文档库 最新最全的文档下载
当前位置:文档库 › 英汉习语互译的文化策略:归化与异化

英汉习语互译的文化策略:归化与异化

1Introduction

The thesis is a tentative study of C-E/E-C idiom translation from cultural respective. It aims at ascertaining whether domestication or foreignization should be the dominant strategy in idiom translation as far as cultural transmission is concerned. The thesis includes two chapters and a conclusion. Chapter one mainly discusses the theory of domestication or foreignization, the discussion centers around the theoretic bases of the two theories and the debates over them. The application of domestication and foreignization in C-E/E-C idiom translation elaborated in chapter two. The thesis arrived at the conclusion that C-E/E-C idiom should serve the cross-cultural communication between the two countries. Chapter two discusses the application of foreignization and domestication.

2 Cultural Strategies for Translation: Foreignization and

Domestication

There are two fundamental strategies: domestication and foreignization in dealing with cultural factors in translation

2. 1 Definition of Domestication and Foreignization

The two terms were first introduced by Laurance Venuit in his book the translator?s invisibility: A History of Translation ,on the basis of his theory ,Mark Schuttleworth and Moira Cowie define the term of domestication as : A term used by Venuit to describe the translation strategy in which a transparent ,fluent style is adopted in order to minimize the strangeness of foreign text of TL readers…it is identified with a policy common in dominant cultures which are aggressively monolingual, unreceptive to the foreign and which he describes as …being accustomed to fluent translations that invisibly inscribe foreign text with target language values and provide readers with narcissistic experience of recognizing their own culture in a cultural other

(Schuttleworth&Cowie ,2004:43-44)

Venuit regards foreignizing translation as a challenge towards the domestication and the

function is to register the linguistic and cultural difference of the foreign text, sending the reader abroad (2004:20)

2. 2 The principles of domestication and foreignization

Nida and other advocates have their principles of domestication as follows: The first is a good translation should conquer the barriers of languages and cultures, the second is the translator should narrow the cultural gaps to facilitate better understanding, the third is that it is easier for readers to understand the translation if the content and form fall within their ability of comprehension. The principles of foreignization have these principles: (1) we should introduce foreign cultures to the readers (2) Cultural communication and transmission should be regarded as the main aims of translation

2. 3 Debate over the two strategies

Nida is t he representative of domesticating translation. “ A translation of dynamic equivalence aims at complete naturalness of expression ,” stated Nida ,”and tries to relate the receptor to modes of behavior relevant within the context of his own cultures ” Venu it is the representative of foreignization . He thought that we should admit the linguistic and cultural discrepancies between languages and to keep these discrepancies in translation by retaining the cultural images. Disregarding them will result in “culture loss” and keep the TL readers in the dark . Here we take the translation of Chinese idiom “雨后春笋” for example , Nida argues that it should be rendered as “to grow like mushrooms ” instead of “to grow like bamboo shoots ” if translated as the latter ,it can not arouse the same response among Chinese and English readers because bamboo shoots do not grow in Britain . Then he points out that the English idiom and Chinese idiom are functionally equivalent in that they share the same communicative information of “news things appear in great numbers” . While Venuti refutes Nida?s cultural adaptation and regarded it as “cultural imperialism”, He points out that domesticating translation not only hides the translators? efforts but also make translators invisible to the readers; and it also veils the cultural differences between the Chinese and the English. Venuit also points out the more the translator becomes

“invisible” ,the more covert is the fact of the insidious domestication ,and the more liable are the readers to be beclouded (Venuit ,2004:16-17)

Different from Nida?s ” equivalence translation ” .Venuit advocates “resistant translation ”.In China, the debates over free and literal translation can be seen as the preliminary form of today?s debate on domestication and foreignization. Therefore , it is not overstated that the debates over domestication and foreignization have never stopped .However , as mentioned above , domestication is the dominant translation method from the 1870s to 1970s . Translators like YanFu(严复) ,Linshu(林纾)MaoDun(矛盾),Fulei(傅雷),Qian zhongshu(钱钟书) are some of the advocators . Lu Xun attached more importance to faithfulness than to fluency when these two aspects conflicted .Influenced by LuXun and Quqiubai, quite a few translators began to adopt the method of foreignization in translation after the May 4 movement. On the one hand, they borrowed a great number of western words and expressions. On the other hand , they also introduced into Chinese some Western languages structures, which enriched the Chinese language to a large extent.

From the 1980s, foreignization began to play an important role in the field of translation in China and this trend has extended till present days .Some scholars have predicted that foreignization will be the dominant translation strategies in the 21st century.

3 Application of Domestication and Foreignization in Idiom

Translation

From the cultural perspective, English and Chinese idioms can be divided into three categories .Their peculiar ways of expressing culture fascinate the foreign readers, it is important to convey the exotic flavors of the source language culture to the target receptors in idiom translation. Foreignization, entitled to incomparable edges in cultural communication, serves better in transferring the alien culture. Therefore, it is necessary to give priority to foreignization than to domestication in idiom translation. To be specific, this necessity stems from the faithfulness of translation, the purpose of translation and the reader acceptance. Faithfulness here means not only to the communicative information but also to the specific style of the original. Foreignization should be used as the main strategy in C-E/E-C idiom translation ,foreignizing strategy promises a great openness to cultural

differences. Of course, Domestication is also necessary, translators are also responsible to bridge the cultural gaps resulted from the disparities between the two languages. Some idioms contain historical or literary allusions. If they are foreignized , TL readers can hardly understand, in this situation, the strategies of foreignization plus domestication will be very helpful in that it guarantees the smooth communications and contributes to the transfer of the exotic culture and the enrichment of the culture. Take another example ,the sentence “The favors of the government are like the box o f Pandora , with this important difference , that they rarely leave hope at the bottom ” the version is “政府的恩惠犹如潘多拉的盒子,后患无穷,主要不同之处是:盒底很少留有希望。” Though the basic translation strategy for the idiom is foreignization , the translator has added the explanation “后患无穷” ,which makes the version more comprehensible to Chinese readers .

Conclusion

Idioms, as the crystallization of people?s wisdom, experience and knowledge, embody the linguistic and cultural characteristics of a nation in the most concentrated way. Translation is in essence intercultural communication and its ultimate purpose is to promote communication among different cultures. Although domestication and foreignization have their respective merits and demerits, priority is given to foreignization in that it not only has incomparable advantages in cultural transfer, but also can enrich the target language. To sum up, the basic translation principle for English and Chinese idiom is: on the condition of not affecting expressiveness, foreignization should be employed wherever and be used when necessary , on the condition of dealing with idioms containing historical and literary allusions rich in cultural connotations ,a combination of both strategies should be adopted.

References

[1] John Simpson. et al. Oxford Concise Dictionary of Proverbs.Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Education Press ,1998.

[2]Samovar, L.A. et al. Communication between cultures. Peking: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2000.

[3] Baker, Mona. In other words: A Course Book On Translation. Beijing : Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2000

[4]史晓慧. 英汉习语翻译中的归化与异化[J]. 洛阳师范学院学报. 2003(01).

[5]李文和. 谈英汉习语翻译的归化与异化[J]. 开封教育学院学报. 2003(04).

[6]吴永昇. 汉语习语翻译中的归化与异化[J]. 龙岩师专学报. 2004(02).

[7]杨文伟. 英语习语汉译过程中的异化与归化[J]. 蒙自师范高等专科学校学报. 2002(01).

相关文档