摘要

语言是文化的载体，习语是语言发展的结晶，也是文化的沉淀。它折射了一个民族的历史、地理、宗教、风俗习惯和人文思想等丰富文化元素，然而也正是这些元素给习语翻译造成了极大的困难。习语的翻译不仅要考虑语言的转化，同时要考虑文化的转移。本文在充分理解习语的定义和特征基础上，从文化的角度对英语习语的翻译方法做出了尝试性回答。

关键字：习语，文化内涵，翻译方法

Abstract

Language is the carrier of a culture, while idioms are recognized as the crystallization of language development as well as the embodiment of a culture. Idioms reflect the cultural elements of a nation including history, geography, religion, custom, values and etc. On the other hand, it is the cultural elements involved in idioms that give rise to a great obstacle for translation. Idiom translation should not only consider the transfer of meaning but that of culture as well. The thesis, on the basis of the definition and features of idioms, makes an attempt to introduce the basic methods of English idiom translation from a cultural perspective.

Key words: idioms, cultural connotation, translation methods

1. Introduction
Idioms, gems of a language as well as those of national culture, are characterized by being refined and expressive. A quotation from Nida says: “Idioms usually carry more impact than non-idiomatic expressions because of their close identification with a particular language and culture.” (2001:78). Idioms derive from history, religion and culture such as literature, and they enrich themselves constantly during the development of national culture. Consequently, idioms bear profound meanings and strong cultural flavors. In idiom translation, which is also a cross-cultural activity, cultural transmission is inevitable as idioms are cultural-bounded. However, the previous studies of English idioms translation are mainly from linguistic or theoretical angle, whereas the cultural element involved in idioms has seldom been discussed. Given the conclusion that idiom translation is not only interlingual but also intercultural, the thesis makes attempts to analyze the cultural features of idioms and introduce the cultural approaches to idiom translation through which it could offer some suggestions for the better understanding of English idioms, for the command of translation and for the cultural exchanges.