浅析汉语中数字七的文化含义及其英译策略Word文件下载.docx

1、由于历史、文化以及语言的不同，我们在进行英汉对译时不一定总能找到相对应的译法。本文重点探讨带数字“七”的汉语词组的译法。我们首先分析这类词组的文化含义, 然后采用奈达“功能对等”的翻译理论，进行分析、分类和总结翻译策略，从归化和异化的角度探讨合适的翻译方法。本文的探讨可帮助人们更好地克服文化差异，避免文化冲突和增强跨文化交流。【关键字】 汉语词组；数字文化；七；功能对等；归化；异化A Tentative Study on the Cultural Connotations of Number “Seven” and the Translation Strategies Abstract【ABS

2、TRACT】 Language reflects the traditions and characteristics of a national culture. Numeral is a special kind of language system, and has played an important role in the development of human civilization and in peoples daily life. The set phrases are culture-bound and frequently used by people. The s

3、et phrases containing numerals constitute the major section of the Chinese set phrases. Due to historical, cultural and linguistic differences, dynamic equivalence translations between Chinese and English are not easy to obtain. This paper focuses on the Chinese phrases involving number “seven” and

4、penetrates the cultural connotations of this kind of phrases. Guided by Nidas “dynamic equivalence” theory, we are going to analyze, categorize and conclude its translation method, and probe into the appropriate translation strategies of numeral phrases, especially the seven-involved phrases, from t

5、he perspectives of naturalization and foreignization. Through our study, we may help people to overcome cultural differences, eliminate cultural conflicts and enhance peoples inter-cultural communication.【KEYWORDS】 Chinese phrases; numeral culture; seven; dynamic equivalence; naturalization; foreign

6、ization ContentsAbstract III1. Introduction .12. A brief survey of the cultural connotations of numbers .22.1 A brief contrastive explication of some single numbers across cultures .32.1.1 Review on other numbers in cultures both home and abroad.3 2.1.2 The cultural connotations of number “seven”.52

7、.2 A review on number “seven” in Chinese idioms and phrases. .52.3 A review on the influence of number “seven” in Western country.63. Nidas translation theorydynamic equivalence and two related translation strategies.6 3.1 Dynamic equivalence.63.2 Two translation strategies: naturalization and forei

8、gnization.73.3 Different views of naturalization and foreignization. 84. Translation strategies of seven-involved Chinese phrases.84.1 Literal seven-involved Chinese Phrases.94.2 Cultural-bound seven-involved Chinese phrases.10 4.2.1 Non-figurative seven-involved terms . .10 4.2.2 Seven-involved fig

9、urative set phrases .125. Conclusion.15References.16Acknowledgements.17A Tentative Study on the Cultural Connotations of Number “Seven” and the Translation Strategies1. Introduction Language is not only a part of society, but also a kind of culture phenomenon. Both as a linguistic and cultural pheno

10、menon, it is worth studying. Any language, without exception, reflects the traditions and characteristics of a national culture, and is full of the spirit of that culture, able to represent the world view of that nation. Numeral is a special kind of language system and plays an important role in the

11、 development of human civilization and in peoples daily life. This thesis is mainly about the cultural connotations of numbers, especially the number “seven”. Guided by Nidas “dynamic equivalence” theory, this thesis discusses the appropriate translation strategies of the seven-involved phrases in C

12、hinese.There are lots of articles discussing about the cultural connotations of numbers in different cultures both home and abroad, including theses of some post graduates. Some academic journals carry articles that are about the translation methods of number-involved phrases. There are many kinds o

13、f different dictionaries that have special lexical entities of number-involved expressions. By categorizing and analyzing these materials, we can help people know the cultural differences between Chinese and English, therefore overcome cultural conflicts and improve peoples inter-cultural communicat

14、ion.This thesis focuses on studying the connotations of different numbers, with special reference to the number “seven”. Before undertaking the enterprise of discussing number “seven” and the translation methods related to seven-involved phrases, the author will present a tentative review on the Chi

15、nese seven-involved phrase. The data are from the New Century Chinese-English Dictionary edited by Hui Yu （Hui Yu 2005）. During the the data collection period, the author found that although there are many articles about numeral culture, few are devoted to the discussion of number “seven” and their

16、specific translation strategies based on different situations, let alone a comprehensive study of number seven and the proper translation methods. As a result, this thesis will aim at a thorough probe into this problem. The theory is dynamic equivalence and the concrete methods are naturalization an

17、d foreignization. 2. A Brief Survey of the Cultural Connotations of NumbersChinese and English cultures are quite different from each other, the differences are reflected in the respective languages and get expressed by means of words, phrase, sayings and so on. Thus, the two languages have become t

18、he carrier and container of the two cultures. At the same time, the two cultures are the soil that the two languages exist in. In other words, there would be no language if there were no culture. The interrelatedness of language and culture are perfectly reflected in Nidas words: .The meaning of ver

19、bal symbols on any and every level depends on the culture of the language community. Language is a part of culture, and in fact it is the most complex set of habits that any culture exhibits. Language reflects the culture, provides access to the culture, and in many respects constitutes a model of c

20、ulture （qtd. Ma Huijun, 75）.However, whatever kind of culture it may be, once it begins to come into existence, it must be spread, exchanged, continued and developed.Numbers, as we usually know, could also be viewed as a part of language and are frequently applied in the scientific field with its na

21、ture of exactness. Nowadays numbers are used by the whole humanity, so that culture of numbers has come into being. As far as Chinese culture is concerned, it bears the similarity to the world culture, but Chinese culture attaches importance to the wide use of cultural elements. Number seven is such

22、 a cultural element. It is rooted in ancient Chinese culture and has accumulated abundant connotation in the development of Chinese culture.In terms of application, numeral culture is found in many fields: politics, economy, history, geography, astronomy, marriage, religion, etc. Why are numbers so

23、widely used? Since numbers are endowed with different kinds of mysterious and exotic meanings, and numeral set phrases used in our daily life can also convey some philosophical and cultural connotations.People in different cultural backgrounds own different views on numbers. For instance, Chinese ha

24、s more use of numbers and richer accumulation of set number phrases, idioms, proverbs and sayings. English has fewer use of number. What underlies the difference is still unknown and awaits exploration.2.1 A Brief Explication of Some Single Numbers in Different Cultures2.1.1 Review on Other Numbers

25、in Cultures Both Home and AbroadIn humans intercultural activity, all participative parties not only need to be familiar with national language and culture, but also must fully understand the language and culture of the opposite party, specially the difference between ones national culture and other

26、s culture. Only holding this opinion can one make the human communication work smoothly.（Zhou Zhipei 2003:480）（Translation of the original by the author）. In this section, the general culture related to different numbers are surveyed.The number “three” is used widely in China. “Three” is written as

27、“三” in Chinese character, in which the first line is considered to represent the sky, the middle line symbolizes human being, and the last line represents the earth（Zhao Xiang 2005:90）. In the history, human gradually recognized that time is divided into three parts: the past, the present, the futur

28、e; space has top, middle, bottom. Under such a cognition of time and space, “three” is endowed with lots of meanings in Chinese culture and also consequently widely used in various fields: the navy, the army, the air force are called “three Armed Force”（三军）; cattle, sheep and pigs are named “three d

29、omestic animals”（三牲）; Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-autumn Festival and the Spring Festival constitute “three festival”（三节） （Hui Yu 2005）. The number “three” is also respected by Western people. They hold the idea that the world consists of three elements, the earth, the oceans and the sky. The nature is constituted of three elements: animals, plants and minerals（Duan Ping 2006:208）; the Christians think there are the Father, the Son and the Holy Sp