Cultural Differences of English and Comparative Study of Translation英语毕业论文.doc

Cultural Differences of English and Comparative Study of TranslationI. IntroductionIdioms (set phrases) is the idiom (the idiomatic phrases) a, is that people in long-term practice and use the language to extract the crystal. Idioms generally come from the ancient classic, well-known works, historical stories, folklore, etc., contains a wealth of cultural information, with strong ethnic characteristics.To C translation, language and culture to deal with the contradiction, not only translated the image of the original language idioms, figurative meaning, rhetoric, have translated their cultural meaning. Such as the phrase "passive" is an ancient Chinese story, if translated into the stand by a stump waiting for the appearance of a hare, would be puzzling. If translated stick to old practice and refuse to have a change or a trust to chance and windfall, although its meaning expressed, but the idiom of cultural identity is gone, and therefore undesirable. Shows that the key to dealing with C translation is to use the perspective of cultural differences.II. English and Chinese cultural differences reflected inIf language is a mirror reflecting the culture, then as the language of the core and essence of the idiom is culture, the concentrated expression of their own cultural differences. English and Chinese as two completely different languages, reflecting the two entirely different culture.Culture is defined as the first scientist from the United Kingdom Taylor of human culture, he defines: Culture is a complex whole, including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and human society from all the capabilities and habits . Shows that culture is a very complex system. By comparison, English and Chinese cultural differences reflected mainly in the geographical environment, customs, religion, history and culture in four areas.(A) of the geographical and culturalThe natural environment of human existence and the basis for development of different natural environment of the formation and development of national culture have different effects. Environment typical of the mainland of China since ancient times, is a relatively rich country farm atmosphere, land in people's life are critical, a considerable portion of Chinese language and land and agricultural production-related idioms. Such as "big spenders" "Mianrutuse" "highly suspicious" and so on. Narrow the scope of the West by the island's limited land resources are limited, in order to survive the development of seafaring and fishing very well developed, there are many English idioms on the boat and water, such as the plains ailing (smooth) to go with the stream (drift), to keep one's head above water (struggling for existence) and so on.(B) of the customs and culturalDifferences in customs and cultural differences is a key aspect, in the idiom of which reflect more, especially in the animal image. Dragon in East and West represent two totally opposite image. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of auspiciousness in Chinese dragon with the phrase generally commendatory. Such as "family resemblance" "Dragon and Phoenix" and so on. However, in the Western legends, dragon is a kind of wings, to fire-breathing monster from the mouth, it is terrifying. Thus, in Western culture, dragon is usually representative of evil, a dragon is often used to describe the domineering, obnoxious people.(C) religious beliefs and culturalAnd religion-related idioms are also large numbers in English and idioms. Buddhism came to China has 1000 years of history, there are many Buddhist-related idioms, such as "Jiehuaxianfo" "usually do not burn incense, cramming," and so on. In the UK and other Western countries, the most influential religion is Christianity. In people's hearts, God has the supreme powers. There are a lot of English idioms and God-related idioms. If God helps those who help themselves, Man proposes, God disposes. A common saying among the people curse God damn you, after the often dangerous said God bless you.(D) history and cultureHistory, culture refers to a specific historical development of culture formed by the precipitation of one of the important contents of historical allusion. Historical allusion is in the national historical and cultural treasure, with rich historical and cultural information. The story of Chinese idioms and more from the "Four Books", "Five Classics" or myths and legends, such as "mere copycat", "Mingluosunshan" and so on. The story of English idioms come from the "Bible" Greek and Roman mythology or the "Aesop's Fables," and so on, such as: Achilles' hell, a Pandora's box and so on.III. English and Chinese TranslationNumber of translation theorists, such as Rambo (Lam Bert) and Rennes (Robins) that: as a bilingual translator with the transition between activities, it is better to translate as exchanges between the two cultures. This shows that culture must be incorporated into the translation of the scope of study, WANG Zuo said: "The translator must be a real intellectuals. People all that he had to master both languages, do so: But, do not know Among the social and cultural language, no one can really master the language. "Translation ultimate goal is to achieve communication between different cultures, idioms translation should follow this principle. Nida said: "The best translation does not sound like a translation", Mr. Lu said before: "All translations must be balanced with both sides, a course for the sake of its easiness, a preserved original posture." The phrase translation concerned, is the literal translation of the literal translation can not be literal translation of the free translation, translation as far as readability and retention of primitive cultures to find the best balance between ensuring the maximum extent the cultural information contained in the original presentation to the President readers to "cultural fax" target. Practice, the translation of commonly used the following methods:(A) of the literal translationLiteral translation, language translation that does not contravene the norms, and Lenovo does not cause an error condition, to retain the original idiom in the translation of metaphor, image, and national, local color. Such as: A gentleman's agreement (gentlemen's agreement); Wall have ears (walls have ears); Terra Tragedy (to drain a pond to catch all the fish); predecessors trees, descendants cool (One generation plants the trees under whose trade another generation rests ). Literally be able to compare intact the image of the original idiom metaphor, national color, can enrich the target language vocabulary, the reader to experience a sense of freshness.(B) literal notation methodSome idioms, their relatively strong historical and cultural allusions, literally one must also add the necessary comments. Such as a Don Juan Don Juan. Merry prodigal means. Don Juan is the works of English poet Lord Byron's character, he is a brave, romantic knight. Now, he often used to refer to young people with these qualities. If these idioms literally out without explanation, the reader often difficult to understand its implication. Again, Chinese idiom "trespass": show off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban, the master carpenter. If asked to explain in the second half without words, only the translation of Lu Ban, I am afraid I do not know the majority of British readers.(C) free translationFree translation means translation, not only to retain the original meaning of the method to retain the original forms of expression. When, due to cultural differences can not be literal, literal translation with footnotes too long, will destroy the idiom of simplicity and readability, the translation on the intended flexibility to convey intent. Such as English Idioms Two friends are hand in glove with each other (with hand, foot and pro), to snap and snarl at a kind-hearted man (dog bites play the part of people do not know well). Chinese Idioms with the cultural characteristics of many cases in the literal translation in English is difficult to reflect, often with free translation, although difficult to preserve the idiom of the culture and image, but it can reflect simple figurative idioms. Such as the facts speak for themselves Facts speak louder than words. Scapegoat hold the bag, Spoken Chinese, "scapegoat," saying that a person has done bad things and the responsibility falls to those who did not do bad things. English, regarded this situation as "holding the bag son" (hold the bag), It is worth noting: British and American people hold the bag while speaking may be the same people who make mistakes, it may not be implicated.(D) literal plus free translationIt should be noted, literal and free translation is relative, not an absolute limit. In many cases, to preserve the original image, and make accessible translation, English idioms can be part of the literal part of the free translation. Such as the phrase "mere copycat" wishful to Dong shi, an ugly woman, knitting her eyebrows in imitation of the famous beauty Xishi only to make herself uglier, English readers did not know beauties who are the people unable to understand its meaning. Increase the use of a literal paraphrase of the method, after the above paraphrase "blind imitation with ludicrous effect", its meaning will be clear of. In such a phrase in English "Even Homer sometimes nods", in the back of this idiom, the translator will add a "Even the wise are not always free from error", exactly corresponds to the Chinese proverb "The best is there must be a loss."(E) back translationA small part of the idiom, this comes from the source language, translation can be used when the source language idioms, such as an eye, an eye for eye, crocodile tears crocodile'stears, armed to the teeth armed to the teeth and so on.IV. ConclusionAs a unique language and cultural phenomenon, idioms and cultural information with a large load, is in English and Chinese language part of the richest cultural characteristics. As Lotman said: "There is no one language is not rooted in specific culture of; do not a culture not based on the structure of a natural language-centered." Idiom in the translation, the key is a good grasp of Chinese and their own culture in English, using the perspective of cultural differences flexibly according to the actual use of the appropriate translation, as far as possible to understand the national language and culture, and deep understanding of the significance of their own idiom, to make the translation of idioms in the realm of the highestReferences1 Nida Eugene A. Toward a Science of Translating M. Leiden; 19642 Peter Newmark. Translation of M, Shanghai, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 20013 package Hui Nam, Cultural Context and Language Translation M, Beijing, China Translation and Publishing Corporation, 20014 Jinhui Kang, cross-cultural communication translation sequel M, Beijing, China Translation and Publishing Company, 20045 Liu Qing Mi, translation aesthetics Introduction M, Beijing, China Translation and Publishing Company, 20056 Lu Xun, "title undecided" grass A, The Complete Works of Lu Xun C, Luoyang, Henan People's Publishing House, 19947 Sun Huijun, ZHENG Qing-Zhu, Translation Studies in the Cultural Turn J, Chinese translation, 2000, (5) :11-148 WANG Zuo, translation of cultural comparison J, translation of communications, 1984 (1)9 ZHANG Pei, Yu Yun-kan, Li Zongjie, etc., English-Chinese Translation M, Shanghai, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1980生命列车The Train Of Life1. 不久以前，我读了一本书。书中把人生比作一次旅行。2. 人生一世，就好比是一次搭车旅行，要经历无数次上车、下车; 时常有事故发生; 有时是意外惊喜，有时却是刻骨铭心的悲伤 3. 降生人世，我们就坐上了生命列车。我们以为我们最先见到的那两个人-我们的父母，会在人生旅途中一直陪伴着我们。 4. 很遗憾，事实并非如此。他们会在某个车站下车，留下我们，孤独无助。他们的爱、他们的情、他们不可替代的陪伴，再也无从寻找。 5. 尽管如此，还会有其他人上车。他们当中的一些人将对我们有着特殊的意义。 6. 他们之中有我们的兄弟姐妹, 有我们的亲朋好友。我们还将会体验千古不朽的爱情故事。7. 坐同一班车的人当中，有的轻松旅行。8. 有的却带着深深的悲哀 还有的,在列车上四处奔忙，随时准备帮助有需要的人  9. 很多人下车后，其他旅客对他们的回忆历久弥新 但是，也有一些人，当他们离开座位时，却没有人察觉。10. 有时候，对你来说情深义重的旅伴却坐到了另一节车厢。你只得远离他，继续你的旅程。11. 当然，在旅途中，你也可以摇摇晃晃地穿过自己的车厢，去别的车厢找他 12. 可惜，你再也无法坐在他身旁，因为这个位置已经让别人给占了 .13. 没关系。旅途充满挑战、梦想、希望、离别 就是不能回头。因此，尽量使旅途愉快吧！14. 善待旅途上遇见的所有旅客，找出人们身上的闪光点。15. 永远记住，在某一段旅程中，有人会犹豫彷徨，因为我们自己也会犹豫彷徨。16. 我们要理解他人，因为我们需要他人的理解。17. 生命之谜就是：我们在什么地方下车？坐在身旁的伴侣在什么地方下车？我们的朋友在什么地方下车？我们无从知晓 18. 我时常这样想：到我该下车的时候，我会留恋吗？我想我还是会的。和我的朋友分离，我会痛苦。让我的孩子孤独地前行，我会悲伤。 我执著地希望在我们大家都要到达的那个终点站，我们还会相聚 19. 我的孩子们上车时没有什么行李，如果我能在他们的行囊中留下美好的回忆，我会感到幸福。20. 我下车后，和我同行的旅客都还能记得我，想念我，我将感到快慰。21. 献给你, 我生命列车上的同行者, 祝您旅途愉快!1. Not long ago, I read a book, in which a mans life was compared to a journey.2. The life of a man is just like a hitchhiking，during which many times we go up and down. Now and then things will happen accidently, some of which are to be unexpected excitement，while some heart-breaking sorrows. 3. When first embraced the world，we are already on the train of life. We take it for granted that the first two persons, our parents, whom we are encountered with, will accompany us all the way.4. Sadly，things do not go on as we thought.Our parents will get off the train at a certain station，leaving us, bereft and helpless.Their love and emotion to us and their irreplaceable company can be found in nowhere.5. However，there will be somebody else who will get on the train. Some of them will have special meaning to us.6. Some of them may be our siblings , relatives and friends, and we will also expereince the imperishable love.7. Some of our travelling companions are quite light-hearted on the way.8. While some may bear immense sorrow.Still some ,back and forth, are ready to hold out their hands for others who need help.9. Some people alight off the train, yet they are still kept in the mind of the other passengers for long;some, to the opposite, leave their seats without being noticed.10. Sometimes, the one,who is dear to your heart, has huddled into another carriage. Nothing but one you can do is just to keep on going, far away from him.11. Of course, during the journey, you may stagger to another carriage to look for him.12. Its a pity that you will never seat yourself beside him because the seat has been engaged by others. 13. Never mind. The journey is full of challenges,dreams, hopes and departures- but only one thing is that you cant turn back. So, have a good journey with heart and soul.14. Show your good-will to all the passengers you are encountered with, and find the merits of theirs.15. Remeber that someone may oscillate just as we do in the journey.16. We should understand others just as we need others understanding.17. The enigma of life is：Where shall we get off the train of life?And how about the companions beside us?And our friends?We dont know.18. Sometimes I th