ChapterⅡLiterature Review 3

2.1 Cultural Connotation and Idioms 3

2.2An Overview of Previous Studies on Animal Idiom 4

ChapterⅢ Analysis of Different Cultural Connotation of Chinese and English Animal Idiom 6

3.1 A case Study of Idioms with Dragon 6

3.2 Causes of the Different Cultural Connotation in Chinese and English Animal Idioms 7

ChapterⅣ Translation of Chinese and English Animal Idioms 11

4.1 Literal Translation 11

4.2 Liberal Translation 11

4.3 Foreignization and Domestication 12

4.4 Modeled Translation 12

Conclusion 13

Reference 14

ChapterⅠIntroduction

1.1 The significance of the Research

In the long process of development of the human society, animals have been maintained close contact with human beings, and they have a profound impact on people’s survival and development. Because of this kind of subtle relationship, people produce intricate emotions on the animal, such as love, hate, fear and so on. In addition, people often put their emotions or convey their feelings in virtue of animals. Therefore, a large number of animal words come into being and are used widely, both in Chinese and western countries. And the vocabulary in a certain language reflects a certain culture. With the addition of the factors on history, customs, and religions and so on, both Chinese and English language give the animal words a certain cultural connotation. 

Nowadays, with the further development between Chinese and western countries, besides economy and politics, cross-cultural communication plays a significant role with each passing day, and then the translation work will pick up the pace also. However, the different cultural connotation of the animal idioms will bring so much trouble because of the above-mentioned difference, even hinder the normal communication. 

Under this background, it is necessary to study the different cultural connotation of idioms in Chinese and English animals, making the translator correctly express the original information. What’s more, Nida and Reyburn (1981) said that in fact, difficulties arising out of differences of culture constitute the most serious problems for translators and have produced the most far-reaching misunderstandings among readers[3]. Thus, to do research on the certain cultural connotation of idioms in Chinese and English animals is very necessary and important, and it is also the key factor of how to translate properly. Doing this research can help us understand different social cultures and avoid the mistakes to the greatest extent when communicating. And it also helps to respect and appreciate other cultures, promoting the cross-cultural communication.

1.2 Methodology and Data Collection

This research adopted a qualitative approach. It is qualitative because a lot of definitions like idioms should be given, and this step can not be achieved by quantitative survey. However, it is not totally qualitative; a large number of examples still should be needed. And data in this paper are mainly from some standard dictionaries, and some related books concerning this thesis.

1.3 Layout of the Research

On the basis of previous studies, this paper mainly focuses on the causes of different cultural connotations, and then gives some suggestions on how to translate the animal words in communication. 

With the deepening of globalization and the speeding up of the cross-cultural communication, proper translation of different language becomes increasingly important, for language is an important part of culture, and it also can reflect some cultural phenomenon. However, owing to the various factors under different cultural background, the meaning of even one certain same thing is totally different. In order to remove the obstacle and misunderstanding in communication, it is necessary to explore the causes and then to give some advice to deal with it.