毕业论文：A Study on the English Translation of Chinese Idioms

A Study on the English Translation of Chinese Idioms

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts


Abstract
Idioms are specific and structurally fi*ed e*pressions in a certain language while being used. They are the most important way to show a nation’s culture. Being used for a long time, they are the essence of language, have many sources and different structures. Chinese enjoys a prolonged history, is a highly developed language, so it has a large number of idioms, which are the linguistic and intellectual essence of the people. They are featured with strong nation and local color; some meanings of them are obvious, while most need to be understood by the conte*t. Due to this, in translation, we not only to translate their correct meaning, but should try to keep the original structure of them. Idioms are used in our daily life, and translation is an important part for culture e*change. In particular, Chinese idioms bear five thousand years of Chinese cultural characteristics and cultural messages. Translation is not only one kind of simple correspondence switching process between two languages, but is one kind of cultural e*change and transmission. Chinese idioms, which convey cultural features and cultural information, sh
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4.9 Annotation……………………………………………………………………………………8
4.10 Rhetoric……………………………………………………………………………………8
5. Understanding idioms and translation from a cultural conte*t……………………9
5.1 Definition of culture…………………………………………………………………………9
5.2 Relationship between idioms and culture……………………………………………………9
5.3 Relationship between translation and culture………………………………………………10
6. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………12
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1. Introduction
Language is the most important communicative tool of all human beings. It plays its role as not only the carrier and form of culture but also the most vital element of transmission and inheritance of culture. Idioms are the essence of people’s wisdom. Chinese idioms range widely, usually including set phrases, proverbs, colloquialisms, slangs and two-part allegorical sayings. Nowadays, the international status of China is upgrading gradually. More and more people all over the world are interested in Chinese culture. As the essence of Chinese culture and the crystallization of the wisdom of the common Chinese people, idioms are bound to become an important part to promote the Chinese culture to the knowledge of people of all the other countries. In order to make the western peoples know Chinese culture thoroughly, the study of the English translation of Chinese idioms is quite necessary and of far-reaching significance.
This thesis falls into si* parts. The first part is introduction, which gives a brief introduction to the whole paper, including the purpose of the thesis and the framework of it. The second part is devoted to introduce features of Chinese idioms. The third part is going to describe several kinds of Chinese idioms. The fourth part is talk about translation methods of Chinese idioms. The fifth part is devoted to introduction understanding idioms and translation from a cultural conte*t. The last part is conclusion which gives summary to the main idea and the conclusion of the whole paper.













2. Features of idioms
Idioms display its differentiation from other general e*pressions or structures in its own distinctive features.
2.1 Fi*ed structure
Idiom is set phrase or accepted phrase. So the main feature is that it has fi*ed structure, which cannot be divided into small parts. Meanwhile, a complete idiom cannot be used separated in two different sentences. The word in the idiom cannot be changed at random, even though the replacement of the synonyms will make the idiom lose its original meaning. Some of the structure of the idioms violates the normal grammatical rules, but we also cannot shift them into correct grammatical forms for the reason that it has a fi*ed structure. In a word, the idioms have fi*ed structure. All above mentioned cannot be altered. What we need to do is to employ the idioms directly not to transform them into any other forms.
2.2 Abundant connotation
Meaning is the most important thing for the idiom. The abundant connotation of the idioms mainly lies in its figurative meaning. The idioms’ rich implications also depend on the fact that the words form the idioms do not mean literally or idiomatically. On most occasions, the literal meaning and idiomatical meaning of the idioms are totally unrelated. So we can simply judge its meaning by the conte*t, which could help us a lot to figure out its connotation. Moreover, through similes and metaphors, the idioms could e*press their meanings more vividly and specifically.
2.3 Distinct cultural feature
Idioms are the gorgeous treasures glittering with the light of wisdom either in English and Chinese, so the idiom is just as a mirror reflecting the distinguishing feature of a nation or culture. Chinese and English idioms are entirely different ones with respective characteristics in history, geography, culture, customs, religion and the like. As a special language phenomenon, idiom has a strong color of its own nation neither in content nor in form. Most idioms have symmetrical pattern, e*quisite syllables and harmonious rhythm. Besides, penetrating implication, vivid images and succinct wording characterize, those unique features of idioms should be retained as much as possible in translation.






3. Several kinds of Chinese Idioms
3.1 Slang
Slang is more popular spoken words, some with vulgar se*, some have dialect se*, slang not only appears in spoken English, and also appears in drama, TV, ……（未完，全文共32112字，当前仅显示5776字，请阅读下面提示信息。收藏《毕业论文：A Study on the English Translation of Chinese Idioms》）