On Translation of English Idioms共8页

On Translation of English Idioms

[Abstract] Idioms are very interesting and necessary in Language. However， because of different environment， religious beliefs and customs， the translation of English idioms is not an easy job. This paper will introduce some background knowledge about idioms and the approaches to translating them into Chinese. [Key Words] idioms；culture；allusion I. Introduction to English idioms

While learning English， we easily find that English is rich of idioms. Though idioms are also widely used in Chinese， it is still a complicated task to translate English idioms for us for strong culture feature. Therefore， a good translator must have overall knowledge about English idioms.

Mona Baker Said， idioms\are frozen patterns of language which allow little of no variation in form and， in the case of idioms， often carry meanings which cannot be deduced from their individual components.\

\， especially a sequence of words which is semantically and often syntactically restricted.\ \： set phrasal， proverbs， sayings， epigrams， slang expressions， colloquialisms， quotations， two-part allegorical sayings\

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According to the definitions mentioned above， the paper comes to the conclusion that idiom is a fixed phrase or sentence， passing from generation to generation and accepted by convention， whose meaning is sometimes impossible to predict by its literal meanings. II. Characteristics of idioms 2.1 Semantic Unity

From the definition of idioms we can easily find that idiom can not be separated semantically. For example， if we paraphrase skeleton in the cupboard literally， it will be the skeleton put in cupboard， we will think a frightening scene but feel confused. The true meaning of it is family scandal. So do other idioms. That's the most obvious characteristic of idioms. 2.2 Structural Stability

Some idioms are grammatically or logically wrong. For instance， diamond cut diamond. We should add \fiddle is illogical. How can fiddle be strong？ However， they are fixed after long time of usage. Sometimes if we change a word in idioms， their meaning will change completely. e.g. in a family way means as casually as in one's own family. If we replace a with the， it will implies pregnant. Nevertheless the stability is not absolutely. Sometimes if the idiom is well known， part of it will be left out. For example， we can simplify too many cooks spoil the

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broth into too many cooks. And people will change some idioms in their words or articles in order to achieve some special effects. 2.3 Strong culture colors

Idioms possess strong national characteristics. When we translate them， we must pay attention to the culture conflict between two countries. For instance， the Great Britain is an island nation with advanced fishery. So there are many English idioms about navigation， such as to tide over； to rest on one's oars； to keep one's head above water. And the meanings of many things are different from China. For examples， to westerners cricket displays a sense of frisk， while Chinese consider cricket a symbol of sorrow. For example：蟋蟀在堂，岁亟其末. If we translate as merry/lively as cricket into 像蟋蟀一样快乐， Chinese readers will feel confused. III. Comparison of English and Chinese idioms

According to the comparison of English and Chinese idioms， we can divide them into four types. 3.1 Same meaning， form or metaphor

People own some general characters and the conditions. These generalities formed some common understanding among the people in the world. Such as spring symbolizes hope. Therefore， there are many idioms having not only the same meanings， but also the same form in different countries， for example， turn a deaf ear充耳

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不闻； turn one's nose嗤之以鼻.

3.2 Same meaning， different metaphor or simile

But such idioms are rare. Owing to culture discrepancies， many things have different connotations in different countries. Such as dragon is an auspicious animal in China， but a vicious animal in England. So most idioms among different countries with same meaning have different metaphor. For instance， to drink like a fish 牛饮； look for a needle in a haystack大海捞针. 3.3 Similar metaphor， different meaning

When we met an English idiom use the same metaphor as a Chinese idiom， we should not translate it into that Chinese idiom， but to find out if they have the same meaning. We met like a walking skeleton，行尸走肉will come to our mind. While it describes some people who are as skinny as stick. And pull somebody's leg is竭尽全力but not拉后腿. 3.4 No corresponding ones

Not all English idioms have corresponding ones in Chinese. That is called culture vacancy. For example， Penelope's web缓兵之计； Indian paper字典纸.

According to the above， not only when we master those similarities and differences， can we choose the best way to translation those idioms.

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IV. Approaches to translating English idioms

Many scholars have offered different ways to translate English idioms. Zhang Peiji put forward three popular methods： a. literal translation； b. free translation； c. adopting the idioms with same meaning in target language.Based on the methods， Guo Zhuzhang proposes five methods a. free translation plus explanation； b. Literal translation plus corresponding ones in target language； c. changing a few words of idioms in target language； d. using Chinese couplets； e. equivalence with borrowing. Sum up predecessor's theories， the paper concludes four approaches to idioms translation： 4.1 Literal translation

Literal translation is to preserve the contents and the form of the source language. So it is the best way to keep the original flavors. For examples：He laughs best who laughs last. 谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好； to vanish like smoke 烟消云散；

But sometimes this way cannot express the meaning exactly. For example， if we cannot translate in the dog house into 住在狗窝里. And child's play is not儿戏 but 简单. In that case， we'd rather choose another way- free translation. 4.2 Free translation

Free translation is to preserve the contents and the main

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