文化环境影响论下的英语习语翻译的详细介绍
2006年第3期：文化环境影响论下的英语习语翻译（英文）
时间：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 “有个牛脾气”, “像头犟驴”. 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” (不灵，出故障) is a kind of colloquialism, means “not working properly; out of order”; “hang in (there)”(不放弃)，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.” (吃一堑，长一智); “Do as they do at Rome.” (入乡随俗); “Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.” (良药苦口利于病).
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”(金钱), for instance, means “money”; “kick the bucket”(翘辫子), means “die”; “cancer stick”(香烟), 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”(特洛伊木马，比喻隐藏的危险)，comes from the historical story of Trojan War; “a Sphinx riddle”(斯芬克斯之谜，比喻难解之谜)，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”(逍遥法外), means “do something wrong without being punished”; “put down to”(把…归结为), means “state that something is caused or explained by”; “look into”(调查), 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”(渡过难关) were first used by seamen; “kill two birds with one stone” (一石二鸟)used by hunters; “have all one‘s eggs in one basket” (孤注一掷)used by farmers; “new brooms sweep clean”(新官上任三把火) used by housewives; “boil down” (归结，浓缩)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“挥金如土”.
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”（你是一个幸运儿）, 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.”（上帝帮助自助的人）; “Go to hell”（下地狱去）.
4. Historical differences
Quite a few English idioms are born just due to particular historical events. “To cross the Rubicon”(渡过鲁比肯河,比喻决定冒重大危险，采取断然行动), “to meet one‘s Waterloo”(一败涂地) come from Napoleon and the breakdown of his empire; and the American Civil War is the source of “by the grapevine”(秘密情报或谣言不胫而走) 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 光阴似箭
2. spend money like water 花钱如流水
3. blood is thicker than water 血浓于水
4. as a man sows, so he shall reap 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆
5. kill two birds with one stone 一石二鸟
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 犹大之吻（指背叛行为）
2. Trojan horse 特洛伊木马（比喻暗藏的危险或敌人）
3. armed to the teeth 武装到牙齿
4. packed like sardines 挤得像罐头里的沙丁鱼
5. crocodile tears 鳄鱼的眼泪（比喻假慈悲）
6. olive branch 橄榄枝（和平的象征）
7. a gentlemen‘s agreement 君子协定
8. A cat has nine lives. 猫有九命
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 量入为出
3. white elephant 昂贵而不中用的东西
4. Jack of all trades 样样通，样样稀松
5. keep the pot boiling 谋生
6. a bull in a china shop 鲁莽闯祸的人
7. have all one‘s eggs in one basket 孤注一掷
8. jump at the bait 轻易上当
9. It rains cats and dogs. 大雨滂沱
10.Where there is smoke, there is fire. 无风不起浪
(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 混水摸鱼
2. Walls have ears. 隔墙有耳
3. (in) black and white 白纸黑字
4. a nodding acquaintance 点头之交
5. a drop in the ocean 沧海一粟
6. Man proposes, God disposes. 谋事在人，成事在天。
7. to be on thin ice 如履薄冰
8. add fuel to the fire 火上浇油
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]《英语的习语》.载上海外国语学院《外国语》. 1979年第4期p.1
[2]李军，韩晓玲．The Translation and Application of Common English Idioms. 青岛海洋大学出版社, P4, 2002
[3]孙立恒. English Idioms and Their Translation. 陕西师范大学学报, Nov, 2002.P110.
[4] A Book of English Idioms: with explanations. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1956, P.Ⅵ.
[5]北京外国语学院英语词典编写组. A Chinese-English Dictionary of Idioms. 商务印书馆,1982
[6]林承璋, 刘世平.《英语词汇学引论》.武汉大学出版社, 2005年2月版
文化环境影响论下的英语习语翻译
顾晓燕
（上海海事大学外国语学院05级翻译研究生）
中文摘要：本文致力于研究如何克服由文化环境影响下英语习语的翻译差异。本文首先陈述了英语习语的定义和分类以及文化特点，然后通过很多具体事例来阐明在讨论习语翻译的技巧时如何利用文化知识。本文结论认为文化环境影响论能帮助获得更准确、生动的翻译。
关 键 词：翻译，习语，文化环境影响论