Cultural Differences in Translating Proverbs
Abstract
As a fixed and brief short phrase or sentence, formed by long time and repeated use, proverb is a kind of phraseology, an important part of language, a main expression of language’s national form, means of rhetoric. It reflects the pith and marrow of culture. Because of the differences of natural geography environment, religious beliefs, habits and customs, fables and myth, and culture and art, English proverbs and Chinese proverbs carry on different national cultural characteristics and information. Proverbs are closely related to cultural tradition and they are inseparable. The cultural differences of proverbs cause difficulties in translation. Whether literal translation, free translation or the combination of literal translation and free translation should be used depends on concrete language environment. This thesis makes some exploration on the translation of proverbs based on the theory of pragmatics.
Key Words: proverb; origin; characteristics; cultural differences; translation methods
摘 要
諺語，是熟語的1種，是語言的重要組成部分，是語言的民族形式和各種修辭手段的集中表現，是經過長期反覆使用後自然沉積形成的形式固定，簡潔明快，喻意深刻的短語或短句。它反映了文化的`精髓。由於不同的自然地理環境、宗教信仰、風俗習慣、寓言神話以及文學藝術諸多方面的差異，英、漢諺語承載著不同的民族文化特色和不同的文化資訊。他們與文化傳統緊密相連，不可分割。諺語中的文化因素構成了翻譯中的困難。直譯、意譯或者直譯與意譯的結合，則要根據具體的語言環境來定。本文藉助語用學的觀點，對英漢諺語的翻譯做1些探索。
關鍵詞：諺語、來源、特點、文化差異、翻譯方法