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The Differences of Chinese and English Culture and Translation 1.Introduction Culture contains many aspects . Language can even reflect a distinguishing place or nation among culture .That is to say language can show this cultural deposits . The Chinese culture has extensive knowledge and is greatly different from the western countries . It's not a easy task for translator to fully display the greatness of culture of Chinese and western has the certain difference which leads to some phenomena . That the same object has different meaning in different language . Therefore , when we translate , we must accomplish right understand -ing differences between English culture and Chinese culture , or it will influence a right translation . If there is nothing wrong with the content of translation , it will give you a good feast . The cultural background of English language and Chinese language have great difference , letter is the same but some words have sense implicits . Normally , writers express their real emotion that contain the common sense implicts . So when we translate , we must pay attention to it . 2.The main performance of the differences between English and Chinese culture 2.1 Different customs The English customs and Chinese customs have many different aspects . Especially reflecting in some festivals . In China , such as the Spring Festival , Mid-autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival , in this there festivals the families can both have dinner and chat with each other . And some men that rtavel in a place far away from home or country can both think fondly of their own home and families . But in western , it seems that this kind of festivals also great difference . Chinese and British are both raise pet . But it has great contradiction that how they treat their pet . In Chinese's eyes pig is usually very dirty animal . Its use usually are estible by people when growing up . But in Britain or other western countries , people can treat pig as pet , because they think pigs are very lovely . Even sometimes when they describe someone who is very lovely , they will say him like a pig . But in Chinese people's opinion , the behavior can not be understand . However , the view appears to be turn good in recently years . With the improvement of living standard , more and more Chinese families keep pets and grow flowers at home , most of them will regard dog as their pet . For they thought that dogs can look after the home for them and dogs are faithfulness . But the status of dogs still remains low . Chinese people usually use dogs to describe somebody who is fawn on others and listen to others or they will say words like "evil associates" . "Brutal and cold blooded" . But English people look on dogs as their friends . Because they considered that dogs can make sense of personalities . In English phrases , most words referred to dogs aren't negative . For instance , if they want to express someone lucky , they will say "You are a lucky dog". And "Love me , love my dogs" is another instannce . Thus it can be seen , in English people's opinions , dogs are equal to people in status . Differencs in customs lead to huge reactions when different countries people treat the same things . So that they will translate one sentence into greatly different sentence . 2.2 Different historical backgrounds Five thousands years of historical literature of China possess dense natural character and special literature feature . The historical stories in the article can be considered as invaluable treasure in natural literature . In all ages , people of a lot of knowledge are all over the word , the historical stories must relate to them to some degree . such as "show off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban the Master Callzenter . Everyone knows what Lu Ban did ." Showing off one's proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban the Master Callzenter is showing one's bad abilities . But few of westerners can understand the meaning . Besides , these allusions of real meaning , such as "Bite the hand that feeds you" etc. these stories can't also be grasped by westerners . As a result , when we translate these allusions of history , we must translate really implicit the sense meaning among the allusions , otherwise your translation fails . 2.3 Different environment The different living environment in different countries makes the same thing may have different opinions , such as something in a kind of language culture will have abundent cultural connotation , it will give humans good imagery . However , in another language culture may seems very poor , has no significance , so the differences arising thereform . Such as cows is the symbol of industry in Chinese eyes , because the sense that the cow gives humans is in the fields of hard-working everyday , and have not any complaints . People often say such words when at work "We will have the spirit like the cows ." Undoubtely, in European countries, they must not understand it. China is a large agriculturl nation, in antiquiy, the farming is accomplished by cows, so people praise its, but they may not feel how importance of cattle for humans. Different geographical enviroment also can cause culture differences. "East wind"warm it is positive in the Han people consciousness. But the British people disagree, owing to different geography places, "east wind" in British people mind it means cold. If we have meet this condition , should pay more attention to the translation. The seafaring of England is very famous in the histoyu, so its culture cn not without the sea, but the Chinese lived in mainland , naturally can not without land. "Spend money like water ,"in English metaphor someone waste of money, just like water ,but Chinese explanation is miserly. One use water describe, another is use soil. Consequently, the dfferent geographical enviroment bring them when they explained one thing will use differentthings to describe. Only really understand these cultures back of the languages, we will be teanslate more precise.#p#分页标题#e# 2.4 Different religious beliefs China is a belief Buddhism naition.Buddhism in China has for more than one thousand years hisory, people believe that the Buddhism hold everything.We can often see, when people meet any trouble or family have an ills, they will go to the temple promose again. Visible, the image of Buddha are deeply in the minds of the Chinese people. Don not usually like cram as incense , in western eyes idioms, they might not understand, therefore may cause certain difficulty at translation, because they did not understand what the Buddha I what. And like Taoism, Nuwa, Pangu and so on, these idioms in western culture did not exist. Especiall some of China's fairy tales, foreigners could not imagine,because these concepts in their ideology has in no form. Similarly, in Europe countries most people has embrance Christainity, they think god is dominates all. Especially the words "oh, my god!". The setence is usually boasting. Even some simple modal particles, they will put god to use. Another example , when one person died, they will use this phraes "go to heaven", because they believe heaven is god has creating for the people who died , it maybe the place which can give them happy time . 3.The translation strategies under the cultural differences Translation is not merely that languages nominal conversion , it also includes cultures' mutual penetration and compatible . Mr Bi Qing hold the view that the nature of culture translation is up to the identity of knowledge , the same structure principle of semantic system , and the identical principle of the forms of human beings' thoughts . But the relativity of same structure and the blurs of languages decide the relativity of culture translation . Therefore , the translators are supposed to adopt the necessary tactics of translation , to translate the cultural information in the field of high limit . 3.1 Literal translation Literal translation refers to the part of translation not only express the conntent of original text , but also remain the form of original text , such as the analogies and the features of nationality used in the text , which makes for readers to share the same deep impression with the original text . Literal translation , however , is not in a mechanical way or translated resolutely . For example : " In some automated plants , electronic computers control the entire production line ." Translate into the literal translation . So we can make a conclusion from this : people can get the same conclusion when they observe same natural phenomenons and objects , then conclusion were expressed out by the language . Like this kind of information , is understood with ease through literal translation . Under the prerequisite of retaining the image of original idoms . Literal translation also express the original meaning precisely . Western idoms are blended into Chinese , which not only enrich Chinese , but also can have a good knowledge of its particular idoms . Thus , althrough there is certain difference between English culture and Chinese culture . People's thought still have a lot of common grounds , to some extent , reaching the phenomenon of being passable together . There are also a few similar idoms in English and Chinese speak , this is because sometimes people may have the same deep expression when dealing with problems . Then , the literal meaning , image meaning , and indistinct meaning of this idoms will have something in common with each other , making the final expression information the same . Then , they can translate each other right now . For example : Strike while the iron is hot . This is a good example . Like this kind of translation , not only keep the original meaning of the text , style , and the features of nationality , but also make a better understanding to readers . It is a good method not to lose . 3.2 Free translation Free translation refers not to stand upon the form of expression , images , features of nationality of original text , and the translation is is used to pass on out the meaning of the original text , it including sentence structure , the use of sending a word and method of rhetoric . However , free translation doesn't mean to delete the content of original text at will , or embellishment . The translator must make a penetration to study the original text thoroughly . Making a comprehensive study and a thorough mastery to catch the important points , which plays a rucial function . Sometimes analogies in the original text can not be accepted by readers . If necessary , another analogy should be exchanged to express the original meaning . This is also a form of a expression of free translation . For example :" Little fish does not eat big fish ." In free translation . way to translate . Of course , some idoms can not reverse their original meaning because of the influence of cultural factors . In this circumstances , we'd better replace another object that people are familiar with for the original object in the text . For instance , when someone looks very anxious , we can say that he is anxious as the ant on the hot pot , which is will known to all in Chinese . But if we translate this sentence according to the meaning of its literal , people of Europe and America district may have great difficulty to understand . So that we can substiute a cat for an ant in translate . Translate into : " A cat on hot bricks " . Compared with the ant on the cooking-pot , the meaning that they want to express is the same , just has different objects , which makes for better understanding for readers . #p#分页标题#e# 3.3 Interpretable translation Translation is to say that , under many situations , the part of speech needs to be changed ,the concept needs the conversation . Only in this way can it make the translation more smooth and natural . For example : " The economic indexes showed the 20-year or so reform has been a success ." The "success" in the original sentence is a noun , but it turns into an adjective after being translated . This kind of translation makes the meaning to be expressed more visualize and clear-cut . 3.4 Amplification It means to make the translation expression more complete , and more understandable , appropriate to supplement the connotative , or the missing words or information . Using this method is the premise of : First , although the original has not expression , but has implicit in it , it can be deduced from the text to supplement the content , and if not to supplement , it will be appear imcomplete . Second , although the text has no implied , but the hidden text messages to supplement and interpretation , such no supplements and interpretation , readers will occur in the understanding of the difficulties ,and even misunderstanding . Everyone read his own culture may not be very tricky , but if the change of his family , that is a different matter . "Two heads are better than one" this proverb means everyone understand but westerners may not , because they are not familiar with the history of China . Then we shall be translated into English of Zhu Geliang's introduced . It can translate to "There cobblers with theur wits combined surpass Zhu Geliang , the master mind ." So that readers to understand the meaning of the more thoroughly . 3.5 Omission translation Omission translation is refers to the original text of some words or information need not shown , so use this way . Some of the original Chinese content reflects the unique Chinese culture , if adlitteram word in the English translation , can make readers feel oneself is watching without words , even misunderstand the true meaning , then can adopt omission . Such as "Reading make a full man ; conference a ready man ; writing an exact man ." It is easy to see that has leave out two "makes" . This sentence translation of simplicity . Chinese like to use some of the more empty words meaning to spin sentence to ease tone , translatiion can save the content repetition or similar significance . For example , "The problem about the delay , the company will be progress to appropriate compensation of losses for your company ." We can omission the meaning of the empty in translation . "The problem about ......" , "appropriate" . "The company will compensate for the loss due to the delay of delivery ." 4.Culture differences on the impact of English translation and Chinese translation As the English and Chinese cultures have certain differences on translation , so it also caused a certain extent impact for translation . In particular , the concept , beliefs , customs , values are different in English and Chinese cultures , can not occur in the translation to avoid misunderstandings . Especially , some Chinese cultures within the implicit meaning , so that foreign translators to translate is very hard , and sometimes appears implicit in the fundamental meaning no translation out , so the translation can be called a failure .Because the implied meaning is the another really want to express meaning . China's historical figures , the forergn translator's who don't realize the Chinese culture , don't know how to translate , the story of historical figures they do not know . The same , if we don't know each other ‘s culture , will appear this phenomenon . Chinese people were like to say modest dictions , so they are usually saying one with the really meant was the opposite or there is a certain gap . Then the West meet this case , translators may deviate from the facts given in the translation . If it can be said that an interpreter of his country's cultural understanding of a more comprehensive , that he translated the set is a very high accuracy of work . 5.The impact of cultural differences on translation of the coping strategies Cultural differences are unaviodable , how can it minimize the impact on the translation strategies ? In my opinion , we should start to think about the following aspects : First , the original culture background should be fully understood . Culture and in some cases may be similar , but not exactly the same . Translator can translate similar works with the original culture as soon as possible . Second , note that implicit in the original text . Implicit is the most important ingredient , usually also the author of the most wanted to say , so the text should be repeated scrutity , to find out hidden ingredients . Third , the translator should pay attention to those largely identical but with minor differences words , and to keep a clear mind to understand the surface meaning of language similarities and differences . Forth , translators in the translation prosess must bear in mind that there are certain differences between cultures , and be sure to do before the translation to understand his country's history and culture . Fifth , as for those repeat or empty meaning words translation can be ignored in order to avoid making the translation ideographic unknown .#p#分页标题#e# 6.Conclusion The thesis studys in English-Chinese differences and translation methods . the two languages of English and Chinese come out from different cultures backgrounds , bearing different cultures . Which lead to the languages having many distinctions in expression . These differents require us to improve our sense in culture differences when we are studing and using the idioms . We should learn something about the backgrounds of foreign cultures and then according to the specific envirnment to translate the original papers' appraise or critic meanings correctly while doing translations . Especially we should pay more attention to the hidden meaning in the original works , this is called the unclear of the articles ,and this also is the writers' meaning in their heart bottom . In order to deal the differences between the two culture diaciplin and try their best to let themselves get close to the original writer's dream , motivation and idea besides have the capability to understand , to feel and to put the language into practice . While doing the translation we should make it more smoothly , and reduce your differences mostly , so that you can get more perfectly translated works . Any more , you must pay more attention to some detailed problems , so that you can express yourself to others more exactly . Then can make the communication with different countries more smoothly . Bibliography [1] GuoJianZhong. Culture and translation [M].China Outsourcing Trade Publishing Company. 2000 [2] HeYueQi cultural information transmission english-chinese translation [M].New Frontier Economic and Culture. 2007 [3] LiuRunQing. Language and culture [M].Journal of Language Teaching and Press. 1989 [4] XieJinLing. Century business English translation tutorial [M] Dalian Uuniversity Press. 2007.26-73. [5] YuJianPing cultural differences on english-chinese translation meaning and the influence of word meaning understand [M]. Chinese Translation 200.27-29 [6] 郭建中. 文化与翻译[M]. 中国委外贸易出版公司.2000 [7] 何跃奇. 英汉互译中文化信息的传递[M]. 边疆经济与文化.2007 [8] 刘润清. 语言与文化[M]. 语言教学与出版社.1989 [9] 谢金领. 世纪商务英语翻译教程[M]. 大连理工大学出版社.2007.26-72 [10] 于建平. 文化差异对英汉翻译中词义和词义理解的影响[M]. 中国翻译.2000.27-29. |
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