英语典故性成语的来源与汉译

题目（英文）         Derivation and Translation of English Phrasal Literary Quotations               

题目（中文）     英语典故性成语的来源与汉译         

Abstract

Idioms are an important part of the social language and culture, is a part of the unchangeable phrase or phrases in the language vocabulary. It has the fixed structure style and parlance, indicate a certain meaning. A large part of the idioms follow down from ancient times, often devote particular care in wording, it represents a story or literary quotations. However, compared with Chinese, English has its own idioms and forming characteristics, and have their origin and derivation, with more allusions of idioms in general. Idioms appear more vivid, concise and bright in the language expression. Western culture has a long history with rich content. Most allusions of idioms originated from historical stories, fables, myths, legends, folk customs, ancient famous works, animals, names, place names, the Bible and the Greek mythology. After a long period of spread, in the process of precipitation, profound meaning, simple structure, easy application, all reflect a nation's cultural characteristics. Because of the disunity of the local language and different context, idioms change by the difference of territorial environment, but change ten thousand miles without departing from the original meaning, so the translation of idioms become more important. How to put these idioms into proper Chinese for discussing? Through understanding and learning the derivation and translation of English idioms, can we  learn the degree of English affected the world culture soon, and also learn English culture well, and use the idioms flexibly. Then we will get along very well with our article style of conversation and become an independent school!

Keywords　 Idioms  derivation  translation 

2. Contents

1. Abstract ..................................................................................................I

2. Contents .................................................................................................I

3. Introduction............................................................................................3

4. The discussion of the source of idioms and Chinese Translation .........3

4.1. from historical stories or historical events..........................................3

    4.1.1 "Sword Damocles" from a historical story in ancient Greece......................3

    4.1.2  "burn one's boats (bridges).........................................................................4

4.2. from the fable.....................................................................................4

    4.2.1 "kill the goose to get the eggs", which comes from the Greek fable............4

    4.2.2 "Viper and File" from "Aesop's Fables".......................................................4

4.3. from the fairy tale...............................................................................4

    4.3.1 "rain cats and dogs"......................................................................................4

    4.3.2 "Amalthea 's horn"........................................................................................5

4.4. legend.................................................................................................5

    4.4.1 "swan song"..................................................................................................5

    4.4.2 "Leave no stone unturned"...........................................................................5

4.5. from folk customs...............................................................................5

    4.5.1 "a bird of ill omen".......................................................................................5

4.6. from Proverbs.....................................................................................6

    4.6.1 "birds of a feather flock together".................................................................6

    4.6.2 "early bird"....................................................................................................6

4.7. from some works................................................................................6

    4.7.1 "wash one's hands of a thing".......................................................................6

    4.7.2 "as significant as the shake of Lord Burleigh 's head"..................................6

4.8. derived from animal, plant, daily necessities, names, place names...6

    4.8.1 "Shed crocodile tears".................................................................................. 6

    4.8.2 "the apple of discord"................................................................................... 7

    4.8.3 "Simon Legree".............................................................................................7

    4.8.4 "being Burke"................................................................................................7

    4.8.5 "All Dutch/Greek to me" .............................................................................7

    4.8.6 "Have the free-simple of May Fair" .............................................................7

    4.8.7 "Life is but an empty dream" .......................................................................7

    4.8.8 "Jack of all trades" .......................................................................................7

5. conclusion...............................................................................................................8

References...................................................................................................................9