1、A Contractive Study ofEnglish and Chinese Idioms Containing Animal Names中外动物习语的比较文学研究唐怿春(四川建筑职业技术学院, 四川 成都 610081 ) 摘要:语言是文化的载体 ,习语又是语言的精华,具有强烈的文化特色.中英文中大量习语都用动物作喻体.本文对这类动物习语的文化内涵作一比较,对一些常见的动物在习语中的解释给出了说明.并从翻译技巧的角度, 对如何处理动物习语翻译中的文化特色进行探讨.这对中英两大语言之间的沟通,对两大民族文化的融合具有重要意义.关键词:关键词 :习语 区别 文化 比较的Abstract:
2、Idioms are a rich treasure-house in both Chinese and English languages. Chinese and English idioms are colorful and vividly reflect their particular ethnic culture. Their cultural implication meanings are less the same than different. In this paper, from a cultural point of view and under the guidan
3、ce of the theories of some scientific disciplines, such as culture of language, science of intercultural interaction, lexicology, it aims at analyzing Chinese and English idioms, whose major object is to compare that the words in Chinese and English idioms are the same on the surface but different i
4、n meaning, and that different Chinese and English idioms expressions show the same or similar meaning, reveal the ethnic cultural characteristic that the idioms embody, and set conflicting relevance between the language culture differences. So it can make people understand cultural connotations of C
5、hine and English idioms more accurately and more deeply for better intercultural interaction.Key Words: idioms different culture comparative A Contractive Study of English and Chinese Idioms Containing Animal Names 1. Introductions It is known that, in the English and Chinese languages (E/C), idioms
6、 are widely used. They are passed from generation to generation without changing, even some idioms are grammatically wrong. Idioms are the essences of languages, reflecting the native cultures. Many people cant properly understand the meaning of a phrase or sentence without a new word in it just bec
7、ause they know little about cultural differences between E/C idioms. In this paper, the author will discuss their cultural discrepancies in living environment, custom, religion believes, historical allusions and some useful approaches to translating E/C idioms. The author of this paper will discuss
8、four approaches to translating the E/C idioms. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the translator need to take cultural background of idioms into consideration to choose the best approaches to do translations.Idioms in both English and Chinese are very rich and they are essent
9、ially national in character, that is to say, their components are mostly native elements. English and Chinese idioms possess their own national culture. As different nations possess different cultures, it may difficult to do a good job in translation. However, if one has enough background knowledge
10、of the idioms, it may help one to do a good translation. The English-speaking and Chinese-speaking people possess different cultures. They live in different geography environment, hold different religious believes, have different customs. Those elements make the translation a hard work. To solve the
11、 problem, translators can choose proper approaches to smooth the road to doing a good translation. The approaches available are literal translation, free translation, literal translation with explanation and notes and equivalent with borrowing.2. Culrturally Different IdiomsCulrture differences Idio
12、ms, reflecting culture and society, are an important part of language. Great works and speeches are full of idioms, which will add colour to them and interest the readers or listeners. But the improper use or overuse makes the language sounds unnatural and effected. Idioms were created a long time a
13、go, unchanged. They are the essence of languages. The correct use of idiomatic English is one main aim of non-native learners, because leaning and using idioms is the best way to master a language. It will help people to improve their English very quickly.Culture as defined by Nida is “the totality
14、of beliefs and practice of society, permeate every corner of the society, and in turn the different culture may conflict everywhere in the form of concept, language, and behavior. When one doing translation, whether one could do a good job depends mainly whether one could master two cultures.” Learn
15、ing a language is a kind learning of culture and habit of the country where the language is spoken.Culture and language is closely related and actually can not be separated. As a result, the relation between them exerts great influence on translation. “Different culture may conflict each other, so a
16、 literal translation is not always the closest to the original meaning.” As merry/ happy/ lovely as cricket is to show a happy mood in English ,but if we translate it in Chinese快乐如蟋蟀, it will perplex the Chinese people ,cricket is a symbol of grief, desolations, and worries reflected in the poem as
17、时光易逝 ，岁暮将至 蟋蟀在堂，岁亟其末 Ancient Chinese people considered that the cricket lived on the top of the tree and drank dew, living a noble and hermetic life, as in the poem, 居高声自远，非是籍秋风。People who were depressed and dismayed conveyed their feel with cricket, as the poem露多飞难进，风多响易沉 It should be translated in
18、to 快乐如麻雀/神仙 Another example,动如脱兔,can we translate it into as quick as a hare ? In the Englishspeaking countries, hare is the image of timidness, while mouse condemned by the Chinese people is the image of quickness. So it should translated into as quick as a mouse. In Chinese we say 胆小如鼠，but we cant
19、 literally translate it into English as timid as a mouse ,since mouse is considered as a smart and nimble animal according to which the cartoon Micky Mouse is made .We can translate it into as timid as a hare. Culture differences add difficult to translating. To do good translating, one need to mast
20、er the culture of the foreign countries. Without mastering that, non-native learners may find it hard to understand the idioms, not to mention doing a good translation. Main effects on idioms are resulted from the cultural differences between English and Chinese.Because of differences in history and
21、 culture, words and expressions have their own associative meanings in different languages. In Chinese, we use 锦囊妙计 to indicate that one have a good solution to a difficult problem and dispel danger .In Englishspeaking countries, people use have an ace on ones sleeves. In the three countries, the Pr
22、ime Minister, named Kongmin, used a silk wetted bag to contain a piece of good idea to solve a complicated problem. The playing cards are introduced to China, and there are not many idioms about the playing cards.However, the English language have many idioms about cards, such as an ace in the hole(
23、出奇制胜的王牌) be on the cards(可能的时) play ones card right(正确利用机会) play ones trump card(打出王牌) show ones cards (摊牌) stack the cards (暗中作弊) call sbs bluff (不怕某人的威胁) For the last idioms, the readers may find it hard to under stand, since there are not the words card. The fact is that the last idiom expresses
24、a kind of action happening in the process of playing cards. For “call sbs bluff”, it describes that when one player challenge another to change his guess about the cards, the challenged face the challenges and insist the player to show his cards .If the readers have some knowledge about the card pla
25、ying in the west countries, it will be not very hard for them to understand the meaning of the idioms. If the differences in history and culture are neglected, a ridiculous and miserable translation may appear. The problem of rending one idiom into another is always complex. The culture differences
26、reflected by Chinese and English idioms are shown as below:2.1. Differences in Living Environment The emergence of idioms is closely related to peoples life and labor. For example, the British people live along the coast line and their livelihood is dependent on the coast, so they get a close relati
27、onship with sea and have many idioms about sea and water. While the Chinese people often work on the land and got a history of agriculture producing.Here is some comparasons of animal idioms in the following. In Chinese, 树倒猕猢散 is to describe when the influential person falls from power, his hangers-
28、on disperse. The English equivalent is All the rats desert the sinking shipThere are more fish in the sea.(好的人和事物有很多)A fish out of water (离开水的鱼，因环境不熟习而感到不舒服或尴尬的人)have other fish to fry(有别的事要干).drink like a fish（豪饮）Neither fish, flesh or good red nerring(不伦不类)an old/a queer fish(古怪之人 )a cold fish（冷若冰
29、霜之人）From the above-mentioned idioms, it can be concluded that “fish, ship, sail, water, oar, sea” are words which describe the coastline living environment, while “地、 土、 草 、树”appearing in the Chinese idioms exemplify the land living environment. When the translators doing translation, they should ta
30、ke peoples living environments into consideration, for people in different living environments shows different favors in the use of words. In order to do good translation, translators should have an eye on the use of the words in the idioms.2.2 Differences in CustomFrom Chinese and English idioms, w
31、e can see peoples different attitudes towards animals. In the west dogs are companion of their masters. They hunt with their masters. They watch home for their masters. They can live in the hotels set up for themselves when in a journey with their masters, living a luxurious live. In English, there
32、are idioms about dogs, such as “ lucky dog” (幸运儿) “ a dog like affection” (忠实的爱) “gay dog”(快乐的人) “every dog has his day” (凡人皆 有得意时) “dog doesnt eat dog”（同类不相残） All the abovementioned idioms about dogs has commentary meanings. But in China, dog is an image to be condemned. In Chinese, we say “狗仗人势” “
33、 狗尾续貂”“摇尾乞怜”狗急跳墙” “狗眼看人低” All the abovementioned idioms in Chinese are derogotary in meanings. Peoples different attitude about animals is also shown in the idioms about “bat”. “as blind as a bat” (瞎的跟蝙蝠一样，眼力不行) “crazy as a bat”(疯的像蝙蝠) “have the bat in the belfry”(异想天开). From the abovementioned idio
34、ms about pat in English, it is can be inferred that bat is usually associated with negative qualities in the west. Judging from its physical appearance, it is an small, blackish creature. Westerners considered it as an ugly, sinister, bloodsucking creature. It stirs the emotion of fright and revulsi
35、on. However, to Chinese people, bat is a symbol of fortune and wellbeing-all are positive qualities. The reason for such association is probably because the creature is pronounced the same as “福” Thus the popularity of the traditional design that shows the bat and the deer together.蝠鹿,pronounced the
36、 same as 福 禄good fortune, happiness, and positions. 2.3Difference in Religious Believes.Buddhism has great influence on Chinese customs and thinking. Buddha is powerful, in charge of moral human beings, cultivating human, such as “放下屠刀，立地成佛” “佛法无边，普渡众生” “平时不烧香 ，急时抱佛脚 ”. English idioms reflect the in
37、fluence of Christianity. For example：“god help those who help themselves” （上帝帮助自助的人） “put the fear of God into sb”(使某人非常害怕) “in the lap of the Gods”（难以预料）From the abovementioned animal idioms both in English and Chinese, the reader can infer that God is powerful in Christianity, and that Buddha is m
38、ighty in Buddhism. The Chinese people adore the Buddha, while the westerners should their respect to the God.In Chinese we have the expression,望子成龙 and if we translate it into English literally, to expect ones son to be a dragon, English readers will find it hard to understand. In the west, dragon i
39、s considered as a furious animal, which can expel fire. But in china, 龙is regard as sacredness, loftiness, and even of national spirit. It is a mysterious creature and can exhale fire. It is also associated with power since the emperors in China associated themselves with the image of dragon. So望子成龙
40、expresses that ones parents expect one to be successful in the future, and to be somebody in their future.2.4Differnces in Historical AllusionLanguage carries culture in a comprehensive way. In terms of functions, language manifests mostly the nonmaterial features of culture. It carries abundant inf
41、ormation about cultural information. Idioms, being an organtic part of a language, serve the best in doing so. Idioms generally generate from historical events and present a vivid picture and society. 2.5Differences in ThinkingMost Chinese characters are abstracted from concrete subjects, so the Chi
42、nese people are inclined to express concrete things with imaginations. The ancient Chinese people thought that human and the nature were harmonious with each other. For a whole, people could not express it with concept but only to feel it. The Chinese people are good at images. They are in a habit o
43、f express abstract perception with imaginations.The westerners are restricted by their very formalized languages, and they are good at logical thinking and like to express a concrete thing in an abstract concept. The implied meaning of that Chinese idiom is As you sow, so as you reap.下马观花dismount to
44、 view the flowers It describe an vivid action .In English, most idioms are of general image, instead of specific images, expressing an general idea. Nothing venture, nothing gained. But Chinese people use 不入虎穴，焉得虎子How can you catch the tigers cub without entering the tigers lair to express the abstr
45、act meaning-Nothing venture, nothing gained.For example:浑水摸鱼to fish in troubled waters披着羊皮的狠a wolf in sheeps clothing老鼠过街，人人喊打A rat crossing the street is chased by all好马不失蹄A good horse never stumbles拿人当猴耍(to make a monkey out of somebody)2.6Differences in Customs and CultureThe difference in custom
46、s is one of the most important aspects in cultural differences between English and Chinese idioms. It centrally embodies the different figurative meanings of the same kind of animals between the two languages, among which dogs and horses are exceptionally noteworthy. Many languages in the world equa
47、te people with animals, based on certain characteristics. For example, the English people can speak of a person as being foxy, or a bear, or a skunk, who can be commendatory or derogatory. Take dog for example: the English speakers usually have very high opinions of dogs. Dogs in English are often u
48、sed to describe people in a complimentary sense or at least in a neutral sense, such as He is a lucky dog; Every dog has its day;Love me, love my dog; and help a lame dog over a stile, etc. The modem English writer Noel Coward once wrote, Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.Although men
49、 and dogs were mentioned in the same breath, yet English readers would not take offence at this, for in the eye of the English people, dog is, in most cases, a symbol of nobleness and loyalty. On the contrary, the Chinese usually despise such an animal, so dog is often associated with derogatory sense, meaning base or mean, dirty,disgusting, indecency, negation in Chinese idioms, for example:猪狗不如 ;鸡鸣狗盗之徒;狼心狗肺.Other common dog idioms are:人模狗样;声色犬马:兔死狗烹;鸡飞狗跳; 狐群狗党:嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗，;etc. Of course, just as the English proverb goes: Every med
