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Language and culture are intricately related and cannot be separated, as idioms in a language represent the rich history and culture of a society. Due to variances in geography, history, religion, customs, and other aspects of life, Chinese and English idioms possess distinct cultural characteristics and information. As a result, translating English idioms into Chinese (and vice versa) often presents numerous challenges.
The text discusses cultural differences between Britain and China in terms of geographical environment, historical background, customs, and religious beliefs, and how these differences influence the formation of idioms.
It also provides a detailed description of English idiom translation to address this cultural discrepancy in commonly used translations.
Keywords: language, culture, cultural differences, Idioms Translation 1, English idioms and cultural differences reflected in the (A) The environment The natural environment is essential for human survival and serves as the foundation for the development of various national cultures. Different natural environments have different impacts on the formation and development of a nation's culture.
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Chinese people inhabit a vast and fertile continent in East Asia, and China has historically been an agricultural powerhouse. The land holds significant importance in the lives of the Chinese population, which is reflected in the numerous agriculture and land-related idioms found in the language, such as 'good weather,''dead end,''extermination,' and 'big spenders,' among others.
Britain, surrounded by water, has a rich maritime history. This has resulted in the development of numerous water and marine-related idioms in English, such as "weak as water" (fragile), "drink like a fish" (consume alcohol heavily), "miss the boat" (missed opportunities), and "all at sea" (confused or lost).
Similarly, Chinese culture also encompasses idioms associated with specific seasons. For instance, "spring wind" symbolizes a refreshing breeze while "scorch like fire" and "Jiaoyangsihuo" describe the intense heat of summer.
The United Kingdom is situated in the northern temperate zone of the western hemisphere and has a maritime climate. According to reports, the westerly wind symbolizes the arrival of spring in the UK, which British poet Shelley celebrates in his poem "West Wind Song" (also known as "Ode to the West Wind"). The summer season in England is delightful and warm, often described as "lovely," "moderate," and "OK." Shakespeare also compared the beauty and pleasantness of summer to love in his sonnets, such as Sonnet XVIII: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
From a certain perspective, it can be argued that language serves as a nation's cultural memory and embodiment. This can be observed in the abundance of Chinese idioms which are rooted in the history, economy, culture, traditions, and habits of the nation. These idioms have a strong national cultural identity and possess significant social and historical origins. Often, their literal meanings and translations fail to capture their true essence. Examples of such idioms include 'mere copycat', 'Minglasunshan', 'lose the wife of another soldier off', and 'Three Stooges, the top one wise', among others.
English idioms originated from religious texts such as the 'Bible', as well as Greek and Roman mythology. However, they also have their own unique meaning. For example, the phrase "Achilles' heel" refers to a fatal weakness, "meet one's waterloo" means to suffer a crushing defeat, "Pandora's box" represents a source of trouble, "the Trojan horse" refers to a deceptive strategy, and "arrow of Cupid" relates to love in Roman mythology. In contrast, traditional Chinese culture views the dragon as a symbol of good luck. In the past, the imperial dragon symbolized authority and elegance in feudal society. Therefore, Chinese idioms often express compliments when related to dragons.
In Chinese culture, dragons and phoenixes are viewed as symbols of prosperity and success, which is demonstrated by the saying 'Dragon and Phoenix Succeed' or 'Chenglongkuaixu'. Conversely, in Western mythology, dragons are depicted as formidable creatures with scales, wings, and the ability to breathe fire. Consequently, Westerners associate dragons with danger and destruction that must be eliminated. In contrast, dogs hold a distinct position in Chinese culture where they are regarded as humble animals. Chinese idioms featuring dogs often carry negative connotations such as 'Fox Peng Dog Party', 'Goujitiaoqiang', and 'a dog's mouth spit no ivory'. On the other hand, English-speaking countries in the Western world highly value dogs as humans' most faithful companions.
The English language uses idioms that incorporate the word "dog" to describe human behavior. These idioms can have both positive and negative connotations, but they are mostly not meant to be derogatory. For example, "If you are a lucky dog" means that you are very lucky, and "Every dog has his day" refers to someone having their time of glory. On the other hand, in Chinese culture, cats are beloved and used metaphorically to represent gluttonous individuals. In Western culture, however, the term "cat" is used to metaphorically describe a malicious woman. These cultural differences in the usage of animals in idioms can be attributed to religious beliefs.
Every nation has its own unique religious beliefs and religious culture, which greatly influence the values, lifestyle, and language of its people. Throughout China's long history of several thousand years, Buddhism and Taoism have been the predominant religions of the Chinese nation. As a result, there are numerous idioms in Chinese culture that are related to Buddhism and Taoism, such as 'Jiehuaxianfo?????''Road''Bearing in mind that,' and others. Additionally, the Chinese people continue to worship various gods, including 'right and proper,' 'thank God,' and 'Heaven always leaves people a way out.' Chinese emperors also consider themselves to be the true sons of the dragon.
Christianity has the greatest impact of religion in the United Kingdom and other Western countries. In the Western perspective, God is seen as a supreme supernatural power. There are numerous English idioms related to God. For example, God helps those who help themselves and Man proposes, God disposes. When cursing someone, it is common to say God damn you. In times of danger, people often thank God or say God bless you. The Christian doctrine, known as the Bible, is considered a classic in Western culture. Many English idioms originated from this religious text.
The impact of culture on idioms is far-reaching and extensive. To successfully understand and translate idioms, especially between English and Chinese, it is important to have a deep understanding of both cultures. Idioms translation involves converting between the two languages while considering the close relationship between language and culture.
The translator's role goes beyond literal translation, requiring a profound grasp of the cultural context underlying the text. This involves leveraging their expertise in the original language and culture to gain a comprehensive understanding. With this understanding, the translator can effectively convey the information in another language, such as the target language, while preserving its true meaning for the reader. This approach adheres to the principle of 'functional equivalence', guaranteeing that readers receive an authentic experience aligned with the original text.
In order to achieve the most accurate and natural translation, idioms should be rendered to maintain their original meaning. As Eugene Nida suggests, the best translation is one that does not sound like a translation. Additionally, it is important to convey the cultural information contained in the original text. One method to achieve this is by using Literal Translation.
The literal translation method, also known as the so-called method, is not opposed to the norms of the target language. Lenovo is not bound by the conditions that caused the translation error, allowing them to retain the original idioms, metaphors, images, and national and local features. This method is somewhat effective as it uses both the literal and metaphorical meaning of words, which has been widely accepted by readers for translating idioms. Examples of idioms include "a gentleman's agreement," "armed to the teeth," "fish in troubled waters," and "paper tiger."
(draw water in a bamboo basket). The advantage of being able to retain a more complete image of the original idiom metaphor, ethnic style, color, and language is conveyed through literal translation. However, it is important for the interpreter to avoid excessive or overly literal translation, as it may unintentionally create a humorous or absurd effect, and even lead to misunderstanding or misinterpretation. For example: ??????? (Until all is over, ambition never dies.) The Pig falsely accuse the Chinese (To put blame on one's victim.)
'Yellow' and 'The Pig' and other words have noticeable cultural characteristics. If they were literally translated, foreign readers would not understand the reasons behind these characteristics. Only by adopting a 'functional equivalence' approach can interpreters create a sense of understanding and connection between readers from different cultures in the East and the West. (B) Literal explanations in France lean towards preserving the cultural information embedded in the original text, using literal translation rather than paraphrasing. However, due to language being deeply influenced by culture, literal translation can often lead to ambiguity and vagueness.
In this case, only in conjunction with appropriate annotation in order to pass the original text of cultural information. For example, a Don Juan (Don Juan, which means Merry prodigal son), to carry coals to Newcastle (coal to Newcastle, means superfluous, Newcastle - a British coal Center), N. (show off one's proficiency with axe before L u Ban, the master carpenter), mere copycat (The ugly imitates the beautiful in such a destroyed way that the ugliness of the ugly becomes worse.). (C) the equivalent ILL Method.
The reflection of idioms, such as metaphorical meaning, form, and emotional metaphors, can be observed in various aspects. English and Chinese idioms share similarities in terms of content, form, and emotion. Therefore, when translating idioms, it is possible to use the equivalent ILL method or apply synonymous idioms. This approach ensures that the image, style, and structure of the source language are retained, while also being consistent with the target language's linguistic norms and reader's understanding. By doing so, effective cross-cultural exchange can be achieved seamlessly.
Such as burn the boat (most drastic); greatminds think alike (Great minds think alike); turn a deaf ear to (ignored); a drop in the ocean (drop in the ocean).
(D) translation method Translation method refers to the translation, to retain only the meaning of the original forms of expression rather than to retain the original method. When due to cultural differences can not be literally translated, nor synonymous idioms can be borrowed, together with the explanatory text then would lose the essence of the characteristics of idioms, it is best to avoid their cultural background and its meaning can be translated.
If a family scandal (skeleton in the cupboard), is forced to revolt, frankly speaking, one can volunteer their service. Zhang Ling suggests that this approach of translating cultural differences and idioms also applies to those that use concrete and plain metaphors to illustrate more abstract reasoning. This approach also applies to language with vivid and witty tag lines. For example, the idiom 'donkey to see libretto - wait and see' can be translated as 'wait and see', and 'dog bites Lu Tung-pin, did not know good people' can be translated to 'snap and snarl at a kind-hearted man'.
Conclusion: English and each language has its own unique cultural characteristics, resulting in significant cultural differences between them. Culture plays a complex role in the translation of idioms, particularly those that are rich in cultural information. There is no one standardized approach to translating idioms from English to Chinese; instead, the method should be chosen based on the specific context, allowing for flexibility.
In addition, during the process of translation, the translator needs to consider not only the language being converted but also the importance of enhancing cultural awareness. From the perspective of cross-cultural communication, the translator should strive to use an appropriate translation approach in order to eliminate any communication barriers caused by cultural differences and accurately depict the intentions of a foreign culture.
References: [1] Chen Ding-an. English Rhetoric and Translation [M]. Hong Kong: Commercial Press, 1996. [2] Ping-hong, Zhang Guoyang. English Idioms and Anglo-American culture, [M].
Beijing: Foreign Language Education and Research Press, 1999. [3] Hu Wenzhong. Introduction to Intercultural Communication [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Education and Research Press, 1999. [4] Fang dream. Translation New Theory and Practice [M]. Qingdao: Qingdao Publishing House, 1999. [5] FENG Qing-hua. Practical Translation (update) [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2002. [6] Sun Hui-jun, ZHENG Qing-Zhu. Translation studies in the cultural shift [J]. Chinese translation, 2000, (05). Reposted elsewhere in the Research Papers Download http://www.hi138.com.
Cultural Differences in English and Chinese Idioms. (2016, Sep 19). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/cultural-differences-and-translation-of-language-idioms-essay
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