英汉文化差异在习语翻译中的体现研究
关键词：文化；差异；习语；翻译
Abstract
Culture is the achievements of human civilization progress, which is the sum of material and spiritual wealth created by human beings in the social historical practice. Culture and language are closely linked and inseparable (Sapir 221). The existences of languages always rely on the sociocultural environment, which is obviously reflected in idiom. Idiom is a concise and comprehensive language. Therefore, idiom bears a strong national color and distinct cultural connotation. A translator should have a fully understanding of cultural background differences and translate idioms on the foundation of keeping the original cultural ambience instead of surmising the literal meaning. This paper will firstly introduce the definition of culture and the relationship between culture and idiom. Then it will point out the main culture differences between English and Chinese through some examples.
Key words: culture; difference; idiom; translation
Cultural Differences Between English and Chinese in Idiom Translation
Contents
摘 要 i
Abstract ii
I. Introduction 1
II. Culture and Idiom 2
2.1 Definition of Culture 2
2.2 Definition of Idiom 3
2.3 The Relationship Between Idiom Translation and Culture 4
2.3.1 The Tendency to Powerful Culture 4
2.3.2 Cultural Conditioning on Idiom Translation 4
III. Cultural Differences in Idiom Translation 5
3.1 Different Values 5
3.2 Different Social Customs 5
3.2.1 Eating Habits 5
3.2.2 Attitudes to Animals 6
3.3 Different Geographical Environments 7
3.4 Historical Cultural Differences 9
3.5 Different Religious Beliefs 10
IV. Idiom Translation Methods 11
V. Conclusion 13
Bibliography 14
Acknowledgements 15
I. Introduction
The electronic media explosion of the 1990s and its implications for the process of globalization highlighted issues of intercultural communication (Bassnett & Lefevere 1). Also, with the development of globalization, social science research is having a series of historical changes. From literary criticism to translation theory, from philosophical thinking to anthropology exploration, their focus and perspective of study are changing all the time. These changes manifest as the popularity of culture fever in translation circle. In 1990, Andre Levere and Susan Bassnett first suggested “culture turn” in translation which argues that the basic unit of translation is not word, not sentence, not even text, but culture. This theory was no doubt a breakthrough in translation, besides, it brought many new challenges. Domestic scholars also did a lot of researches in areas about cultural differences which combined China’s reality with the overseas theories and analysis framework. Breakthroughs were made in some aspects such as cultural rituals, religions belief, modes of thinking and so on.
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