《习语翻译讲义》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《习语翻译讲义（6页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、Unit 15 Comparison and Translation of Idioms Category of English IdiomsSet phrases 成语 Proverbs 谚语 Sayings 格言Colloquialisms 俗语Allusions 典故Slangs 俚语Enigmatic folk similes 歇后语 Culture specific: depend very much upon a specific social or ecological setting. Finding satisfactory equivalents for idioms is
2、 one of the most difficult aspects of translating. In many cases idioms can only be satisfactorily rendered by non-idioms in a target languageNote: east wind & west wind have absolute different connotations in Chinese and English cultureOde to the West Wind ShellyWhen the wind is in the east, its go
3、od for neither man nor beast.东风吹，寒风到，对人对畜都不好。（东风在英国象征寒冷，令人不愉快）When the wind is in the west, the weather is at the best.风从西边来，气候最宜人1. Influence of Custom on English Idioms Idioms concerning horsework like a horse辛辛苦苦地干活 beat a dead horse徒劳无益 as strong as horse非常强壮/强壮如牛 bet on the wrong horse支持错了对象 co
4、me off ones high horse 放下架子 that is a horse of another color那完全是另外一码事Note: horse is often treated as a common animal in English without the commendatory sense in Chinese: 老马识途 (an old horse knows the way)，老骥伏枥 (an old hero still cherishes high aspirations) Idioms concerning dogtop dog最重要的人物 a lucky
5、dog幸运儿 a jolly dog快活的人 rain cats and dogs下滂沱大雨 He is in the doghouse他名声扫地 lead a dogs life过着悲惨的生活 Love me, love my dog爱屋及乌 Every dog has its day.凡人皆有得意时 Let a sleeping dog lie.别惹事生非 Barking dogs do not bite会叫的狗不咬人Note: dog is highly valued in English culture. However, Influenced by foreign culture,
6、sometimes dog is often used in derogatory sense. Compare some Chinese idioms狗腿子/走狗lackey狗崽子son of bitch狗胆包天monstrous audacity狗急跳墙A concerned beast will do sth desperate.狗咬耗子，多管闲事Poke your nose into other peoples affairs.狗嘴吐不出象牙A filthy mouth cant utter decent language.Note: dog is often endowed with
7、 derogatory sense in Chinese2. Influence of Religion on English IdiomsChinese:做一天和尚撞一天钟Song long as I remain a bonze, I go to toll the bell.跑得了和尚跑不了庙The monk may run away, but the temple cant run with him.English:As poor as the church mouseGod damn you / go to hellNote: cast pearls before swine is c
8、losely related with religion:“Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye pearls before swine, lest they trample pearls under their feet, and turn again and render you.”不要把圣物给狗，也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪面前，恐怕它们践踏了珍珠，转过来咬你们。3. Methods adopted in translating English Idioms1) Literal translation hot line热
9、线; cold war冷战; round-table conference圆桌会议; armed to the teeth武装到牙齿; 武术martial arts 纸老虎paper tiger 丢面子lose ones face 无可救药beyond cure 竹篮打水一场空drawing water in a bamboo basket2) SubstitutionWalls have ears隔墙有耳 Once bit, twice shy.一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 Use a sledge hammer to crack a nut.杀鸡用牛刀 Teach ones grandmothe
10、r how to suck eggs.班门弄斧 You cant make an omelet without breaking eggs.巧妇难为无米之炊 坐如针毡to sit on thorns 海底捞月to fish in the air 入乡随俗When in Rome do as the Romans do. 猫哭耗子假慈悲 to shed crocodile tears3) Liberal translationa wet blanket令人扫兴的 to break the ice打破沉默to face the music勇敢地面对困难to be the cats paws上当，被
11、人利用like a fish out of water很不自在 杞人忧天unnecessary anxiety落花流水to be shattered to pieces 司马昭之心，路人皆知The villains design is obvious东施效颦Blindly copying others and making oneself look foolish 做贼心虚He that has a great nose thinks everybody is speaking of it.4) Explanation with notesThe man who carries coal to
12、 Newcastle will pour water on a drowned mouse.运煤到纽卡索去的人好比往淹死的老鼠身上泼水-多此一举。 Note:纽卡索-英国著名产煤区All are not maidens that wear bare hair.不戴帽子的未必都是少女。 Note: 西方风俗中成年妇女一般都戴帽子，而少女则一般不戴，该习语告诫人们看事物不能光看外表。 After-class exercisesPlain sailing一帆风顺 At ones wits end智穷才尽The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.心有余而力
13、不足 Silken tongue巧舌如簧 A lion in the way拦路虎A flash in the pan昙花一现 As red as rose; like lilies and roses艳若桃李 New brooms sweep clean.新官上任三把火 There is a skeleton in the cupboard.家家有本难念的经十年树木，百年树人。It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred to rear people.江山易改，本性难移The wolf changes his coat, but not hi
14、s disposition.好事不出门，坏事传千里A good reputation sits still; a bad one runs about.路遥知马力，日久见人心A distance tests a horses strength, so time reveals a persons heart.耳听为虚，眼见为实Seeing is believing.习语、对偶 四字词组的翻译多见于古代的诗词、骈文、辞赋。精炼、简明、优美，堪称语言之杰作，可增加语言美感和表现力。汉语成语多由四字组成，来源大抵有三类：一是来自文史古籍、神话寓言；二是来自俗语、谚语、歌谣和民间文学；三是来自外族语言
15、或佛教。翻译时不仅要译出成语本意，还要译出其文化含义或隐含意义。绝非易事！英译汉中，适当使用四字句，译文将文采一新。I could not dance in fetters.(by an English poet in19th century)击链而舞，非吾所能。（ 钱钟书）“Living history” by Hillary ClintonThen I said goodbye to the house where I had spent eight years living history.亲历历史She has beauty still, and , if it be not in its heyday, it is not yet in its autumn.她依然很美，如果不是风华正茂，也远非迟暮之年。Structure of the four-letter words四字词组通常分为前后两部分。两部分的语法关系可以是：主谓： 祸不单行 Misery loves company.债台高筑Be up to ears in debt.暗箭伤人A stab in the back.好事多磨All good things have unexpected setbacks. 动宾词组：走漏风声Spil
