The Translation of English Idioms and Proverbs(3)
2013-07-28 01:28
导读：Proverbs of each nation have the national specific historical, economic, cultural, and daily life, customs and geographical environment and other matters. At present, many translation of English prove
Proverbs of each nation have the national specific historical, economic, cultural, and daily life, customs and geographical environment and other matters. At present, many translation of English proverb add the number of Han ethnic characteristics. Such as,
Beauty lies in love’s eyes. We always translate it into Chinese as “情人眼里出西施。”
A fool’s bolt is soon shot. We always translate it into Chinese as “黔驴技穷。”
No great loss without some small gain. We always translate it into Chinese as “塞翁失马，焉知非福。”
Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it. We always translate it into Chinese as “不要杞人忧天。”
Never offer to teach fish to swim. We always translate it into Chinese as “不要班门弄斧。”
Above these proverbs, “西施”,“塞翁”,“杞人”,“鲁班”are all persons of Chinese history and legend. When we translate these proverbs, we must understand Chinese and English are two different countries, we cannot use Chinese into English proverbs. Because of this, we can translate these proverbs into Chinese as “情人眼里出美人；蠢人易于智穷力竭；大失之中，也有小得；船到桥头自然直；不要教鱼儿游水。” Different nations include different characteristics, so to keep their personalities is very important for translation.
4. The translation of proverbs to notice the artistic characteristic
The proverb is a form of the folk literature, it is not only embodying masses' wisdom, but also demonstrates masses' artistic talent. In the process of proverb translation, we must not only faithfully express the original text of the ideological content, but also maintain the original text of the image and the analogy as far as possible, and all that some rhetoric effect, namely needs to pay attention to the maintenance the artistry of proverb.4 Here only emphatically elaborates the artistic feature of proverb. The Chinese and foreign proverb are always all concise, succinct, the structure compact even, and the rhythm exquisite is generally harmonious. Therefore when we translate proverbs, we should fully manifest these characteristics. Such as,
（科教范文网 lw.AsEac.com编辑整理） He knows the water the best who has waded through it. (要知河水深浅，须问过来人。)
Men may meet, but mountains never. (山和山无法碰头，人和人总会相聚。)
Old friends and old wine are best. (陈酒味醇，老友情深。)
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. (井干方知水可贵)
Grasp all, lose all. (样样都要，样样都失。)
Good wine needs no bush. (酒好客自来。)
All is not gold that glitters. (闪闪发光物，未必尽黄金。)
Ⅳ. Conclusion
A great number of definitions have been given to culture. Therefore, idiom is a part of culture. As such, it cannot but serve and reflect cultural needs.
To learn English well, idioms and proverbs can also give us some experiences. They can help us understand sentences more accurately, and use them to increase the appreciation of our articles. Therefore, most famous writers also like to use them in their works, such as Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Charles Lamb, etc.
In brief, the unique grammar, the rhetoric and the language characteristic of English proverbs, the bright national characteristic and its profound thought meaning cause the translation work not only to be difficult but also significant. The full understanding of English proverbs, has laid the foundation for the better understanding. Idiom is an indispensable part of English. It’s generation, form and use has long history and profound meaning, it stand for the culture inside information of English. English idioms and Chinese idioms supple each other, which have us taste its feeling and interesting. To learn English good, not only need good English basic language knowledge, but also have to have history knowledge.
Notes
1 Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham, 1953, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and
Fable, Lond.: Cassell.
2杨永和 “英语谚语的修辞特点研究”， 《重庆工学院学报》2000（3），
（科教作文网 zw.nseac.com整理）
第20页。
3黄粉保 “英汉成语翻译漫谈”，《云梦学刊》1999（2），第79页。
4陈亚光 “小议英谚语和成语的创新”， 《上海外国语学院学报》1983
（2），第35页。
