中英饮食文化不同对菜名翻译的影响

On how the Chinese and western catering cultural differences influence the translation of Chinese cuisine 中英饮食文化不同对菜名翻译的影响

论文摘要

本文简要阐述了中西饮食文化差异对中国菜名英译的影响.文中笔者通过分析中西方国家饮食文化差异,试图发掘目前中国菜名英译存在的问题,并结合实例归纳总结中式菜肴名称的翻译原则,方法和技巧.论文以饮食文化差异为切入点,分析探讨饮食文化差异和菜名翻译有机结合的问题,认为在现代化的中国,翻译者应该借鉴饮食文化差异促进提高菜名英译的质量.笔者认为菜名英译是饮食文化差异的体现.菜名的翻译质量直接影响到进入全球市场的中国饮食工业.正确的翻译可以缩小跨文化交际中的障碍.

关键词:饮食文化差异;跨文化交际;中式菜肴;翻译原则;影响;

Abstract

This article briefly presents how the Chinese and western catering cultural differences influence the translation of Chinese cuisine. Through an analysis of food cultural differences between Chinese and western countries, the author tries to find the existing problems in English translation of Chinese cuisine, and sets examples to summarize the principles, methods and skills in translating Chinese dishes. The paper also elaborates it on the basis of diet cultural difference; analyzing and discussing the close link between culinary cultural difference and dish translation. In the modernized China, translators should improve the quality of Chinese dish translation based on food cultural difference. Translation of Chinese cuisine embodies the diet cultural difference. The quality of English translation of Chinese dish has some direct influence on the entry of Chinese food industry into the global market. Correct translation of Chinese cuisine can narrow the gap in intercultural communication. Key words: food cultural differences; intercultural communication; Chinese cuisine; translation principle; influence;

1 Introduction

1.1 Put forward question

Mao Zedong once said that "Hong Lou Meng", together with Chinese food, is one of China's greatest contributions to humanity. Food is a central part of the Chinese culture. Considering the misunderstanding coming along with the cultural differences, the study of translation should take the consideration of culture. Diet is of paramount importance to people from all over the world.

Owing to the different cultural traditions, the need of partaking food is different for people coming from different countries. China is a country with a splendid catering culture with a very long history. Chinese dishes are famous around the world. After the entry into the WTO, we should work more on introducing the Chinese dishes and Chinese food culture to expand international cultural exchange. This article attempts to look at the issues of culinary cultural differences and Chinese dish translations; in other words, how to handle the cultural context in translation The different culinary traditions make up an important part of culture system. Correct translations of Chinese cuisine make intercultural communicators communicate easier. In this paper, what the author does more is the discussion on English translation of Chinese dishes.

1.2 The necessity to study this topic

The Chinese always believe that "food is the first necessity of the people". Naturally we have special fondness for food culture. As the culinary culture draws close to our life, understanding the connotation of the food cultural difference is imperative to understanding the life. Translation of Chinese cuisine becomes more essential as the cultural exchanges between foreign countries are daily on the increase. Most importantly with the internationalization in the development of Chinese economy and with the approach of the 29th Olympic games' arrival, many restaurants' menus show both Chinese and English names for the dishes. Thereby, the translations of Chinese cuisines recorded in books were born. Facing eight famous Chinese cuisines, some translators are giving full play to their abilities. Each translator shows his talent in these translations. There is no lack of excellent work among them. A well-translated name will make the Chinese dish look better. Yet a bad translated name denigrates the dish. The proper translation of the name can welcome the foreign visitor to a dish while a mistranslated name actually discourages a person to try it. It