The Influence of Cultural Differences in Idioms Translation

Ｔｈｅ Ｉｎｆｌｕｅｎｃｅ ｏｆ Ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ Ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｓ ｉｎ Ｉｄｉｏｍｓ Ｔｒａｎｓｌａｔｉｏ

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（贵州省兴义一中北校区 贵州 兴义562400）

Abstract:the translation of idioms in English and Chinese exists a big difference, which is affected by different cultures. According to the origin of any idiom, no matter it is Chinese idiom or English idiom, cultural background belongs to one’s country must be reflected. China and Western countries both have long histories, which fertilized their own brilliant cultures, which are influenced by their individual environment, history, religion and so on. In this paper, the author will analyze four cultural divergences resulting in differences in translating Chinese idioms and English idioms.

Key Words: idiom, culture, relationship, skill, translation

I. Geographical Environment Differences

As we all know, idioms have a strong color of nation. It’s so difficult to understand most of idioms for foreigner. For example, Britain is an island country, which does not share land border with any other countries except the Republic of Ireland. In its history, its navigation industry has ever been the first one for a long time. So, British people have a special passion for water and sea. So, there are a great number idioms about sea, such as a drop in the ocean(沧海一粟)；plain sailing(一帆风顺)；keep one’s head above water(奋力图存)；between the devil and deep sea(进退两难); feel under the water(感觉不适)；While it is fine weather mend your sail. (未雨绸缪)

However, the most part of China belongs to inland place where people cannot live without earth. This very geographical difference results in different idioms. So, many Chinese Idioms relate to agriculture or the land. Such as：“瑞雪兆丰年”, “枯木逢春”, “拔苗助长”, “顺藤摸瓜”, “瓜熟蒂落”, “斩草除根”, “解甲归田”, “捡了芝麻，丢了西瓜” and so on.

II. Conventional Differences

One nation’s custom plays an important role in shaping one country’s culture and it is formed through a long history and firmly rooted in people’s mind. Also, there is a big difference between China and Western countries. We can find it through the way of how to treat animal from the different country.

For example, Both Chinese and British people raise dog, but in Chinese people’s opinion, dog is a kind of humble animal, they don’t like dog, thus many Chinese idioms about dog have derogatory meaning. Such as：“狗腿子”, “狗眼看人低”, “狗头军师”, “狼心狗肺”, “狗急跳墙”, “丧家之犬”, “狗咬吕洞宾不识好人心”, “狗嘴里吐不出象牙来”. However, in Western people’s eyes, dog is their friend. They regard dog as one of the member of their family. They love dog, because dog means loyalty. English idioms about dog are completely differ from Chinese idioms. Such as, Love me, love my dog.（爱屋及乌）；a top dog (优胜者，左右全局的人)；a gay dog (快活人)；a sea dog (老练水手)；a water dog (水性好的人)；to help a lame dog over a stile (助人于为难); You are a lucky dog.（你真幸运）; Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.（宁为鸡头，勿为牛后）.

III. Religious Differences

Religion has been exerted the profound affection on a nation’s culture. Numerous idioms were generated from the fountain of religion. Religious culture affects much in people’s life and their beliefs. Of course, people in different countries mostly believe in different schools of religion. Some differences of idioms between Chinese and English can be traced back to the origin of religion.

The majorities of the English people believe in Christianity and regard the Bible as one of the most important classical works in their life. Different from Britain, Chinese culture evolved from Confucian School, Taoist School. Chinese people base their behavior on Taoist principles and Confucian principles in Buddhism. Some examples will be given.

For example, the idiom ‘as poor as a church mouse’ also is somewhat influenced by religion. In Christian church, there is no devoted food, which is not the same case in Chinese temples. Therefore, The mice in the church, which have no food, can be said as poor. For another instance, “一尘不染” is also a Buddhist term. Buddhist School calls sex, sound, smell, flavor, touch and rule as “六尘” and Buddhist disciples should not be affected by the above six. Now this idiom evolved to describe a person who is pure and honest or a thing which is clean and in order.

IV. Historical Allusion Difference

From people’s living experience of one country, different historical allusion have been accumulated and handed down from generation to generation. Allusion is a brief reference to a person, event, or place, or to a work of art. It refers to a famous historical or literary figure or event. We may say, allusion may connect idioms tightly.

China has a famous idiom “守株待兔”which from a story. This story comes from‘The Five Vermin’in The Works of Han Feizi. (《韩非子·五蠹》) Later generations often use the set phrase‘staying by a stump waiting for more hares to

come and dash themselves against it’ to show waiting for chance and windfalls or dreaming to reap without sowing. It is also used to show adhering to narrow experiences and not being able to be flexible.

Also, The idiom Achilles’ heel, coming from the Greek myth about Achilles, means a weak point or a vulnerable spot.

So, it is difficult to find the same meaning of idioms in different culture, and different cultures are reflected by these idioms.

References:

[1]Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Lond.: Cassell, 1953免

[2]Fernando, C, Idiom and Idiomicity, 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2000

[3]Funk, Wilfred John, Word Origins and Their Romantic Stories, New York: [s.n.], 1950免费毕业论文 lw.89518.com毕业论文 lw.89518.com

[4]王佐良.《翻译中的文化比较》,北京：外语教学与研究出版社，1984