汉语成语翻译的若干方法 [3]
论文作者:沈培贤 论文属性:短文 essay登出时间:2009-04-10编辑:黄丽樱点击率:11171
论文字数:6573论文编号:org200904102305512499语种:中文 Chinese地区:中国价格:免费论文
关键词:汉语成语英语习语翻译文化内涵源语Chinese idiomsEnglish idiomstranslationculture connotationoriginal language
one: A Judas kiss)
Though there are not equivalent English idioms, some Chinese idioms with the literal meanings can also be translated literally with the accurate images. Such as:
⑸井底之蛙 —— To be like a frog at the bottom of a well
⑹史无前例 —— To be without precedent in
history
⑺七嘴八舌 —— With seven mouths and eight tongues
2.1.2 Replacement
Regarding Chinese idioms translation, what many translation books discussed mainly was the replacement technique. Sometimes, equivalent translations can be found, but mostly only similar ones. Usually the replacement technique is necessary in the following situations.
(ⅰ) Chinese idioms have same meanings and culture messages as those in the target language.
There are many Chinese and English idioms, which have the same images as well as the expression forms.
⑴In Chinese, “浑水摸鱼” means “[释义]浑水:浑浊的水。指在浑浊的水中摸鱼。[用法]比喻趁混乱的时机捞取不正当的利益,也作‘混水摸鱼’。”[3]P259 But the English idiom “to fish in troubled water” means “take advantage of troubled or uncertain condition for personal profit”. These two idioms are similar in both expression form and intrinsic meaning.
The similar idioms are as follows:
⑵赴汤蹈火 —— Go through fire and water
⑶随波逐流 —— To go with the tide
⑷知识就是力量 —— Knowledge is power.
⑸眼不见,心不烦 —— Out of sight, out of mind.
⑹谋事在人,成事在天 —— Man proposes, god disposes
⑺空中楼阁 —— Castles in the air
⑻充耳不闻 —— Turn a deaf ear to
(ⅱ) Chinese idioms share similar meanings but different culture messages and images with the target language.
The Chinese idioms, which have same or similar vivid analogy with the English idioms, should be exchanged into the same or corresponding English idioms directly. Different languages have different images.
⑴For example: if translators translate the Chinese idiom “胸有成竹” directly into “have a bamboo in one’ s stomach” according to the wording meaning. The foreign readers not only have difficulties in getting the meaning that this idiom contained, but also have the wrong association easily. Therefore, the translators must discard the images in this idiom and change them into the images that the foreign readers are familiar with. So it may be translated as “have a card in one’s sleeve”
⑵The Chinese say “噤若寒蝉”(as mute as a winter cicada)”, yet the native English say , “as mute as a fish”. Fish and cicada have similar function in the above examples though they are not similar at all. As far as “silence” is concerned, fish is a familiar image to English speakers, yet the Chinese tend to associate the sense with winter cicada.
⑶The Chinese idiom “瓮中之鳖(the turtle in the jar)”means “[释义]瓮:大坛子;鳖:甲鱼。大坛子中的甲鱼。[用法]形容已在掌握之中,逃脱不了。”[4]P651 .But the English idiom “likes a rat in a hole”, whose image is a mouse, which is stranded in a hole. It is in an extremely difficult situation. These two scenes agree without prior consultation but happen to hold the same view. Though the translators replaced the image, the foreign readers have no difficulty to understand its meaning.
The similar Chinese idioms included:
⑷胆小如鼠 —— As timid as a rabbit
⑸挥金如土 —— Spend money like water
⑹东张西望 —— Look right and left
⑺缘木求鱼 —— Seek a hare in hen’s nest
⑻抛砖引玉 —— To throw a sprat to catch a herring
So, familiar images of the target language are often used to replace those of the source language. It is very regret that the foreign readers cannot understand the exotic atmosphere of Chinese culture.
(ⅲ) Chinese idioms share similar images but different culture messages and connotation with
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