Culture of Numbers and Translation 数字文化与翻译.docVIP

Culture of Numbers and Translation 数字文化与翻译 摘要：数字除了表示事物的数量或次序外，还广泛用于成语或词组中，作为夸张和比喻的修辞手段.在科学的数字世界里,它的功能是计算,毫厘分明,精确严谨,是实数;而在人类心灵的语言世界里,它的功能是表义,许多数字经过“泛化”,抒情达意,增强语势,是虚数.由于受民族心理,宗教信仰,语言崇拜等文化差异的影响,英汉语的数字泛化的内涵和外延,虽有共同的规律,但也存在着较大的差异. 关键词: 数字; 文化; 翻译 Abstract: The numbers not only indicate the quantity or order of things, but also widely used in the phrases or idioms, as hyperbole and analogy. In the scientific world, numbers’ function is to calculate precisely and clearly, they are real numbers; whereas in the language of human souls’ world, numbers’ function is to convey a certain meaning, many numbers generalized to convey ideas and feelings or enhance language potential, they are imaginary numbers. Due to the influence of national psychology, religion, language and other cultural differences worship, the connotation and extension of “generalization” in English and Chinese numbers, although there are common rules, but also great differences. Key words: Number; Culture; Translation I. Introduction Numbers are used by the whole humanity so that culture of numbers has come into being. Culture of numbers dealts with many fields: politics, economy, history, geography, astronomy, marriage, religion, etc. We know “three representatives” (三个代表); “love triangle”（三角恋）, “the nine heavens” (九重天; the Western culture:the seven heavens), etc. In daily life according to Chinese culture, people like “6” , “8” and “9” better, which are known to everyone. And in English culture, there exists culture of numbers everywhere, which deals with many fields, showing that numbers should be paid attention to, too. “seven” is a holy and mysterious number which is made up of “4” and “3” which are regarded as lucky numbers. There are many idiomatic usages with “seven” in English culture: the Seventh Heavens(七重天), the Seventh Senses(七种官能), the Seven Deadly or Capital Sins(七大罪), etc. (cf. LYL. 2003:115) II. Culture of Numbers 2.1 Chinese Culture of Numbers In Chinese culture, certain numbers are