look at some examples.
In Chinese there are “恍恍惚惚,红红火火,乒乒乓乓” ,etc. In English there are also “ as cool as a cucumber”(泰然自若), “as busy as a bee” (忙个不停), “tit for tat”(以牙还牙), “as thick as thieves” (非常亲密,要好), “sing a song of sixpence”, “ ‘part and parcel’(主要部分), ‘might and main’ (竭尽全力)”, [3] “Money makes the mare go.” (有钱能使鬼推磨) , etc.
Through the above examples, we may well see that both English and Chinese idioms are popular by this means.
2.2 Rhyme
“Rhyme is the sameness of sound between words or syllable”[4], which sounds very beautiful. Some English and Chinese idioms use this method as well to achieve the acoustic enjoyment. For example:
In Chinese, there are “从善如登,从恶如崩、不经一事,不长一智、差之毫厘,缪以千里、失之东隅,收之桑榆”, etc. , which use the means of rhyme. In English, we also can find it in “ A friend in need is a friend indeed.” , “Beggars can’t be choosers.” , “East or west, home is the best.” , “Health is better than wealth.” , “ ‘as snug as a bug in a rug’ (舒舒服服), ‘high and dry’(孤立无援), ‘by hook or by crook’(不择手段)” [5] ,etc.
Both English and Chinese idioms that use this rhetorical means are of tinkling and jingling sounds. Not only are they easy to remember, but also it seems that we are reading a beautiful short poem.
2.3Repetition
In rhetorics, “repetition is a commonly seen rhetorical device, which usually repeats a sentence or part of sentence at both the beginning and end of long sentences, stanzas, or paragraphs. The main function of repetition is to emphasize the key points.”[6] Both English and Chinese idioms use this method to achieve the emphatic effect. The
examples are like the following:
In Chinese, there are “喜气洋洋,多多益善,沾沾自喜,泱泱大风,姗姗来迟,亭亭玉立,想入非非,落落大方,种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆”etc. In English, there are “measure for measure” (一报还一报), “ step by step” (循序渐进), “neck and neck”(并驾齐驱), “diamond cut diamond”(棋逢对手), “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”(以眼还眼,以牙还牙), “call a spade a spade” (直言不讳),etc.
Using the means of repetition makes the idioms have obviously emphatic object. Their meanings will be clear at a glance.
2.4 Antithesis
“Antithesis is the deliberate arrangement of contrasting words or ideas in balanced structural forms to achieve force and emphasis. Th
本论文由英语论文网提供整理,提供论文代写,英语论文代写,代写论文,代写英语论文,代写留学生论文,代写英文论文,留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。