English Translation of Chinese Four Character Expressions
Abstract
The English translation of Chinese four character expressions is becoming a hot topic in the translation field. More and more people are fond of using Chinese four character expressions because of their visual, vivid，simple features，and they are customarily characterized by four words, various structures, different sources and two implications with surface and depth. So in the course of translation, we should not take each phrase too literally but understand precisely, deeply and wholly its literal sense and extended sense.
Firstly, this thesis starts from the definition, feature and source of the Chinese four character expressions, and analyzes some attentions should be paid when translating. Then it mentions that Chinese four character expressions are special lexical phenomenons which are formed by the people’s long time use of them. By the development of language, there exists obvious cultural differences between English and Chinese phrases, and the differences cover many aspects and levels. There exists a disagreement between alienation and adaptation to deal with the culture translation. They will exist together forever. Finally this thesis refers to that it is a study of the translation methods of Chinese four character expressions into English by skills of literal translation, liberal translation, combination of literal and liberal translation, borrowing and explanation. This paper’s aim is to translate the Chinese cultural treasure—Chinese four character expressions into English and make them developed.
Key Words: Chinese four character expressions; cultural differences; alienation; adaptation; literal translation; liberal translation
摘 要
中國4字成語以其形象、生動、精闢的特點，越來越愛到各國人民的喜愛，成語的翻譯已經成爲翻譯工作中的1個重要課題。4字成語爲習用的固定詞組，由4個字組成，組織多樣，來源不1,且多具有表層與深層兩層含義。因此，中國4字成語的翻譯比較複雜。在翻譯時，應確切、深刻、完整地理解每1個成語的本意和引申意，不能只從字面上來望文生義。
本文將先從中國4字成語的定義、特點、起源入手，這樣對其有1個整體上的把握，並分析了在英譯時應注意的.幾點。接着提到因爲成語是人們長期使用所形成的1種特殊的詞彙現象，語言的發展使英漢成語的文化涵義具有明顯的差異，這些差異是多方面的、多層次的。翻譯中的文化因素1直存在着“異化”和“歸化”之爭。透過分析得出異化與歸化將永遠並存。最後提到文章旨在透過直譯、意譯、直譯與意譯相結合、借用、註釋等方法來探討4字成語的英譯技巧。掌握了基本的翻譯技巧有肋於我們發揚傳播中國文化瑰寶—4字成語。
關鍵詞:中國4字成語、文化差異、異化、歸化、直譯、意譯