Cultural Differences and Untranslatability.doc

AbstractTranslation is not only a transformation of two languages, but also the transmission of two cultures. The common thing is indifferent to communicate, it is very necessary to exchange with different things. Chinese and English the two languages, because of the two ethnic groups in the geographical environment, religious faith, national thinking model and the historical and cultural differences, the table of cultural meaning righteousness also exists obvious difference. Cultural differences between different nations not only cause the necessity of cultural exchange, but also form communicative barriers. Therefore, in translation activities, we often encounter untranslatability phenomenon. This article from the culture and language are discussed by the linguistic untranslatability.Key words: Cultural differences; Language; Translation; Untranslatability Content、 Introduction .4、Cultural Differences between English and Chinese .42.1 Differences of Geographical Conditions 42.2 Differences of religious belief. 52.3 3Differences of National thinking patterns52.4 Differences of history and culture 5、The reflection of untranslatability phenomenon in the cultural difference. . 63.1 Lexical gaps. . . .63.2 Different meanings of word association. 63.3 Different concepts of color words. 63.4 Cultural vacancy. 63.5 Differences of a sense of humor between English and Chinese culture. . 7IV、Untranslatable phenomena caused by figures of speech in the language.74.1 The sentence palindromes . 74.2The Punning 7V、Conclusion . 8VI、References 8Cultural Differences and Untranslatability、IntroductionCulture is the knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, class, religion and the concept of time, space, integrated. From the most general sense, have the culture and the characteristics of the eternal. Culture permeates every aspect of social life, such as customs, etiquette, and religious taboo and so on.Translation means a kind of culture can be converted into another culture, intercultural communication, so the special cultural characteristics inevitably affect the translation. Between the original language and target language translation the identical limitations are almost caused by the difference between the two cultures, and how to express the meaning of culture have been usually difficult in translation. Chinese and foreign many scholars across the various definitions of translation, but to promote cultural exchange and spread as a translation of the purpose and significance, have been widely accepted. Sometimes the original information in the translation process wills inevitably missing. The main cause is the cultural differences between English and Chinese.、Cultural Differences between English and Chinese2.1 Differences of Geographical ConditionsChina is a landlocked country, and England is an island country. So the two nations have the very big difference in geography environment .Chinese people often see a monster on the land. While Anglo-Saxon often meets “odd fish” on the sea. A landlocked person says he is in a valley when he is in a dilemma. An island people uses the words “at sea” or “be on the rocks” to express the psychology he is in trouble, In western culture, the ocean makes the national long-term formed sea values, strong spirit of the sea. In twentieth Century American writer Hemingways “The old man and the sea” are a testament to the importance of marine in the European peoples ideology.Due to the geographical factors, China has west or west-north wind in the winter. It is so cold that people dislike the west wind. But they like the East wind. But in England the opposite, the west wind is warm and the east wind is cold. “Its a warm wind, the west wind, full of birds cries In ever hear the west but tears is in my eyes, For it comes from the west lands, the old brown hills, And Aprils in the west wind, and daffodils.” Shelleys Ode to the West Wind” is to try to praise the west wind, he thinks of the west wind as a symbol of hope and strength. 2.2 Differences of religious belief Ruled by the Pope or Kings for a long time in Britains history, therefore the words to express the anger and disgust to the king and the Pope seen everywhere. Such as “the king and pope, the lion and wolf”; “king go mad, and the people suffer from it”. Chinas religious beliefs is polytheism, they believe that god is a component of heaven and earth, is only a progress of the relationship between each other. Mans nature is good, everyone has good nature. There is no sin no good, hard practice can become to be an immortal, it is a very simple dialectical concept. The British is the country of Christian teaching, many short langues are related with his religion. Such as for Gods sake, honest to God, God helps those who help themselves, etc.2.3 Differences of National thinking patterns In the process of historical development, every nation people because of different living experience and local customs and practices, from the different mode of thinking, the different thinking model also is a common cultural difference in translation. To the same color, they have different understandings. Such as “红眼病” translated into English is “the green eye”, “black tea” in Chinese is “Back tea”. Ox in our opinion，he is a hardworking, tough and compliant domestic animal. The ancient in UK make a horse to work on farms and the cow is only make milk for them, so many idioms in English with the word horse. For Example, talk horse(吹牛),drink like a horse(牛饮),work like a horse(像牛一样努力),eat like a horse(饭量大如牛),a horse of another color(风马牛不相及). These two kinds of language expression is all roads lead to Rome. 2.4 Differences of history and culture In translation, some words in a traditional language equivalent to a word in another language, but their connotation, even reference is actually quite different. Dorgan in Chinese traditional culture is a kind of animal, is a symbol of the emperor. Dorgan is a symbol of auspicious riches and honor, Chinese idioms “望子成龙”has expressed peoples best wishes of their children. Chinese people are proud of themselves as Oriental dragon and Descendants of the dragon. But in English the word dragon is a symbol of wickedness and cruelty. Dragon is a monster with wings and sharp claws, it can spit fire. The word is used to compare to violent man especially woman.Easterners and westerners have different philosophy and traditions, and that is where the differences lie. They have different understanding of the word “time”. Americans treat Time as objects, the whole life of people completely subject to strict and precise timing, Time is money is almost every American creed. But in eastern cultures, with the lamb, and stopped work at sunset is hundreds or even thousands of years long lasted lifestyle. Walk slowly is a greeting when people say goodbye, the gentleman revenge decade not night and so on from another side reflects the culture of our traditional concept of time.、The reflection of untranslatability phenomenon in the cultural differences 3.1 Lexical gapsIn a language for reference, any other in the vocabulary of a language may have vocabulary vacancy, thus formed the phenomenon of untranslatability. For the word “uncle” have many titles in Chinese “叔叔” “伯伯” “舅舅” “姨丈” “姑丈” in the common condition, the word “uncle” is untranslatable. On the other hand, if we translate the sentence “早上好，表姐” into “Good morning, my female-cousin-on-maternity-or paternal-aunts-side-older-than-myself”, western readers would find it too absurd and ridiculous to accept, though the translation is exact in meaning. So, in the translating activity, we have to remove the exact kinship and only translate it into “Good morning, my cousin”. 3.2 Different meanings of word association The same words in different languages have different associative meanings, some even diametrically opposed. Dogs in western values is one of the most beloved animals, is a very loyal partner, is fondly and clinking; Where there is a dog registered permanent residence, dog food supply, and also has the dogs grave. English sentences with dog are good. For example, Love me ,love my dog(爱屋及乌);You are a lucky dog(你是一个幸运儿);He is a bull dog(他是条硬汉).But to Chinese persons opinion, dog is an animal for home guarding, he is useful but not lovely. Even dog is a humble animal, he often reminiscent of disgusting things. In recent years the number of people keeping a pet dog has been increasing, the dogs status seems to change, but the dog derogatory image deeply in Chinese language and culture. Dog eats dog(狗咬狗) in Chinese is a derogatory term, while it from a proverb Dog does not eat dog, it advises people not to cannibalism, which is no lack of love in words. If you hear British or American people say Wouldnt it be the dogs to be treated like that? Never translate it as the words meaning, treat me worse than a dog is a misunderstanding. On the contrary, it means treat me like that is so great. So we must make clear about the word or the sentence in an article, also must understand the cultural information implied in the language.3.3 Different concepts of color words White in Chinese culture is the symbol of mourning Matter, but in English culture, it symbolizes purity and innocence. In west, a bride dresses in white in her wedding; white day is a very auspicious day. But In China, the color white is unlucky color; it is a symbol of horror or death. Green in English has its unique connotation, means naive and inexperienced, such as: “a green hand 新手”. In the famous Chinese classical novel Dream of Red Mansions, Jia Baoyu “怡红公子”is translated into “Green Boy”.3.4 Cultural vacancy Daily life in two different cultural backgrounds has different way to say hello. The English culture background of general said: Lovely weather isnt, it?, Hello or Hi. But the people of Chinese culture in the context of the said: 到哪里去? , 吃了吗? Or 最近在忙什么?. These everyday greeting languages, word to word translation in English will make Westerners have discomfort or strange feeling.3.5 Differences of a sense of humor between English and Chinese cultureThe Chinese jokes, Maybe British and American people feels not funny, it demonstrates a sense of humor difference. Humorous language is meaningful; it is difficult to translate the translation with humor flavor, because the humor comes from customs or psychological tendency and aesthetic consciousness. “为什么说河流是富裕的?”“因为它有两个银行啊 !“Why is the river rich?”“Because it has two banks.” In text “bank” is a pun：one is river bank，the other is a bank.Such translation in understanding is surely right, but because of the added comments, even if the reader can see, Im afraid the most humorous of the original no longer exists. “This was the last straw. I was very young: the prospect of working under a woman constituted the ultimate indignity.”A college student applies for a tutor to earn tuition, because of the wet behind the ears; the result of the interview is becoming worse and worse. The word last illustrates the author bears the ultimate limit, also implied the interview failed. No sense in this sentence form for certain, on the surface, but actually it does have a negative meaning.、Untranslatable phenomena caused by figures of speech in the language 4.1 The sentence palindromes When Napoleon was exiled to the island and said” Able was I ere I saw Elba”. In Chinese is translated to be “孤临厄岛厄临孤”.”I know. You know. I know that you know. I know that you know that I know”. “我知道，你知道，我知道你知道，我知道你知道我知道。” 4.2 The Punning Pun is the main carrier of humor, a lot of humorous language is established on the basis of the pun. Pun is often from three levels that is the voice, semantics and structure.Homophonic pun is to use similar spelling, pronunciation of identical or similar word. Producer is willing to use homophonic puns, because such a pun has a witty, humorous, humorous, funny language style, can enhance advertising persuasion and appeal, which left a deep impression to consumers.A friend and her young son, Reid, were browsing in a large bookstore. Engrossed in marking a selection.my friend had lost sight of her child. ”Reid!” she called out,”Reid!” Just as she spotted the boy, she bumped into another customer.” Pardon me, Madam,” he said,”but most folks come her because the already like to read. No sense in wasting your time trying to convince them.”The pronunciation between “Reid” and “read” is similar. The gentleman is humorous, he play a joke that he misunderstands the ladys cries for her child as the urge for customer to read. It relive the awkward the lady hit him, also diluted his displeasure from be knocked.Semantic pun is the use of words or sentences polysemy pun in certain circumstances. The pun is also widely used in the advertisement; it has the same effect with homophonic puns.A deal with us means a good deal to you.译文:和我们做买卖意味着您做了一笔好买卖。The beauty of the sentence is that deal in a very good use of the sentence of three kinds of meanings, business, a good deal and many. A good deal constitutes a good pun.Grammar pun is refers to the pun, due