英语习语的特征与翻译

在英语阅读理解和翻译过程中,总会遇到一些难以从字面上理解的短语或句子.这些难以理解的短语或句子就是所谓的文化词语(culture-loaded words or expressions),亦可称作习语(idioms).英语和汉语都是世界上最丰富和发达的语言之一,都具有大量的习语.习语是语言的结晶,是语言使用者长期以来使用的形式简洁且意思精辟的定形性的、文化承载量最为丰富的词组或短语,包括俗语、成语、格言、谚语、俚语、歇后语,等等.而这种文化词语的翻译和理解也正是我们进行各种跨文化阅读理解和翻译活动的难点所在.文章旨在从跨文化交际角度揭示习语的文化特色以及英汉习语之间的差异,并试图用归化和异化法对习语翻译进行阐释,提出英汉习语翻译和理解的最佳对策.

The Characteristic and Translation of English Idioms

During the translation process, there are always some difficult phrases or words for us to understand from its literal meaning. In fact, the difficulties lie in the fact that in nearly all the languages exist many so-called "culture-loaded words or expressions", or rather "idioms". Both English and Chinese are rich in idioms because they both have a very long history. Idioms areformed through the long use of the people who speak it and they are the "crystal" of the language with a simple form and abundant meanings. Idioms include many different forms such as colloquialism, set phrases, maxims, proverbs and slangs. This essay tries to use the domestication and foreignization methods to reveal the features of the idioms and the differences between English and Chinese languages and put some suggestions in translating idioms.