On the Translation of Idioms From a Perspective of Culture.docVIP

Introduction Aim of the Study It is a long history since language and culture have been linked to each other in research. To discuss translation by proceeding from the relationship between language and culture is a new topic as well as a rich field for research. Widely recognized as the crystallization of language, idioms have also become the hot topic of the academic circle with their universal appeal. It has been noticed that, until now, much of the previous work on the study of English and Chinese idioms has often been concerned with definitions, classifications, features, origins, and basic translation method, etc. These aspects have been made incisive studies by researchers; however, as the gem of a nation’s culture, idioms should have more connection with culture. It is the colorful cultural information, national flavor and the charm of alien culture that should be deeply studied and carried forward relying on the strength of translation. As Juri Lotman maintains, “no single language is not rooted in a specific culture; neither does a culture is not centered by the structure of some certain natural language.” (Juri Lotman, 1987) Therefore, one can get a more satisfying result by considering cultural factors in the same time as studying the source language and rendering it to the targeted language. From this perspective, translators should not only translate the image and rhetoric devices of SL but also its national and local flavor and pay much attention to its cultural divergences. In view of the inadequacy and incomprehensive research done in the idiom translation field and the great significance of the influence of cultural factors on idiom translation, the present paper will make a comprehensive study of English and Chinese idioms in the cultural perspective. In the present paper, the author will elaborate the relationship between language, culture and idiom translation, followed by a comprehensive analysis of influence of diversified cultural factors