Abstract

Because of having different cultural backgrounds, different peoples have different understandings of the same sentence. And just for this reason, many people fail to achieve true understanding of mutual utterances in communicating activities. Thus, it is quite necessary to make a study on the cultural differences in some special fields between China and Western countries. Since language is the most principal means for inter-cultural communication, idioms, as a part of language, are the core of a nation’s culture and wisdom. Being unique and fixed expressions, idioms are gradually formed in the process of using a particular language. English and Chinese idioms, as two languages' quintessence, play a prominent role in language communication. Just because of their special and important cultural differences, it is quite necessary to explore the translation of English and Chinese idioms from the perspective of Cultural difference.  This paper mainly analyzes five aspects of the cultural differences between the two languages such as natural geographical environment, social customs, religious beliefs, historical allusions, different modes of thinking and presents some skills for translation of English and Chinese idioms.

Keywords: English and Chinese idioms; culture; cultural differences; translation methods

摘要

由于有不同文化背景，不同的民族对同一句话有着不同的理解。并且因为这个原因，在交际活动中，许多人未能理解双方话语的真正意思。因此，研究中西方在某些领域中的文化差异是相当有必要的。鉴于语言是跨文化交际中最主要的手段，作为语言中的一部分, 习语是一个民族文化和智慧的核心，是某一语言使用过程中形成的独特而固定的表达方式。英汉习语作为两种不同的语言精髓，在语言交流中发挥重要作用。因此，从文化差异角度来探究英汉习语是非常有必要的。本论文主要探讨这两种语言在自然地理环境、风俗习惯、宗教信仰，历史典故,思维模式五方面的文化差异，并呈现翻译英汉习语的几种技巧。

关键词：英汉习语；文化；文化差异；翻译方法