Metaphor of culture differences
Metaphor of culture differences
Abstract:Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon but also a way of thinki
ng, which is one of the basic methods for human survival and cognition. It is roote
d in language, thought and culture. Through th
e analysis and comparison o
f the us
e and concept o
f metaphor in different countries, we find that its universality and c ommonality of the metaphor as a basic human cognitive activities. However, metap hor in different languages reflects a different way of thinkin
g and behavior and diffe rent cultural patterns. Owing to the different two modes of thinking and culture, ther e are some differences in understanding and formation that can not be ignored. T
h erefore, this paper will discuss the questions above.
Keywords: metaphor, cross-cultural differences, translation.
1. Introduce
Metaphor is a common phenomenon, a large number of people use metaphor to e xpress his feelings and ideas. British scientists rhetoric Richards (IARichards) once said, "We have day-to-day in almost every conversation in three sentences may be a metaphor." According to statistics, life around the use of 4,700,000 new metaph or, 2,140,000 stereotypes of metaphor. Research in recent years, there is a great metaphor. This article introduced in the definition of metaphor on the basis of sum ming up the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western metaphor, a nd that its culture, precisely because of the prevalence of metaphor, how to transla te metaphor has become a very important issue in the latter part of the article is a imed at The translation of metaphor put forward a translation of the three strategie s. This paper studies aimed at trying to comparative analysis of English and Chine se in a large number of day-to-day language of metaphor to express, find out the differences and similarities, in order to be able to accurately translate the article in good metaphor to explore a little. This article is about the metaphor from the point of view to explore the differences in the way Thinking allows us to a deeper unde rstanding of language, culture, the relationship between thinking and can more clea rly understand the different ethnic language, culture, way of thinking, and so on On
the nature of translation.
2. Metaphors in Chinese and Western studies
In 1980, Lakoff & Johnson (George Lakoff & Mark Johnson) made a "living metaph or" (Metaphors We Live By) of the book, a modern metaphor to open a new chapt er in the school. Domestic academia on the "metaphor" This is also a review of th e system, such as Lin Wu's book "Study abroad metaphor Looking at the" beam-s etting "metaphor research," Li of China and India "The main subjects Metaphor" an d so on. However, the Chinese metaphor for the academic study of rare. "Chinese scholars on the study of metaphor, I am afraid the real contribution should be thr ough the metaphor of the Chinese characteristics of research and study, through th e metaphor of the Chinese and other languages in the comparative study of metap hor, metaphor for the establishment of a more general theory of the strong, and ev en unique The basis. "Lin Wu in the book" metaphor of the basic research the stat us quo, and the focus of the trend "in the main text, put forward a model of cultur al metaphors with the relationship:" The language of metaphor is the emergence of expression into the system, which not only reflects the psychological Structure, but also reflect the different cultural models also play a role. "
2.1metaphor in the relationship between Chinese and Western cultu res
2.1.1 relationship
Correspond to (corresponding) refers to the relationship between the two languages, English and Chinese in the meaning and metaphor in the use of the same meani ng in the culture and image, and so on and-one mapping. This is because the sur vival of mankind itself, as well as all the external conditions, including the geograp hical environment, climate change, and the whole of human society and cultural ba ckground are certain there is a common, which formed a common humanity of thei r own and the outside world on many issues. In the "angry" mood, the English are angry that physiological responses, such as: grind one's teeth. (Teeth), bare one's teeth. (Ziyaliezui) an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth), reflecting the Chinese culture on the basis of common experie nce.
2.1.2 non-correspondence
English-Chinese metaphor, after all, rooted in two different languages on the soil, r esulting in very different cultural backgrounds, fully corresponds to the few metapho rs, the vast majority do not have common cultural identity in order to form the corr esponding non-(non-corresponding ) Relations. Non-relationship metaphor can be ro
ughly divided into three categories:
2.1.2.1 Vehicle counterpart, Yu Yi does not correspond to
English and Chinese in some cases there is the same as a metaphor, but in their own language and culture in the meaning of the metaphor means is different, even different. Peacock in the Chinese culture is auspicious, a symbol of beauty, especi ally the Dai people to express jumped Pavaner desire to better their own. If the C hinese people will be likened to a peacock, it means that beautiful light. However, i n English, peacock (Peacock) is a symbol of pride, often interpreted as arrogance, love to show off. For example, They were eager to take the young peacock down a peg. (They want to pressure a pressure that the arrogant young guy's momentu m).
2.1.2.2 counterpart Yu Yi, the vehicle does not correspond to
English-Chinese two nations due to their differences, from different angles to look a t things the same, it will be a different analogy. As a result both English and Chin ese language there is a different vehicle, but Yu was referring to was basically the same as the meaning of the case, that is the same kind of non-correspondence. Such as: a person described as the hearts of anxious, restless, Chinese is "ants o n the hot pan" and English is "a cat on the bricks". There are similar: To kick dow n the ladder. Guohechaiqiao.
2.1.2.3 Yu Yu Yi and do not correspond to
Some of the metaphors Yu-Yu has a meaning and it refers to the language and c ulture are closely related, in another culture often can not find corresponding Yu an d Yu Yi, which resulted in a culture known as the default Phenomenon. For examp le: in English "my rib" I am referring to Yu's wife, it comes from the "Bible" story, t hat is, Adam (Adam)'s wife Eve (Eve) God is with a piece of Adam's rib made. Th e Chinese did not, "the Bible" cultural background, and there was no analogy with rib habit, so the formation of a corresponding gap. Similarly, "ugly duckling" (Ugly Duckling) refers to the metaphor will get ahead of Little, "early bird" refers to the d iligent Yu, in the words into Chinese language, culture, as a result of the default, c an not find a corresponding relationship between metaphor .
2.2 Chinese and Western cultures in the common metaphor
Metaphor and culture to a large extent, human beings have a common understandi ng, rooted in the people's own day-to-day experience. In this connection, often bet ween different ethnic groups are the same. Both English and Chinese language in a lot of abstract thinking that the metaphorical expression is the same. For exampl e: the human child in the period to form a position on the concept of input in that direction in the form of many of them easily understood, including the position exp ressed by metaphor, which has become a fixed pattern of thinking. For example: T
he term direction (up, down) to describe people's social status, physical, emotional, and other abstract concepts to the case when the good is up; Sad is down. We Chinese are also not difficult to find a similar sentence: "Gas Prices "," enhance th e social status "and" vision "and" depressed. " Since the objective laws of nature with the relative unity of different cultures to understand the nature of the course is similar to the cognitive experience.
2.3in the metaphor of the difference between Chinese and Western cultures
As the English-Chinese geographical and cultural differences, living in two different cultures in practice there are a lot of differences, and different life experiences and let people understand the objective world, a different language carries different nat ionalities Cultural characteristics and cultural information. Understanding of metaphor is not out of socio-cultural backgrounds. For example, social and cultural impact of the color words is deep-rooted, some color words in different cultures in an entirel y different meaning, has a distinctive feature of our national culture. Such as: Engli sh, said in green "inexperienced" and "shallow knowledge", such as: "a green hand ", "I was very green when I started working there." The Chinese like to express th e meaning of the word is "yellow" Such as: "Huangmaoyatou" and "flower girl". Cul tural background knowledge is the metaphor to create a rich source of thinking, as the Eastern and Western cultures are different, metaphors in English and Chinese applications there are also significant differences.
2.4 The metaphor of the cross-cultural differences between Chinese and Western influence
Language is a cultural change in the development of the complex, subject to politic al, economic, historical, environmental and other factors. Chinese and Western style s are different, but in many ways to infiltrate interaction and integration, language d ifferences and cultural metaphor for the inevitable impact is complex and diverse. 2.4.1 metaphorical expression of cultural conflict
Different nationalities in the world to observe a different perspective and ideas, diffe rent cultures there are a lot of conflict or inconsistency metaphor. If the animal met aphors, in English Long (dragon) is a kind of evil, will belch out smoke monster. " Bible", the dragon is the devil, is a symbol of evil and terror, there is a terrible vici ous meaning. The Chinese dragon is in power, the auspicious symbol of Chinese t raditional culture, the Chinese have "Wangzichenglong", "descendants of the Dragon. " The same analogy in different cultures, different meaning, of two cultures "Dragon" to give a different connotation.
2.4.2 differences in living conditions caused by differences in metaphor
In English is a lot of metaphor and marine-related, such as: all at sea (at a loss w
hat to do); drink like a fish (drinking cow); fish in the air (Shuizhonglaoyue); give u p the ship (give up). In Chinese, there are a lot of the horse or cattle pose a met aphor, such as: "a willing ox" (a willing horse) Gan means to serve the community; "old ox" (a working horse) refers to the hard work; "bragging "(Talk horse), and s o on. This is due to different geographical location and natural environment caused by different cultural metaphor. Britain is an island, ultimately, dependent on the se a, and China is a large agricultural country, farming culture deeply feudal society. 2.4.3 different religious and cultural differences arising from the metaphor
Religious culture of human culture is an important part of it by referring to the nati on's religious beliefs, such as the formation of the sense of culture, "the Bible" in t he story, with its language and meaning has become a feature of daily life in the West in terms of . For example, power of the keys (the keys to the kingdom of he aven; the rights of the Pope), in the right church, but in the wrong pew (in general is right, but not the details), and so on. Chinese culture and Buddhism, Taoism a nd more affected by the impact of Confucianism, the Chinese, there are a lot of re lated argot. "Jiehuaxianfo"; "临时抱佛脚"; "做一天和尚撞一天钟" and so on.
It is due to the diversity of culture, resulting in the differences between English and Chinese metaphor. This difference to the cross-cultural communication has brought the impact. As a foreign language students, do not understand the difference betw een metaphor and language will make mistakes, sometimes mistakenly made good as pleasant, caused by either one or both of the conversation unpleasant; also so metimes mocked as a praise. When a native language other operators do not und erstand the language contained in the cultural differences, it is often difficult for suc h language to accurately convey the meaning of the understanding, difficulty to the cross-cultural exchange.
3. Metaphor of the three methods of translation
The translation of metaphor not only accurately and effectively convey the original l anguage, but also loyal, accessible, complete reproduction of the original language and cultural connotation and significance. But in the West because of cultural differ ences and different, so the translation of metaphor in English on the need to consi der not only its literal sense, and so on, but also in the West should pay attention to their cultural differences.
American Eugene Nida said: "Translation is the exchange between the two cultures. The real success of the translation, even more familiar with the two cultures is m ore important to master two languages. Because only in terms of its role in the cul ture In the background will only be meaningful. "Therefore, the translation of metap hor to combining Chinese and Western cultures, and cultural backgrounds to leave the translation, can not be achieved between the two languages of the real exchan
ge.
3.1 Literal Translation
The so-called "literal" is asked in the language when conditions permit, in the trans lation to maintain the original content, but also to maintain the original form, in part icular, to maintain the original metaphor, the image of the nation, and other local c olor. In the literal translation method to maintain the original expression of the cultu re and at the same time, target enriched the vocabulary and expression, such as: "a Pandora's box" (Pandora's Box); "chain reaction" (chain reaction). In the original text and asked the information contained in the same culture, we should adopt the literal translation method.
(1) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
: You are my sun, my only sunshine.
In Chinese and English, the sun is warm, beautiful, in both languages, they dissem inate information on culture are the same. As a rule, and asked in the original text in the form of grammatical structure, similar to the style or color on basically the same, the law should adopt the literal translation.
(1) He is another Shylock.
: He is also a Shylock. (Note: Shakespeare's Shylock is "The Merchant of Venice" in a very harsh mean business
People. )
(2) To carry coals to Newcastle.
: Coal to Newcastle. (Note: "Newcastle" is a British coal, coal is superfluous here.)
4. Conclusion
Metaphor as a way to figures of speech or skills, a unique feature of grammar, wh ich features make the sentence more flexible and constructive, but the United State s. Is a metaphor to express more complex ideas and things, a powerful tool. Wher ever and whenever people in their daily lives are often used metaphor. As Mr. Lin Zhuang said: "The metaphor is no longer expanding his knowledge and understandi ng of a passive process. To help us in the form of new knowledge, the metaphor has played an active role so that we can better a better understanding of the obje ctive world." In English and Chinese Metaphorical significance of the difference is d ue to cultural differences between East and West, that mode of thinking, moral val ues and sense of difference. However, different cultural impact of what is the conc ept of metaphor, it is still a need to examine and address the problem. At the sam e time, in the metaphor of the process of translation must pay special attention to
cultural differences. The best translation is to be able to accurately reflect the true meaning of the author, as well as its cultural and stylistic characteristics of the tran slation, that is, the translation of metaphor to make as much as possible the origin al language and to achieve the target language culture, and so on.