学年论文.docx

1、学年论文学号：020901160淮阴师范学院学年论文奈达等值理论视角下英语习语的翻译学院名称：外国语学院 系科（专业）：英语 年级班级：09级（5）班 姓 名：王盈 指 导 老 师：梁志敏 2012年月10日English Idioms Translation from the perspective ofNidas equivalence TheoryAbstract This Thesis is based on the study of many current translation theories especially Nidas Equivalence Theory and th

2、e comprehension of English Idiom translation. Language exchange plays a very vital role in different culture, in the meantime, language is a way to transmit and reflect culture. Idiom is the essence of language. In the aspect of reflecting cultural features, idiom is more typical and vivid than any

3、other language components. Idioms have been described as the crystallization of language, without idioms our languages would be dull and sterile. Therefore, how to translate English idiom properly between different languages seems very important in language exchange, which load the different culture

4、 of different countries. In the current times, with the expansion of economic development and globalization, it is necessary to grasp translation theories to understand the meaning of idioms.Keywords: English idiom translation; cultural difference; equivalence theory；cultural competitiveness摘要 本文主要基

5、于奈达的等值理论去理解英语习语的汉译。语言交流在不同文化中起到相当大的作用，同时语言也是传达和反映文化的一种途径。习语是语言的精髓。从反映文化特点的角度来看，习语比其他任何语言成分都要典型和形象。习语曾被描述成语言的结晶，没有习语的存在，语言就会变得枯燥无味！因此，如何准确地翻译英语习语在语言交流中显得尤为重要，语言交流承载着不同国家的不同文化。在当今这个时代，文化竞争力在综合国力中发挥越来越大的作用，掌握一些翻译理论对于理解习语的意思很有必要。关键词：英语习语的翻译；文化差异；等值理论；文化竞争力；1. Introduction2. Literature Review2.1Current R

6、esearches on English Idiom Translation2.2 Current Researches on Nidas Equivalence TheoryFrom the early 1960s to the 1980s, Nidas Equivalence Theory is the core of western translation theories. It has a great impact on western translation theorists and enjoys great popularity both in Germany and in U

7、nited States (Ma Huijuan 58).Although Nidas translation theory was very popular before1980s, many western translation scholars started to criticize his theory from many various perspectives, Nidas Equivalence Theory was rejected by some western scholars.Bassnett cited two examples of Nida to manifes

8、t that his categories of “dynamic equivalence” and“formal equivalence”were“actually conflict with each other”and were loosely defined(Ma, Huijuan 62). Newmark disapproved of Nidas assumption that all translating was communicating, and the overriding principle of any translation was to achieve“equiva

9、lent effect”. In his opinion, equivalent effect was“the desirable result, rather than the aim of any translation”(Ma, Huijuan 63).Venuti considered Nidas“dynamic equivalence”the most typical domesticating theory and Nida was accused of carrying our cultural hegemonism(Ma, Huijuan 68).When Nidas Equi

10、valence Theory was introduced into China in1980s,it won great praise. There were some books that promoted the spread of Nidas translation theory. Nida on Translation by Tan Zaixi, a Chinese version of Toward a Science of Translating(1964) and The Theory and Practice of Translation(1969).On Translati

11、on :with Special References to Chinese and English, co-authored by Jin Di and Nida; In Search of the Principles of Equivalence Effect by Jin Di.From the late 1980s,more and more Chinese translation scholars began to deny Nidas translation theory, especially its applicablility to translating practice

12、 between Chinese and foreign languages. The debates focus on the response of readers. Another problem scholars considered is the cultural factors that Nidas Translation Theory involved(Xu Jun).Wu Yicheng, Liu Yingkai, Liu Jun, Wang, Dongfeng are the representatives who denied Nidas theory.To conclud

13、e, Chinese scholars attitudes toward Nidas Theory have changed as time goes on.3. Brief Introduction of Nidas Equivalence TheoryEugene A. Nida is a famous American translation theorist as well as a linguist. His translation theory has a great impact on translation studies in both western and China.

14、Although many scholars criticize even reject Nidas theory, his translation theory has gained tremendous popularity all over the world.3.1 Nida and His Major Theory Eugene A. Nida devoted his whole life to the study of translation and linguistics and his“science of translation”,“dynamic equivalence”,

15、“functional equivalence”make great contribution to the world translation field.3.1.1 About Eugene A. NidaEugene A. Nida was born in Oklahoma City Central South of the United States, on November 11, 1914. He was intensely interested in Christ and languages. After graduating from the University of Cal

16、ifornia in1936, he attended Camp Wycliffe, where Bible translation theory was taught. In 1937, he studied in the University of South California , where he obtain a Master Degree in New Testament Greek in 1939.In1943, Nida received his Ph.D.in Linguistics from the University of Michigan, and in the s

17、ame year, he commenced his career as a linguist in the American Bible Society. He was quickly promoted and then worked as Executive Secretary for Translations until his retirement.3.1.2 Nidas Major TheoriesThe development of Nidas translation ideas consists of three stages: the linguistic theory in

18、the early stage, the communicative translation theory and social semiotics theory in the late stage.The first stage began with his doctoral degree dissertation Essentials of English Grammar and ended with principles of Translation as Exemplified by Bible Translation in Browers Dissertation Collectio

19、n On Translation in 1959. During this period, he studied translation mainly in terms of syntax, morphology and semantic meaning. 3.2 Essence of Equivalence TheoryIn Toward a Science of Translating(1964), Nida distinguishes two kinds of equivalence: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence.An impor

20、tant concept in Nidas translation theory “dynamic equivalence ” was first put forward in Toward a Science of Translating(1864) and elaborated in The Theory and Practice of Translation(1969) in detail. Lastly, it was substituted with “functional equivalence ”.dynamic equivalence derived from “ the pr

21、inciple of equivalence effect ” postulated by Rieu and Phillips(Nida, 1964:159).In Nidas book The Theory and Practice of Translation, Nida defined translation as follow: “Translating consists in producing in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language m

22、essage, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.”(Nida,Taber,1969 12) From the definition, we can infer that the “closest” equivalence and the “natural” equivalence are the essence of Equivalence Theory. The “closest equivalence” can be seen from the respect of form. Form is an impo

23、rtant part in translation, and if it reproduced successfully, the closest equivalence between the source language and the target language will be realized. The natural equivalence can be seen from the respect of meaning and style. 3.3The contents of Equivalence Theory Liu Miqing has mentioned that N

24、idas research of equivalence was based on the translation of The Bible.He said that Nidas equivalence came from “aesthetics of reception” and emphasized on the response of receivers. 3.3.1Formal Equivalence 3.3.2Functional Equivalence4. A Brief Description of English IdiomsIdiom is the essence of la

25、nguage. It consists of plentiful social and cultural connotation. It is known to all that idioms are mainly formed by people during their daily life and experience. For example,“plough the sand”is in nature about agriculture;“neck and neck”is from horse racing;“alive and kicking”is out of fishing. 4

26、.1 Definitions of English IdiomAccording to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, idiom is “phrase or sentence whose meaning is not obvious through knowledge of the individual meaning of the constituent words but must be learnt as a whole.” Generally speaking, “idiom consists of set phrase and sh

27、ort sentences, which are peculiar to the language in question and loaded with native culture and ideas” (Zhang 162). 4.2 Characteristics of English Idiom 4.2.1 长期的实用性Idiom is a special kind of language that was formed from peoples practice and daily life. We can find that many idioms emerged from a

28、long time ago, even from the ancient time. Although they are “old”, we still use them frequently in our communication. For example, Rome was not built in a day.伟业非一日之功worth ones salt 称职God afflicts those whom He loves(彭庆华 27).English idioms are customary practice，For example,靠记忆是by heart而不是by memory

29、, because the Greeks think that the heart is not only the feelings belong to but also the place where intelligence and memory located. 4.2.2结构的固定性 The fixity of structure in English idioms means that every element of the idioms are fixed, and they cannot be separated or replaced. For example, live f

30、rom hand to mouth (勉强糊口)，而不能写成live from the hand to the mouth,或者写成live from a hand to a mouth.4.2.3 语义的整体性Idioms are usually the units of overall meaning. They are not the whole meaning of each part of the whole phrase or sentence. The overall meaning of English idioms originate from 英语习语的转义，mainly

31、refer to figurative meaning and associative meaning. For example, fly off the handle 发脾气；on the nose 准确无误。4.2.4语义的多义性The meaning of English idioms are polysemy, which depend on the context. For example, have a field day 一般指特别忙绿，或特别愉快，但在不同的语境中，意义有所差别。如：（1）When the scandal finally came out, the press

32、had a field day.在丑闻最终被揭露时，新闻媒体紧张的忙碌了一阵。（2）The children were having a field day at the beach, swimming and digging. 孩子们在海滩上玩的非常开心，又是游泳又是挖沙坑的。（3）In addressing a mass meeting, he had a field day. 他在群众大会上发言，获得了意外成功。(4) No one else liked strawberries, so we had a field day. 别的人都喜欢吃草莓，所以我们吃的很痛快。4.3 Equivalence Theory Embodied in English Idioms Translation Translation involves the transmission of cultural information, and it is beneficial for the language development. It will be very difficult for translators to translat