论数字习语翻译的文化取向.doc

论数字习语翻译的文化取向

摘要：本文旨在探讨中英数字习语及其翻译。数字不仅仅用于计算，它包含丰富的内涵，折射出中国和英语国家独特的文化。众所周知，数字习语来源于各自民族的历史事件，传说故事，宗教和生活等等方面。数字习语的含义远远超过习语中各个字词意思的简单组合，比单个数字的意思丰富得多。要正确理解及恰当的翻译数字习语，必须广泛了解两种文化。译员须分清特定语境中数字习语的字面意思，比喻意思，内涵意义，才能着手翻译。在翻译中，可运用替代，直译，意译使译文与原文尽可能的相符。

关键词：文化；数字习语；内涵；翻译

On the Cultural Aspect of Numeral Idiom Translation

Abstract

This paper is to explore both the Chinese and English numeral idioms, and to discuss the translation strategies. A number is not only used as a counting and calculation tool, but also carries profound connotations, reflecting the unique culture of both China and English-speaking countries. As is known, numeral idioms are formed on the basis of a nation’s history, economy, culture, tradition and custom. Their meanings are beyond the simple sum of each word in the idioms, and much more profound than that of a single number. To correctly comprehend and properly translate numeral idioms calls for a wide range of background knowledge concerning the culture in both source language and target language. The translator should distinguish the literal, figurative and connotative meanings of the numeral idioms in the given context before they get down to translating them. The three mainly translation strategies, substitution, literal translation, free translation, are suggested to be carefully selected to make the rendition equivalent to the original numeral idioms as much as possible.

Key words: culture; numeral idioms; connotation; translation

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Li Fangqin, both for her intellectual guidance and for her warm and constant encouragement during the process of writing this thesis. With patience and prudence, she labored through drafts of this thesis and pointed out defects in my theorizing. Therefore, I owe all the merits in this thesis, if any, to her, though I am fully aware that the thesis might still contain some mistakes, for which I bear the whole responsibility.
My cordial and sincere thanks go to all the teachers in the Department of English, whose interesting and informative courses have benefited me a lot during my college years. The profit that I gained from their profound knowledge, remarkable expertise and intellectual ingenuity will be of everlasting significance to my future life and career.
I am also very grateful to my classmates, who have given me a lot of help and courage during my stay in the University and throughout the process of writing this thesis.
Last but not the least, big thanks go to my family who have shared with me my worries, frustrations, and hopefully my ultimate happiness in eventually finishing this thesis.

Contents
中文摘要………………………………………………………………...………….i
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………..ii
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………iii
Introduction……………………………………………………………………….....1
Ⅰ. Numeral Idioms and Their Cultural Connotations………………………………2
   A. Distinctive Preference towards Numbers…………………………………….2
   B. Concept of “Idioms”………………………………………………………….3
C. Main Origin of Numeral Idioms and the Connotations………………………3
Ⅱ. Translation of Numeral Idioms…………………………………………………..7
   A. Comprehension……………………………………………………………….7
   B. Expression…………………………………………………………………….8
 1. Substitution………………………………………………………………...9
      2. Literal Translation………………………………………………………..10
      3. Free Translation…………………………………………………………..12
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..16
Notes………………………………………………………………………………...17
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………....19