11Translation and Culture

T T r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n & C C u u l l t t u u r r e
e L L o o s s t i i n t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n n à àL L o o s s t i i n C C u u l l t t u u r r e
e What is culture?
C C u u l l t t u u r r e i i s w w h h a a t t e e v v e e r p p e e o o p p l l e d d o m m o o n n k k e e y y s d d o o n n ’ ’t
t . T T h h e N N e e w W W o o r r l l d E E n n c c y y c c l l o o p p e e d d i i a a :
: C C u u l l t t u u r r e
e is the totality o
f the spiritual, intellectual, and artistic attitudes shared by a group, includin
g its tradition, habits, social customs, morals, laws, and social relations. Sociologically, every society, on every level, has its culture; the term has no implications of hig
h development. L L a a n n g g u u a a g g e
i i s n n o o t i i s s o o l l a a t t e e d d . n Every language belongs to a certain culture.
n It is difficult to separate language and cultural identity.
n How different peoples express what they see is determined by how they perceive and interpret and react to reality.
n The main premise of translation is to grasp the sense of a cultural message, taking into consideration its uniqueness and its relation to the environment.
L L a a n n g g u u a a g g e i i s t t h h e s s o o u u r r c c e o o f m m i i s s u u n n d d e e r r s s t t a a n n d d i i n n g g s s .
. — Antoine de Saint­Exupéry
Try to translate the following idioms:
n Love me, love my dog.
n Birds of a feather flock together.
n Longest day must have an end.
n Gild the lily
n A peacock in a turkey ’s pen
To avoid unnecessary cultural shift, great care should be taken when one tries to use similar existing sayings in the target language.
In China,
when people meet …
甲：“吃了吗？”
乙：“吃啦！”
How to translate?
A: “Have you had your meal?”
B: “Yes, I have.”
“No, I haven ’t.”
(“Do you mean to invite me to dinner?”)
In western countries …
A: “Lovely weather, isn ’t it?”
B: “Yes, isn ’t it?”
民 民以 以食 食为
为天 n n P P e e o o p p l l e r r e e g g a a r r d f f o o o o d a a s t t h h e e i i r p p r r i i m m e w w a a n n t
t ． n n F F o o o o d i i s t t h h e f f i i r r s s t n n e e c c e e s s s s i i t t y o o f m m a a n n .
. Terms relating to “吃”：
n 饭桶
n 吃不开
n 吃不了兜着走
n 吃不消
n 吃老本
n 吃软不吃硬
n 吃闲饭
n 吃香
Wu Song killed a tiger in his drunken courage …
n 武行者心中要吃，哪里听他分说，一片声喝道，‘放屁！放屁！’
Pearl S. Buck
Now Wu the priest longed much in his heart to eat, and so how could he willing to listen to the explanation? He bellowed forth, “Pass your wind, pass your wind!”
What do you think of Wu Song ’s imperative remark?
n 汉语“放屁”作骂人话时，喻指“说话没有根据或不合情理”，而英语pass one ’s wind 只是一种自
然生理现象。

n 英语读者错以为中国人的气功了得，对这一生理现象居然可以发号施令！
n 可以用英语中语用意义相当的shit ！或者What crap ！
There is a saying in Chinese: 恨铁不成钢
n to regret that it is iron but not steel
n to wish that iron could be turned into steel
fail to bring out the connotative meaning that the speaker is disappointed that someone – usually a loved one – does not do as good as has been expected
n If it was translated literally →
How Steel Is Smelted?
n People would think it is most probably a technical book.
语言学习不仅要掌握其语音、语法和词汇，还要了解其不同的文化背景和使用场景。

the Queen ’s speech 女王的演讲辞？
the Queen ’s English 女王的具体言辞？
grammar school 语法学校？
T T r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n a a n n d C C u u l l t t u u r
r e n n C C u u l l t t u u r r a a l C C o o n n n n o o t t a a t t i i o
o n I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n o o f A A n n i m m a a l T T e e r r m
m s I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n o o f C C o o l l o o r T T e e r r m
m s n n A A l l l l u u s s i i o o n a a n n d M M e e t t a a p p h h o
o r n n C C u u l l t t u u r r a a l l l y U U n n i i q q u u e T T e e r r m
m s n n T T r r a a d d e e m m a a r r k k s a a n n d A A d d v v e e r r t t i i s s e e m m e e n n t t s
s C C u u l l t t u u r r a a l C C o o n n n n o o t t a a t t i i o
o n n n I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i o o n o o f A A n n i i m m a a l T T e e r r m
m s n n I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i o o n o o f C C o o l l o o r T T e e r r m m s
s I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n o o f A A n n i i m m a a l T T e e r r m m s
s T T a a l l k k i i n n g a a b b o o u u t c c u u l l t t u u r r a a l c c o o n n n n o o t t a a t t i i o o n n s s , o o n n e w w i i l l l f f i i r r s s t t t h h i i n n k o o f i i m m a a g g e e s r r e e p p r r e e s s e e n n t t e e d b b y a a n n i i m m a a l l s s … n n 英 英汉 汉动 动物 物喻 喻体 体相 相同 同、 、喻 喻义 义相
相似 n n 英 英汉 汉动 动物 物喻 喻体 体相 相异 异、 、喻 喻义 义相
相似 n n 英 英汉 汉动 动物 物喻 喻体 体相 相同 同、 、喻 喻义 义相 相异
异
n n 英 英语 语动 动物 物词 词汇 汇的 的象 象征 征意
意义 英汉动物喻体相同、喻义相似
Sometimes Chinese and English share connotative meanings:
“狐狸”and “fox ”
CUNNING
“猴子” and “monkey ”
MISCHIEF
“狼” and “wolf ”
SAVAGENESS
WOLF
The Gospel of Matthew 7:15, New Testament, Bible
“A wolf in sheep ’s clothing ”
披着羊皮的狼
表面温顺友善，实则凶残的伪君子
WOLF ：凶猛、狡诈、贪婪
1）The life of the wolf is the death of the lamb.
1.
Wake not a sleeping wolf 2.
See a wolf 3. To lead a wolf into the house
WOLF ：心肠狠毒、忘恩负义
n He ’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a boy ’s love, or a shore ’s oath.
n It is madness for a sheep to treat peace with a wolf.
WOLF 用以指人：
A man who is always ready to make sexual advance to a woman → a wolf­whistle
“He has a face like an angel, but he’s really a terrible wolf.” 色狼
FOX ：诡诈、狡猾
n When the fox says he ’s vegetarian, it ’s time for the hen to look out.
n The fox is known by his brush.
n He is as sly as a fox. You ’ve got to watch him.
n You can never fox me.
SERPENT ：阴险、毒辣、狡诈
n Bible:
Satan searches for Eve and is delighted to find her alone. In the form of a serpent , he talks to Eve and compliments her on her beauty and godliness …
SERPENT/SNAKE
n A snake in the grass
n A snake in one’s bosom(胸怀，内心）
n Serpent eye
PIG：肮脏、贪婪、懒惰……
n He’d been a pig about money.
n Make a pig of oneself
n Pigs in clover
n Buy a pig in a poke
Other Examples:
n He doesn’t have an idea of his own. He just parrots what others say.
n As slow as a snail/at a snail’s pace
n A lion at home, a mouse abroad.
n A rat crossing the street is chased by all.
英汉动物喻体相异、喻义相似
n文化的差异导致同样的喻义在此文化中用这种喻体，在彼文化中可能使用一个完全不同的 喻体。

“百兽之王”
汉文化：虎
英语文化：狮子
LION
n Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language:“a person felt to be like a lion especially in courage, ferocity, dignity or dominance”
n Collins COBUILD English Language Dictionary: “a person or a country that is considered to be strong and powerful, and which other people respect or fear”
n英国人自豪地以狮子作为国家标志，英国国徽的中心图案是Lion,因此英国又被称为The British Lion，所以to twist the lion’s tail意为“向英国挑战”。

Lion and Unicorn（雄狮代表英格 兰，独角兽代表苏格兰）是英国王室纹章上（即英国国徽）的动物。

n英国历史上查里一世(King Richard)因其勇武善战被誉为the lion­hearted king（狮心王），史 称“狮心王里查”。

n英国著名诗人雪莱(Shelley)在一首诗中号召被压迫者像狮子醒来： “Rise like lions after slumber”
n在学术界有威风的人被称为a literary lion，有如汉语“泰斗，执牛耳”。

n汉语言中用“虎”比喻勇猛、威武，例如“虎将”、“虎劲”、“虎威”。

n老虎不仅具备西方狮子的正面形象，还有“凶狠、残忍”的反面形象，如孔子的“苛政猛于虎”。

n Beard the lion in his den
n An ass in lion’s skin
n英语民族也常用“狮子”来形容处于主宰地位的人。

Jack was married and had a lioness at home.
胆小
n汉文化：鼠（胆小如鼠）
n英语文化：兔子 (as timid as a hare)
n “兔”在汉文化中是敏捷、迅速的象征：“静如处子，动若脱兔”
n “鼠”在英语文化中是安静的象征：as quiet as a mouse
n as timid as a rabbit, chicken­livered, pigeon­hearted
勤劳，吃苦耐劳
n汉文化：牛（俯首甘为孺子牛，老黄牛）
n英语文化：马 (work like a horse 任劳任怨)
n as strong as a horse 健壮
n horse power 力大
“鹬蚌相争，渔人得利” 《战国策》
n英语：wrangle for an ass’s shadow
Demosthenes（公元4世纪古雅典雄辩家和政治家）
A traveler hired an Ass to convey him to a distant place. The day being intensely hot, and the
sun shining in its strength, the traveler stopped to rest, and sought shelter from the heat under the Shadow of the Ass. As this afforded only protection for one, and as the traveler and the owner of the Ass both claimed it, a violent dispute arose between them as to which of them had the right to the Shadow. The owner maintained that he had let the Ass only, and not his Shadow. The traveler asserted that he had, with the hire of the Ass, hired his Shadow also. The quarrel proceeded from words to blows, and while the men fought, the Ass galloped off. “In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance.”
无意义的争吵
羊
n英国牧羊业发达
To separate sheep from goats
n Sheep: 能力强，成绩突出者
n Goats: 能力弱，业绩平平者
n Black sheep (There is a ~ in every flock.) 害群之马
n长黑毛的绵羊比较少，魔鬼的标志
Could you try these ones?
n牛饮
n对牛弹琴
n落汤鸡
n狐假虎威
n蠢得像头猪
n如鱼得水
n养虎遗患
n狗改不了吃屎。

英汉动物喻体相同、喻义相异
n Although sometimes Chinese and English share connotative meanings, in many cases the same animal image may stand for different connotations.
n The most conspicuous example is 狗 and “dog”.
n In Chinese most phrases and idioms with 狗 contain derogatory senses: 走狗，癞皮狗，狗仗人 势，狼心狗肺，狗胆包天……
n In English “dog”is thought to be the most faithful friend of human beings, most phrases and idioms containing the word “dog”have neutral or commendatory implications: top dog, lucky dog, clever dog, help a lame dog over a stile, Every dog has its day…
n China Daily “China’s Watchdog Finds Fake Investors”
龙 and “Dragon”
n汉文化：“龙的传人” descendents of the dragon, “真龙天子”true sons of the dragon from heaven n《中国成语大辞典》lists 115 entries with the character 龙, most of which are of commendatory sense.
n The connotation of the word “dragon”: Sometimes a person who presents himself as kind and gentle can in private turn out to be a dragon who breathes fire.
n In many Western folk tales the dragon is a terrible vicious beast which spits fire. The prince has to kill the dragon to save the beautiful princess.
n “chase the dragon”: to smoke heroin especially when it is heated on a piece of aluminum foil and the fumes are inhaled through a tube. 服用鸦片（毒品）
n英国古诗Beowulf歌颂与凶残暴虐的恶龙搏斗而取胜的英雄史诗。

n Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet当Juliet听到表哥被Romeo杀死时，悲叹到：
O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!
啊，花一样的面庞里藏着蛇的心！
哪一条龙曾经栖息在这清雅的洞府里？
美丽的暴君！天使般的恶魔！
n A dragon lady: 以统治者身份行使权力的女人
n The Dragon/The Great Dragon/The Old Dragon: 指与上帝作对的魔鬼撒旦
n亚洲四小龙：the four tigers in Asia
n As Chinese culture is spreading all over the world and more people in the West fall fond of 舞龙 灯(dragon lantern dance) and 龙舟赛(dragon boat race), the image of 龙is being accepted as an auspicious image.
n To distinguish it from traditional Western “dragon”, some people now use the term“Chinese
dragon ”.
蝙蝠 and Bat
n 汉文化：“蝠”与“福”同音，象征吉祥、健康、幸福。

n 西方：丑陋邪恶的动物，与罪恶或黑暗势力相联系，特别是vampire bat （吸血蝙蝠）。

n As blind as a bat
n Crazy as bat
n Have bats in the belfry
孔雀 and Peacock
n 汉文化：孔雀开屏 → 美 “ 孔雀舞”
n 西方：虚荣、自傲
n As proud as a peacock
n A peacock in his pride
n Play the peacock
n He attempted to peacock his way through the world.
猫头鹰 and Owl
n 汉文化：不祥之物 “夜猫子进宅，凶事自来”
n 西方：智慧、博学的象征 as wise as an owl
n “A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more
he heard. Why can ’t we all be like that wise old bird?”
— 英国民间童谣
英语动物词汇的象征意义
n 与汉语动物象征意义相同/接近的例子
与汉语动物象征意义相异的例子
Crow
Duck
Fly
Gull
Hare
Magpie
Spider
Tortoise
I I m m p p l l i i c c a a t t i i o o n o o f C C o o l l o o r T T e e r r m m s
s W W e l l i i v v e i i n a c c o o l l o o r r f f u u l w w o o r r l d d , a a n n d w w o o r r d d s d d e e n n o o t t i i n n g c c o o l l o o r r s f f o o r p p a a r r t o o f t t h h e n n u u c c l l e e a a r v v o o c c a a b b u u l l a a r r y o o f a a l l m m o o s s t e e v v e e r r y l l a a n n g g u u a a g g e
e . n n H H o o w w e e v v e e r r , i i n E E n n g g l l i i s s h i i t i i s u u s s u u a a l l l l y c c o o n n s s i i d d e e r r e e d t t h h e e r r e a a r r e e e l l e e v v e e n b b a a s s i i c c c o o l l o o r r s s , n n a a m m e e l l y w w h h i i t t e e , b b l l a a c c k k , g g r r e e y y , b b r r o o w w n n , r r e e d d , g g r r e e e e n n , y y e e l l l l o o w w , b b l l u u e e , p p u u r r p p l l e e , o o r r a a n n g g e e , p p i i n n k
k . D D i i f f f f e e r r e e n n t l l a a n n g g u u a a g g e e s m m a a y h h a a v v e d d i f f f f e e r r e e n n t n n u u m m b b e e r o o f c c o o l l o o r t t e e r r m m s
s . B B a a s s i i c C C o o l l o o r
r s n n I I n C C h h i i n n e e s s e 赤 赤、 、橙 橙、 、黄 黄、 、绿 绿、 、青 青、 、蓝 蓝、 、紫 紫， ，t t h h e s s e e v v e e n c c o o l l o o r r s i i n t t h h e r r a a i i n n b b o o w w , a a r r e t t h h o o u u g g h h t t t o b b e t t h h e b b a a s s i i c c c o o l l o o r r s
s . n n T T h h e C C h h i i n n e e s s e 绿 绿、 青 青、 蓝 蓝 a a r r e t t h h r r e e e c c o o l o o r r s s , b b u u t t t h h e e i i r c c o o r r r r e e s s p p o o n n d d i i n n g w w o o r r d d s i i n E E n n g g l l i i s s h a a r r e o o n n l l y t t w w o o : “ “g g r r e e e e n n ” a a n n d “ “b b l l u u e e ” ”. S S o 青 青 c c a a n o o n n l l y b b e t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t e e d a a s g g r r e e e e n o o r b b l l u u e e .
.
n n 青 青菜
菜： n n 青 青椒
椒： n n 青 青山
山： n n 青 青天 天（ （蓝 蓝天 天/ /苍 苍天 天）
）： n n 青 青砖
砖： 青 青 c c a a n a a l l s s o r r e e f f e e r t t o b b l l a a c c k
k . n n 青 青布
布： n n 青 青衫
衫： n n 青 青丝
丝： 青 青出 出于 于蓝 蓝而 而胜 胜于 于蓝
蓝。

n n B B l l u u e c c o o m m e e s f f r r o o m t t h h e i i n n d d i i g g o p p l l a a n n t b b u u t i i s b b l l u u e e r t t h h a a n t t h h e p p l l a a n n t i i t t s s e e l l f
f . n n I I n n d d i i
g g o o : a c c o o l l o o r b b e e t t w w e e e e n b b l l u u e a a n n d v v i i o o l l e e t 靛 靛青 青， ，靛
靛蓝 n n a b b l l u u e d d y y e o o b b t t a a i n n e e d f f r r o o m p p l l a a n n t t s o o r m m a a d d e s s y y n n t t h h e e t t i c c a
a l l l l y C C o o l o o r t t e e r r m m s a a r r e v v e e r r y i i m m p p o o r r t t a a n n t i i n
b b o o t t h E E n n g g l l i i s s h a a n n d C C h h i i n n e e s s e l l i i t t e e r r a a t t u u r r e e . M M a a n n y b b o o o o k t t i t t l l e e s
c c o o n n t t a a i i n c c o o l l o o r t t e e r r m m s
s . n n G G r r e e e e n H H i i l l l l s o o f A A f f r r i i c c a ( (E E r r n n e e s s t H H e e m m i i n n g g w w a a y
y ) n n T T h h e S S c c a a r r l l e e t l l e e t t t t e e r ( (N N a a t t h h a a n n i i e e l H H a a w w t t h h o o r r n n e
e ) n n W W h h i i t t e F F a a n n g ( (J J a a c c k L L o o n n d d o o n
n ) T T h h e e r r e a a r r e s s o m m a a n n y v v e e r r s s e l l i i n n e e s c c o o n n t t a a i i n n i i n n g c c o o l l o o r t t e e r r m m s f f r r o o m c c l l a a s s s s i i c C C h h i i n n e e s s e p p o o e e m m s s : n n 白 白毛 毛浮 浮绿 绿水 水， ，红 红掌 掌拨 拨青 青波 波。

T T h h e w w h h i i t t e f f e e a a t t h h e e r r s f f l l o o a a t o o n t t h h e w w a a t t e e r g g r r e e e e n n , t t h h e r r e e d w w e e b b s p p u u s s h t t h h e c c r r y y s s t t a a l w w a a v v e e s w w i i t t h a s s w w i i n n g
g . n n 两 两个 个黄 黄鹂 鹂鸣 鸣翠 翠柳 柳， ，一 一行 行白 白鹭 鹭上 上青 青天 天。

T T w w o g g o o l l d d e e n o o r r i i o o l e e s s s i i n n g a a m m i i d t t h h e w w i i l l l l o o w w s g g r r e e e e n n ; A r r o o w o o f w w h h i i t t e e e g g r r e e t t s f f l l y i i n n t t o t t h h e b b l l u u e s s k k y y . 颜色词属于文化限定词，具有强烈的民族文化特征，每个民族都有自己的颜色观。

在不同的民 族文化中，同一种颜色表达不同的文化心理，引起不同的联想，具有不同的文化内涵。

Red 红色
n 红 and “red ” have quite different connotations in Chinese and English as is determined by
the two different cultures behind the two languages.
n 红 stands for jubilation in Chinese so in the past the bride usually wore red dresses (many
still do the same today). One of the extended meanings of 红stands for wealth and nobility. 朱门 and 红楼both refer to dwellings of the upper class.
n Though many people in Britain are fond of red, its association is very different in the English
mind.
n David Hawkes
n 《红楼梦》The Story of the Stone
贾宝玉 “怡红公子”Green Boy
怡红院 the House of Green Delight
悼红轩 Nostalgia Studio
Red 红色
n英语民族：流血、牺牲、殉难。

red hands（沾满血的手），red battle（血战）
n对red的恐惧感可在《圣经》中找到答案。

根据《圣经∙福音书》的记载，耶稣在受难前与十 二门徒共进“最后的晚餐”。

进餐时，耶稣拿起杯来说“你们都喝这个，这是我立约的血，为 多人流出来，使罪得赦”。

之后，耶稣甘愿被钉在十字架上，流血牺牲，用自己的生命作赎 价以救赎世人。

n英语中大写Red意指“左翼政治主张”、“共产主义者”。

n Red­hunter 迫害共产主义者或进步分子的人
n Get red “赤化”
n red 也成为“政治上激进”的代名词
Reds under the beds
n指“认为共产党就隐藏在公众之中，并对国家造成威胁”的无端猜疑。

n Senator Joseph MaCarthy
n MaCarthyism 二战后的美国，战争的阴影还没有消失，冷战的恐怖气氛又接踵而至。

美国 一方面在国际上与苏联对抗，另一方面在国内清除所谓的“共产主义意识形态”，打击进步势 力。

从20世纪40年代末到50年代初，掀起了以“麦卡锡主义”为代表的反共、排外运动，涉及 美国政治、教育和文化等领域的各个层面，其影响至今仍然可见。

red在经济贸易词汇里象征“赤字、亏损、负债”。

n red letter
n in the red/red ink
n get into red
n get out of the red
n red tip on the stock market
英语中red也有其正面的联想意义和语义。

n red­letter days（纪念日、喜庆的日子）在西方一般指圣诞节或其他的节日，因为这些日子在 日历上是用红色标明的。

n roll out the red carpet for sb. 铺展红地毯隆重地欢迎某人
n美国白宫内有间Red Room，常用来举行小型招待会。

Green 绿色
n As a color liked by most people, “green”is often used to refer to plants:
n green belt
n green fingers
n green winter:
n green revolution:
n “green lungs of the city”
n green food
Look at this sentence:
n If digital cash was this easy to use, people would stop using the green stuff.
green power
With a Ph.D., he thought he could get a greener paycheck.
Do you see green in my eye?
n lack of experience
n green hand, green horn 新手
n你看我是好欺骗的吗？
=Do you think I have
no experience so you
can deceive me?
n Another connotative meaning of green is jealousy.
n green­eyed monster 红眼病 (pink eye)
n Red­eye : the undesirable effect in flash photography of people appearing to have red eyes caused
by a reflection from the retina.
n red­eye flight : a flight on which a passenger cannot expect to get much sleep on account of the
time of departure or arrival.
Green also means “full of vigor or vitality ”.
n Her grand children wished her a green old age.
n Though in the green, he may not be equal to the task.
n “How old was I when you first took me in a boat?”“Five, and you were nearly killed when I
brought the fish in too green and nearly tore the boat to pieces.”
n “你头一次带我上船时我多大？”
“五岁。

当我把那条活蹦乱跳的大鱼弄上船的时候，你差点儿送了命，那家伙差点儿把小 船撞得七零八碎。

”
A A l l l l u u s s i i o o n a a n n d M M e e t t a a p p h h o
o r n n A A l l l l u u s s i i o o n 典
典故 n n M M e e t t a a p p h h o o r 隐 隐喻
喻 A A l l l l u u s s i i o
o n D D e e f f i i n n i i t t i i o o n n : n n A A n a a l l l l u u s s i i o o n i s a b b r r i i e e f r r e e f f e e r r e e n n c c e t t o a p p e e r r s s o o n n , e e v v e e n n t t , o o r p p l l a a c c e e , r r e e a a l o o r f f i i c c t t i i t t i i o o u u s s , o o r t t o a w w o o r r k o o f a a r r t
t . n n A A l l l l u u s s i i o o n m m a a y b b e d d r r a a w w n f f r r o o m h h i i s s t t o o r r y y , g g e e o o g g r r a a p p h h y y , l i i t t e e r r a a t t u u r r e e , o o r r r e e l l i i g g i i o o n
n . n n A A n a a l l l l u u s s i i o o n i i s u u n n d d e e r r s s t t a a n n d d a a b b l l e o o n n l l y t t o t t h h o o s s e w w i i t t h p p r r i i o o r k k n n o o w w l l e e d d g g e o o f t t h h e r r e e f f e e r r e e n n c c e i i n q q u u e e s s t t i i o o n ( (a a s t t h h e w w r r i i t t e e r a a s s s s u u m m e e s t t h h e r r e e a a d d e e r h h a a s s )
). n n I I n t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n n , a a l l l u u s s i i o o n m m a a y s s o o m m e e t t i i m m e e s b b e r r e e n n d d e e r r e e d l l i t t e e r r a a l l l l y w w i i t t h h o o u u t m m i i s s s s i i n n g t t h h e o o r r i i g g i i n n a a l m m e e a a n n i i n n g
g . n n B B u u t i i n m m o o s s t c c a a s s e e s a a d d d d i i t t i i o o n n a a l i i n n f f o o r r m m a a t t i i o o n i i s n n e e c c e e s s s s a a r r y t t o g g e e t t t h h e r r e e a a l m m e e a a n n i i n n g a a c c r r o o s s s t t o t t a a r r g g e e t l l a a n n g g u u a a g g e r r e e a a d d e e r r s
s . n Even Homer sometimes nod.
n I wonder whether he is a Trojan horse.
n He gained his wealth by Shylocking.
n They have, by this very act, opened a Pandora ’s box.
n n O O n n e o o f t t h h e p p u u r r p p o o s s e e s o o f t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i o o n i i s t t o i i n n t t r r o o d d u u c c e f f o o r r e e i i g g n c c u u l l t t u u r r e
e . n n A t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n s s h h o o u u l l d “ “r r e e t t a a i n s s o o m m e e e x x o o t t i i c c n n e e s s s b b u u t c c o o n n t t a a i n n n o
f f o o r r e e i i
g g n t t o o n n e e ” （ （保 保留 留洋 洋味 味， ，避 免 免洋 洋腔 腔）
）. n n I I n s s o o m m e t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n f f o o r r e e i i g g n i i m m a a g g e e s h h a a v v e b b e e e e n “ “a a s s s s i i m m i i l l a a t t e e d d ” t t o l l o o o o k l l i i k k e C C h h i i n n e e s s e e , o o r a a s i i s s
c c o o m m m m e e n n t t e e
d b b y s s o o m m
e p p e e o o p p l l e e ,
f f o o r r e e i i
g g n n e e r r s w w e e r r e “ “d d r r e e s s s s e e d i i n t t y y p p i i c c a a l C C
h h
i i n n e e s s e g g o o w w n n s s ” ”. . How would you improve them?
n Her ideal husband must be as handsome as Adonis and as rich as Mammon.
她想要的丈夫一定得有潘安之美，邓通之富。

n As is know to all that the tailor makes the man, John decided to buy some decent dress for the
occasion.
大家都知道佛靠金装，人靠衣装，约翰决定到时候得买几件体面的衣裳。

M M e e t t a a p p h h o
o r D D e e f f i i n n i i t t i i o o n
n : n n A m m e e t t a a p p h h o o r i i s a f f i i g g u u r r e o o f s s p p e e e e c c h t t h h a a t c c o o m m p p a a r r e e s u u n n l l i i k k e t t h h i i n n g g s b b y s s a a y y i i n n g t t h h a a t o o n n e t t h h i i n n g i i s t t h h e o o t t h h e e r
r . O O n a s s i i m m p p l l e l l e e v v e e l l , a p p h h r r a a s s e s s u u c c h a a s ‘ ‘t t h h e h h e e a a r r t o o f t t h h e m m a a t t t t e e r r ’ i i s a m m e e t t a a p p h h o o r a a s m m a a t t t t e e r r s d d o n n o o t a a c c t t u u a a l l l l y h h a a v v e h h e e a a r r t t s s .
. Try to translate the following sentences:
n He has set up a body called the Security Council.
n I ’m proud of my extraordinarily good ear for accents and dialects.
n I could stomach no more and go out.
n A sleepy capital of a few hundred thousand people has mushroomed to a crowded city of 2
million.
n The news agency is the traditional vehicle for official leadership statements.
C C u u l l t t u u r r a a l l l l y U U n n i i q q u u e T T e e r r m
m s n n B B e e h h i i n n d e e v v e e r r y l l a a n n g g u u a a g g e i i s t t h h e c c u u l l t t u u r r e o o f t t h h e c c o o m m m m u u n n i i t t y t t h h a a t s s p p e e a a k k s t t h h a a t p p a a r r t t i c c u u l l a a r l a a n n g g u u a a g g e
e . n n D D i i
f f f f e e r r e e n n t c c u u l l t t u u r r e e s i i n t t h h e w w o o r r l l d s s h h a a r r e m m u u c c h h , b b u u t t t h h e e r r e i i s a a s m m u u c c h u u n n i i q q u u e e n n e e s s s i i n e e a a c c h c c u u l l t t u u r r e
e . n n T T h h i i s c c a a u u s s e e s c c u u l l t t u u r r a a l g g a a p p s o o r v v a a c c a a n n c c i i e e s
s . n n H H o o w t t o f f i i l l l i i n s s u u c c h g g a a p p s a a n n d i i n n t t r r o o d d u u c c e i i n n t t o t t h h e t t a a r r g g e e t l l a a n n g g u u a a g g e t t h h i i n n g g s u u n n i i q q u u e i i n t t h h e s s o o u u r r c c e c c u u l l t t u u r r e i i s a d d i i f f f f i i c c u u l l t j j o o b
b . T T h h e f f o o l l l l o o w w i i n n g a a r r e s s o o m m e t t e e r r m m s u u n n i i q q u u e i i n C C h h i i n n e e s s e
c c u u l l t t u u r r e
e : n n 科 科举 举、 、请 请安 安、 、虚 虚岁 岁、 、跑 跑龙 龙套 套、 、腊 腊八 八粥 粥、 、低 低保 保、 、离 离休 休、 、转 转业 业、 、希 希望 望工 工程 程、 、菜 菜篮 篮子 子工 工程 程、 、精 精神 神文 明 明、 、三 三个 个代 代表
表 I I n m m o o s s t c c a a s s e e s l l i i t t e e r r a a l t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n f f a a i i l l s t t o c c o o n n v v e e y t t h h e m m e e a a n n i i n n g g . S S o n n o o t t e e s o o r e e x x p p l l a a n n a a t t i i o o n n s a a r r e o o f f t t e e n n n e e e e d d e e d t t o h h e e l l p t t h h e t t a a r r g g e e t r r e e a a d d e e r u u n n d d e e r r s s t t a a n n d t t h h e e i i r t t r r u u e m m e e a a n n i i n n g
g . 请
请安 n n g g o d d o o w w n o o n o o n n e e ’ ’s k k n n e e e i i n s s a a l l u u t
t e n n c c o o u u c c h o o n n e e ’ ’s h h a a n n d a a n n d k k n n e e e t t o t t h h e g g r r o o u u n n d i i n M M a a n n c c h h u s s a a l l u u t
t e 饺子
n ‘dumpling ’ can refer to several different kinds of food like 元宵, 汤圆, 饺子, 馄饨, etc. n jiaozi
二胡
n ‘Chinese violin ’ may refer to violins made in China
n erhu
There are a large number of Chinese words transliterated from English. They refer to things that had
not existed in China but were introduced in or imported later. In a sense they were once ‘unique ’ in English culture.
n
romantic n
marathon n
vitamin n
shampoo n
pump n
club n
hysteria n
Utopia
n bowling
And we see a process of a number of transliterated words replaced by more meaningful translation:
n democracy 德谟克拉西
n microphone 麦克风
n science 赛因斯
n index 引得
n engine 引擎
n telephone 德律风
n cement 水门汀
n ultimatum 哀的美敦书
Some Chinese Terms:
n 三个代表
n 高举邓小平理论伟大旗帜，全面贯彻“三个代表”重要思想
n 三讲教育（讲学习、讲政治、讲正气）
Trademarks and Advertisements
A A d d v v e e r r t t i i s s e e m m e e n n t
t s n n T T h h e g g l o o b b a a l l i i z z a a t t i i o o n m m a a k k e e s t t h h e t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n o o f a a d d v v e e r r t t i i s s e e m m e e n n t t s v v e e r r y i i m m p p o o r r t t a a n n t
t . n
n Unique linguistic characteristics of advertisements: brevity, novelty, and sonority. n n T T r r a a n n s s l a a t t i i o o n o o f a a d d v v e e r r t t i i s s e e m m e e n n t t s r r e e q q u u i i r r e e s s s p p e e c c i i a a l a a b b i i l l i i t t y o o f r r e e c c r r e e a a t t i i o o n
n . n n T T h h e t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t o o r h h a a s t t o c c o o n n s s i i d d e e r n n o o t o o n n l y t t h h e m m e e a a n n i i n n g o o f t t h h e o o r r i i g g i i n n a a l t t e e x x t t , b b u u t a a l l s s o h h o o w p p o o t t e e n n t t i i a a l c c u u s s t t o o m m e e r r s w w i i l l l r r e e c c e e i i v v e s s u u c c h t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n n s
s . n n “ “蚊 蚊子 子杀 杀杀 杀杀
杀” T T r r a a n n s s l l a a t t i i o o n o o f a a d d v v e e r r t t i i s s e e m m e e n n t t s r r e e q q u u i i r r e e s r r e e ­ ­c c r r e e a a t t i i v v i i t t y
y . n n 哪 哪里 里有 有“ “芯 芯” ”， ，哪 哪里 里就 就有 有希 希望 望。

。

( (c c h h i i p p s
s ) n n 百 百闻 闻不 不如 如一 一见 见。

。

( (t t e e a
a ) n n A d d i i a a m m o o n n d i i s f f o o r r e e v v e e r
r . n n O O n n l l y y y o o u u r t t i i m m e i i s m m o o r r e p p r r e e c c i i o o u u s t t h h a a n t t h h i i s w w a a t t c c h
h . T T r r a a d d e e m m a a r r k
k s n n A t t r r a a d d e e m m a a r r k m m u u s s t b b e t t e e r r s s e e , s s o o n n o o r r o o u u s s , a a t t t t r r a a c c t t i i v v e e , e e a a s s y t t o r r e e m m e e m m b b e e r r , a a n n d w w i i t t h a a n a a e e s s t t h h e e t t i i c t t o o u u c c h h , s s o o m m e e t t i i m m e e s p p r r o o v v i i d d i i n n g a h h i i n n t o o f t t h h e f f u u n n c c t t i i o o n o o f t t h h e p p r r o o d d u u c c t i i t s s t t a a n n d d s f f o o r r . n n T T h h e b b e e s s t t t r r a a n n s s l l a a t t e e d t t r r a a d d e e m m a a r r k k s a a r r e c c r r e e a a t t i i v v e t t r r a a n n s s l l i i t t e e r r a a t t i i o o n
n . n n C C o o c c a C C o o l l a 可 可口 口可 可乐
乐 T T r r y t t o a a n n a a l l y y z z e w w h h y s s o o m m e o o f t t h h e c c h h a a r r a a c c t t e e r r s a a n n d w w o o r r d d s a a r r e u u s s e e d i i n n s s t t e e a a d o o f p p u u r r e e。