On Culturerendering in Idiom Translation from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory_英语论文

摘要

翻译难，习语翻译更难。众所周知，习语是一种语言的精华和文化的结晶。大多数习语有着简洁的形式，但是却有着丰富的内涵意义。英汉语言中都包含着大量习语，它们是英汉民族文化特征的具体体现。习语翻译如何做到即有效地传达意义，又很好地处理其中的形象，这对译者是一个挑战，也是本文想要探讨的问题。

尤金·奈达的功能对等理论自问世以来，在中国和西方翻译界都产生了深远的影响。功能对等理论强调实现译文与原文最切近的自然对等，首先是意义上，其次是形式上。译文的理想模式是达到形式和功能的对等。

本文鉴于此对习语翻译中的文化因素的处理作了理论性的探讨。全文共分成三个部分。第一部分介绍中英文化的差异。第二部分介绍中英习语中的文化差异以及尤金·奈达功能对等理论。第三部分介绍了功能对等理论指导下习语的不同的翻译方法。

关键词：文化传递；习语翻译；尤金·奈达；功能对等；翻译技巧

Abstract

It is hard to do the translation work while idiom translation is even harder. As is known to all, idioms are the essence of language and the crystallization of culture. Most idioms have simple form as well as profound meaning. There are abundant idioms in both Chinese and English whose attributes embody that of Chinese and western cultures. How can both the literal and the underlying meanings of the idioms be simultaneously conveyed is the question we would address us to in the following passage.

Eugene Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory has had great impact on the translation circle of both Chinese and western world ever since it came out. It emphasizes the closest natural equivalence between the source text and the target text, first in terms of meaning and next in terms of form, and the ideal form of the translation is the one which reaches the equivalence of both the meaning and the form.

The thesis probes into the handling of cultural characteristics in idiom translation from the view of Functional Equivalence Theory and translation skills. It is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the differences between Chinese culture and Western culture. The second part introduces cultural differences between Chinese and English idioms and Nida's Functional Equivalence theory. The third part is concerned with different translating methods of idioms under the guidance of the Functional Equivalence Theory.

Key words: culturerendering; idiom translation; Eugene Nida; Functional Equivalence theory; translation technique

Contents

1. Introduction1

1.1 The definition of idioms 1

1.2 Culture differences 1

1.2.1 The definition of culture 1

1.2.2 Culture differences 2

1.2.2.1 Differences in thinking models 2

1.2.2.2 Attitudes toward personal interests and public interest2

1.2.2.3 Differences in democratic perceptions2

1.2.2.4 Differences in the view of science 2

1.2.2.5 Disparate moral outlooks 3

1.2.2.6 Differences in the legal sense3

2. Demonstration 3

2.1 Culture differences in Chinese and English idioms 4

2.1.1 Geographical environment 4

2.1.2 Customs and habits 4

2.1.3 Religious beliefs and historical allusions 5

2.1.4 Aesthetic values and tastes 6

2.2 Guiding Significance of Functional Equivalence Theory 7

2.2.1 Content of the Functional Equivalence Theory7

2.2.1.1 Eugene A Nida 7

2.2.1.2 The Functional Equivalence Theory 7

2.2.2 Translation techniques of idioms under the guidance of Functional Equivalence Theory 8

2.2.2.1 Literal translation 8

2.2.2.2 Liberal translation 9

3. Conclusion 12

Bibliography 13