OnE-CTranslaionofIdioms（浅谈英语习语及其翻译）_开题报告

1.1 The Domestic Research Status of the Translation of English Idioms

English idioms have been firmly established an important part of English, because of its characteristics of incisive, vivid and lively. In both written and spoken languages, English idioms are playing a more and more important role, and the number of them is increasing. Therefore, the translation of English idioms has become a prominent issue in translation. In the meantime, many experts and scholars have done a lot of studies on English idioms from all aspects. 

Yan Fu (Qing Dynasty) points out that the basic principle of translation on English idioms is Faithfulness, Expressiveness and Elegance. After the May 4th Movement, Lu Xun also showed his prospective of this topic: “a easy solution to the translation is to preserve its original posture”. As time goes by, it comes with another point of view on the translation. 

In 1931, Chinese famous translator Qu Qiubai: “the concept of equivalence - translation should be the original intention, fully and accurately introduced to the Chinese readers, so that the concept of Chinese readers is equivalent to other language readers derived from the original concept”. It has great significance for the studying of translation skills.

It seems to be important to develop this subject. There are several reasons as follows. Firstly, the highest task of literary translation is to reproduce the artistic conception so that the target readers can enjoy the beauty like the origin. By studying English idioms, we can understand the cultural characteristics of the Western nation and further understand the close relationship between language and culture, and deepen the understanding differences between Chinese and Western cultures. In the translation of English idioms, culture is a very important influence factors, we should pay attention to the cultural factors of translation attitudes, strategies and methods. This paper analyzes the subjective and objective factors influencing the translation of English idiom strategies and expounds the application and tendency of domestication and alienation in the translation of idioms in order to deal with the cultural factors in English idioms effectively, transmission of cultural information. Based on the above research, this paper puts forward the cultural translation principles and strategies of translating idioms in culture, focusing on cultural connotations, abandoning the microcosmic level of language translation, and promoting cultural level idiom translation theory.

1.2 The International Research Status of the Translation of English Idioms

It has been a long time for foreign scholars to discuss about this subject. Alexander Fraser Tytler’s book in the 1790 “On the Principles of Translation” said: “a good translation makes the original advantages of the complete migration to another language, so that the translation of the country's people can clearly understand, just as the use of the original language of the people ,they can comprehend and feel the same.”This theory has been more than two hundred years of history. There are also from the cultural studies perspective to define the concept of translation.

The German functional school scholar Justa Holz-Manttari (1995) points out the “cross-cultural cooperation”(Intercultural cooperation) to refer to translation; German scholar Nord (2001) With “intercultural communication”(intercultural communication) to replace translation; Idioms are a unique and fixed form of expression in the use of a language. Idioms are the essence of language, they carry the cultural characteristics of a nation and cultural information. Different countries have different cultures, which are reflected in idioms mainly in four aspects, namely, environment, customs, religion, history and other aspects . Cultural differences have a great influence on the formation of idioms, while the cultural factors of idioms also have the difficulties in translation. The translator should try to explore the proper way of idiom translation, so that the translation can maintain the original features, but also clearly express the meaning. All the world’s long history of language contains a lot of idioms, Chinese and English is the case. In the era of Han, traditional habits and ways of thinking, there are significant differences, which reflected in the different idiom of the image, meaning and usage . The cultural factors in idioms bring difficulties to translation. Only through the proper translation skills and methods can we make the translation between historical and cultural background of the text, it not only maintain the characteristics of the original, but also clearly express the meaning.

Idioms are unique and fixed parts of the language, the essence of language, but also has a profound historical and cultural origin. They are simple and vivid frequently used in daily life. However, due to different cultural backgrounds, English and Chinese idioms reflect a lot of cultural differences, so it also brings difficulties to translation. The translation of idioms must have both the spirit of science and the style of art, so that the two can be integrated into one body, so that the original beauty can be reproduced. In addition, the translation of good idioms can also achieve the purpose of promoting cultural exchanges between English and Chinese. 

In conclusion, we should absorb the advantages of translation of English idioms from foreign countries, in order to promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, it will be meaningful for us to reduce cultural gap.

2.Outline

On E-C Translation of Idioms

Introduction

2. The Definition and Characteristics of English Idioms

2.1The Definition of English Idioms

2.2 The Characteristics of English Idioms

2.2 .1The Types of English Idioms

2.2.2 The Features of English Idioms 

3. Cultural Differences Reflected in Translation of English Idioms

3.1Difference in Natural Environment 

3.2Difference in the Understanding of Things

3.2.1 Different Understandings on the Numbers 

3.2.2Different Understandings on the Colors

3.2.3Different Understandings on the Animals

4. Translation Techniques of English Idioms

4.1 Literal Translation

4.2 Free Translation

4.3 Corresponding Translation

4.4 Explanation

Conclusion

3. Bibliography

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