On the Translation of English Idioms

Abstract

This paper mainly discusses the translation of English idioms into Chinese. English idioms are the reflection of English culture that the nation has accumulated through thousands of years. Therefore translation of English idioms should be faithful to their cultural information. This paper presents some basic methods of such translation， which makes up a major part of the paper. Some suggestions for better translation are also put forward in the last part.

Key words: culture , idiom, idioms translation methods 

Content

Ⅰ、 Introduction……………………………………………………….…...….5

(一)Purpose and Significance of the Research........……………………….5

(二)Research Methods................................................………………………5

Ⅱ、Characteristics of English Idioms…...............................................………6

Ⅲ、Translation strategies of English Idioms....................……………….…...7

（一）Current Problems in Translating English Idioms………………..7

3.1.1 A Word-for-Word or Rigid Translation………………………...7

3.1.2 Chinglish…………………………………………….…………7

3.1.3 Farfetchedness…………………………………………………7

（二）Principle of English Idioms................………………………………8

         3.2.1 Structural Stability………………………………………….......8

3.2.2 Conventionality………………………………………………...8

（三）English Idioms and their Translation Strategies……….……….....9

3.3.1 Literal Translation………………………………………………10

3.3.2 Free Translation………………………………………………...10

3.3.3 Excelsior………………………………………………………..11

IV、Conclusion………………………………………………………………....11

V、References…………………………………………………………….....…12