毕业论文-中西文化背景下的习语翻译.doc

河北师范大学高等教育自学考试本科毕业论文题目：中西文化背景下的习语翻译专业：英语考生姓名：考生准考证号：考生所在单位：河北外国语学院导师姓名：联系电话：完成日期：2015年8月23日translation between the chinese and english culturesby prof.submitted to the b.a. committee in partialfulfillment of the requirements for the degreeof bachelor of arts in the english departmentof hebei normal universityaugust 23,2015abstractnida,a famous translator,says,“for truely successful translation,it is much more important to familiarize two cultures than to master twolanguages”,because words are assigned meanings in its particular cultures.(background information) this is to say ,translation is closely related with not onlylanguages but also cultures .studies of the cultural distinction in idiom translation are still relatively weak in the field of translation in china. exculsive research on the translation of chinese and english idioms is still incomplete. in the past years, idiom translation has mostly emphasized the level of inter-lingual communication, but cultural differences were rarely involved in it .(indentify problems).this thesis analyses the cultural differences in chinese and english idioms,then studies english-chinese/chinese-english idiom translation methods(research subject) from the angle of culture（method）and points out some warnings concerning idiom translation: pay attention to context and choose the right version in line with the style and meaning of the original passage（results）;culture is a whole way of life ,when new culture emerges ,new idioms also appear therefore idiom translation should develop with the time. keywords:idiom culture translation摘要著名翻译学家达奈指出：“对于真正成功的翻译而言，熟悉两种文化甚至比掌握两种语言更为重要，因为词语只有在其作用的文化背景下才有意义。”也就是说，翻译不仅与语言有关业余文化有关。习语语翻译中对文化的研究在中国的翻译领域中仍然较弱，专门对中英习语的研究还不完善。近些年来，习语翻译大多强调语际的交流，而很少涉及文化差异。本文通过分析中英习语的文化差异，进而从文化角度研究中英习语的翻译方法，并指出中英习语翻译要注意的问题：联系上下文，选择与原文风格，意思相符的翻译；文化是一种生活方式，文化在变化，出现新的习语，细语翻译要与时俱进。关键词：习语 文化 翻译contentsintroduction.1chapteri.acomparison between english and chinese idioms.2chapterii.the cultural differences between english and chinese idioms.72.1 the formation of culture is closely related with natural geographical conditions.82.2geographical conditions8chapter iii .different customs.113.1in terms ofhistory.113.2 both countries have their different religious faith which may cause the difference.12conclusion.14notes.15bibliography.16 introductionidioms universally exist in every language . an idiom is a word or an expression that cannot be literally translated from the sourcelanguage into the target language because its idiomatic meaning cannot be understood by literally defining its component parts.（background）in a broad sense ,idioms contain set phase,proverbs , allusions ,etc.(yinlii,2007:9)in chinese ,they also include enigmatic folk smiles. newmark ,a british translation theorist , in his work a textbook of translation , said ,“i define as culture the way of life and his manifestation that are peculiar”to a community that uses a peculiar language as its means of expression.” （previous research）english idioms derives from english cultures and daily life. in real context ,idioms explain themselves :nine times out of ten they carry their own explainations . if we are unaware of these, we will find our selves in a state of confusion since we will assign literal meaning to them . the chinese idioms , especially the four-character idioms , have their own unique origins which are closely correlative to the chinese history and culture. in view of the difficulties in understanding idioms, we should pay due attention and efforts to understand their cultures and customs . this thesis is designed to dig into the cultural differences between chinese and english and then elaborates on the translation theories applied to idioms . (subject+method) chapter i a comparison between english and chinese idiomsdifferent people from different cultures may have different understandings of the same sentence because they know little about the target cultures. while the ultimate aim of english teaching as a foreign language is to cultivate students competence to apply english correctly, fluently, and appropriately in cross-cultural communication. idioms, a part of language, are the essence of culture in every country. using language in such communication, we often come across some idioms with distinctive cultural characteristics, so it is a very important and complicated thing for us to understand and use these idioms correctly. therefore, in this paper, we will discuss the idioms reflecting the differences of chinese and western cultures in various levels with many lively, important, and interesting examples of idiomspeople in different cultural backgrounds to communicate is multination communication . different countries have different historical backgrounds , customs , traditions cultures ,therefore , the translators engaged in international business must understand their cultural differences and exotic.for example, “like a fish out of water”. if you feel like fish out of water, you feel awkward and uncomfortable because you are in an unusual and unfamiliar situation. friendship cant stand always on one side 友谊是双方的事a friend is easier lost than found 朋友易失不易得every man has his faults人都有缺点 one tree does not make a forest 独木不成林 one flower does not make a spring 一花独放不是春 one swallow does not make a summer 孤雁不成夏where there is unity, there is victory团结就是力量two dogs strive for a bone, and a third runs away with it 鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利love me little, love me long 爱情应细水长流beauty is in the eyes of the beholder 情人眼里出西施blood is thicker than water 血浓于水absence makes the heart grow fonder 越是不见越想念a man ispetted daughters make silly wives 宠坏的女儿会变成傻婆娘better a glorious death than a shameful life 宁为玉碎不为瓦全when in rome do as the romans do 入乡随俗a penny saved is a penny gained 省一分是一分one false move may lose the whole game 一步走错步步错procrastination is the thief of time拖延是时间的never put off till tomorrow what may be done today今天能做的事情不要拖到明天做, no sweet without sweat.没有耕耘就没有收获one is as old as ones heart. 心有多老人有多老time heals all sorrows.时间治愈一切创伤 many hands make light work. 人多力量大 a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 千里之行始于足下where there is smoke, there is fire.无风不起浪as poor as a church mouse.一贫如洗a good medicine tastes bitter.良药苦口clothes make the man.人靠衣装，佛靠金装clothes dont make the man.不能以貌取人strike while the iron is hot.趁热打look before you leap.三思而后行to teach a fish how to swim.班门弄斧self-trust is the first secret of success.自信是成功的秘诀better late than never.迟做总比不做好god helps those who help themselves.自助者天助love me, love my dog.爱屋及乌rome was not built in a day.伟业非一日之功like father , like son.有其父必有其子well begun, half done好的开端成功的一半 every cloud has a silver lining否极泰来where there is a will, there is a way.有志者事竟成haste makes waste.欲速则不达all roads lead to rome.条条道路通罗马time and tide waits for no man岁月不等人honesty is the best policy.诚实是上策early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.早睡早起使人健康富有和an apple a day keeps doctor away一日一个苹果不用看医生fish in the air 缘木求鱼an odd fish 怪人miss the boat错过机会trim the sails to the wind顺势前进a small leak will sink a great ship小洞不补要沉大船on the other hand ,china is located in the asian continent and reputed as an agricultural country with a large population of peasant, it is not surprising to find many idioms relevant to farming ,such as “骨瘦如柴，对牛弹琴，众人拾柴火焰高，竹篮打水一场空”等等chinese people also have a mysterious and awe feeling for sea ,so they have idioms like “天涯海角，海枯石烂，海底捞针，海市蜃楼”等等。 these differences in interpretation and tried to make it disappear the process of translatingin the target language,and find out the exact words, so different cultures, which is reproduced in the target language. language is part of culture,also the carrier to the culture,which plays an important role. language translation is not only the international exchange of the two languages ,but two cultures relay. culture in translation is a factor which should not be ignored ,as a famous translator eugene nita :“to really do a good translation ,master two languages ,two cultures ,even more important aspect, because the terms only used in a particular culture to be meaningful. ”business english translation of the international must pay attention to the transmission of cultural information. according to the international business english translation 4es standards and to ensure that cultural and other information equivalent. however, in practice ,and sometimes cultural information is different to convey to the target language and the results of such standards will not be fully done . the chinese culture emphasize the ideas of “unity is strength”. this can be said as “collectivism”. on the contrary,the westerner emphasize the power of a single individual, this can be described as heroism. compare the chinese movie “创业”and themamerican terminator series ,you can see this differentcover-emphasizes the same, and the english culture over-emphasizes the unique; the chinese values the tradition ,but the westerner pay more attention to t he fusion; the chinese culture pay attention to the disposition ,outstanding human nature in western culture. culture is a national phenomenon. each culture is unique. english and chinese people live in different national boundaries and there are many differences between them.the famous modern chinese writer, mr. qin mu said: the analogy is brilliantly wonderful! it often makes people excited as soon as it is appears. it has a special strength to make things suddenly clear and complex things suddenly concise. good metaphors are just like beautiful flowers to sprinkle the literature. as elegant as poem, metaphor is vivid, and exists in all languages (jiang lei, 2000, p122). chapterii.the cultural differences between english and chinese idiomsculture is a national phenomenon. each culture is unique. english and chinese people live in different national boundaries and there are many differences between them. idioms exist in every language. an idiom is a word or an expression that cannot be literally translated from the source language into the target language because its idiomatic meaning cannot be understood by literally defining its computer parts. in a broad sense ,idiom contain set phrases ,proverbs ,colloquialisms ,slangs, maxims ,allusions ,etc.(yinli,2007:9) in chinese, they also include enigmatic folk similes.one of the major characteristics identifying us as human is our ability to use language. language plays a very important role in peoples daily life ; it enables people to communicate with each other and understand others feelings. language has close relations with culture. it is impossible to separate language from culture . as the essence of language ,idioms also have close relations with culture . the contents of them range form society, history, psychology ,customs and other various social phenomena. so,in the process of translation ,translators should pay more attention to the cultural factors , in doing this ,he can dig up the implicit meanings . only the cultural factors are concerned , translators can have a satisfactory translation . besides, people should get acquaintances with the cultural background when using idioms to avoid embarrassment in communication.culture s the system of knowledge used by relatively large numbers of people at the social level. it is the deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, actions, meanings, religions, notions of time , concepts of the universe, and artifacts acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group strving. intercultural business communication is a multi-dimensional subject covering areas like anthropology, linguistics and media , etc . it starts from the 60s, american universities began to have intercultural communication as a course . in china, the discipline was introduced into china in the early 1980s. common areas of interest among scholars lie in : value, beliefs, world view ,interpersonal relational, , rules of social behaviour , social organization ,language , thinking pattern ,verbal and nonverbal communication, concept of time and space , culture shock ,culture adaption , etc. 2.1 the formation of culture is closely related with natural geographical conditions the formation of culture is closely related with natural geographical conditions . a specific geographical environment produces a specific culture ,which also leads to a particular expression .great britain covers island including the northern one six of the island of ireland between the north atlantic ocean and the north sea, northwest of france. it has a moist climate with much rainfall . rivers and lakes are numerous . no wonder that fishery is thriving and most important in britain . accordingly ,idioms concerning fish and navigation constitute a great part in english idioms .(liyuping,2008:20)2.2geographical conditionsmany chinese people who understand a little english are familiar with the word england. but when the question where are you from? is asked of a british person, the reply of britain often induces a look of bewilderment on the face of the questioner. and if the british person is welsh, scottish or irish, they may even feel slightly annoyed that they have to reply england before the questioner understands which area of the world he or she is from. england is in fact only one part of britain.the british isles are two islands situated off the continent of europe. the larger of these islands is known as great britain. the british state is made up of great britain (england, wales and scotland) and northern ireland. it is one of the 25 member states of the european community. its full name is the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland (the uk). the climate is generally mild and temperate, it often has frequent changes but has few extremes of temperature. it is rarely above 32 degree centimetre or below -10 degree centimetre. the average annual rainfall is more than 1,600 mm (over 60 inches) in the mountainous areas of the north and west but less than 800 mm (30 inches) over central and eastern parts. rain can occur at any time but, on average, march to june are the driest months and september to january the wettest. during may, june and july (the months of longest daylight) the average daily duration of sunshine varies five hours in the north to eight hours in the south. during the months of shortest daylight (november, december and january) the average drops to one hours a day in the far north and two hours in the south. with an area of about 242,000 sq km (93,600 sq. miles), britain is just under 1,000 km (about 600 miles) from north to south. it is just under 500 km (300 miles) across in the widest part. it is therefore possible to travel to any part of the country within one day. travelling across britain, visitors are struck by how green the countryside is all year round. as you can see from a map, the landscape is varied, from the flatlands around the south and east to the hills and mountains of scotland and wales. despite having a high density of population in comparison with most european countries, there are huge amounts of quiet and unspoilt countryside. since the days of the industrial revolution, awareness of a clean and ecologically stable environment has grown, and the oft-quoted smog of london is a thing of the past. problems and controversies still remain with pollution, but as we shall see later, there are now a large number of environmental groups ready to publicise such things and campaign for change. foreign visitors travelling through britain then will probably be surprised at the large areas of unspoilt countryside between the villages and towns. another thing they will note is that in many of the towns and villages they pass through they will come across many old, historic buildings which have been maintained with great pride. the british, it seems, have a strong sense of history and regard the preservation of such monuments as very important. they also like to remember those who have made a significant contribution to british, or international, culture.chapter iii .different customs the english and chinese are two languages not only the grammar structure which creates sentences with the word different, moreover the expression thought method is different, uses the image