chap._6_Translation_of_Culture-loaded_Expressions.ppt

Translation of Culture-loaded Expressions Warm-up Each culture contains elements which are derived from its culture, such as idioms, proverbs, and other fixed expressions. Translation is not only an interlingual transfer, but also a cross-cultural communication. The strategies often employed in translating these culture-loaded expressions are foreignizing translation, domesticating translation, semantic translation, and their mixture. 1 Foreignizing Translation retaining the cultural flavors of the source language and enables the reader to have an alien reading experience, thus developing the reader’s awareness of cultural differences. advantage: better understand the source-language culture and enrich Chinese modes of expression. Weakness: this may not be familiar to our readers or smooth enough for us to read with ease. How to improve it a semantic translation or an explanatory note can be added. Read the much quoted saying… 翻译必须有异国情调，就是所谓洋气。其实世界上也不会有完全归化的译文，倘有，就是貌合神离，从严辨别起来，它算不得翻译。凡是翻译，必须兼顾着两面，一当然力求其易解，一则保存着原作的丰姿，但这保存，却又常常和易懂相矛盾：看不惯了。不过它原是洋鬼子，当然谁也看不惯，为比较的顺眼起见，只能改换他的衣裳，却不该削低他的鼻子，剜掉他的眼睛。 要从外国语言中吸收我们所需要的成分。我们不是硬搬或滥用外国语言，是要吸收外国语言中的好东西，于我们适用的东西。因为中国原有语汇不够用，现在我们的语汇中就有很多是从外国吸收来的。例如今天开的干部大会，这“干部”两个字，就是从外国学来的。我们还要多多吸收外国的新鲜东西，不但要吸收他们的进步道理，而且要吸收他们的新鲜用语。 Examples Armed to the teeth Crocodile tears Beauty lies in the lover’s eyes. In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is King. Achilles’ heel As gay as a lark Sword of Damocles Sour grapes 武装到牙齿 鳄鱼的眼泪 情人眼里出美人 盲人国里，独眼人称王 阿基利斯的致命脚踵 像云雀一样快活 达摩克利斯的利剑 酸葡萄 Drill Pandora’s box Judas kiss Teach a pig to play on a flute There is no smoke without some fire. A dark horse As easy as ABC Ivory tower Beauty is but skin-deep. Can the leopard change his spots? As gaudy as a peacock Never offer to teach fish to swim Look for a needle in a haystack Time is money Domino effect Bottleneck John is her office Romeo. You may add a paraphrase or an explanation if necessary… 1 The joke you told is as old