谚语的翻译

The translation of proverbs 谚语的翻译

Proverb vs.谚语，俗语

Definition: Generally speaking, proverbs are simple statements of an apparent truth that have currency among people. They contain a generally accepted insight, observation and wisdom.

定义：谚语是人民群众口头流传的习用的固定语句，用简单通俗的话来反映深刻的道理。谚语是民间集体创造、广为口传、言简意赅并较为定型的艺术语句，是民众丰富智慧和普遍经验的规律性总结。

原则：1）能直译的一律直译2）有引申义，但能直译，宜直译加意译3）直译或意译后在理解时易产生歧义或费解之处的，应予以加注。

一．直译手法

1.英译汉

It never rains but it pours.不雨则以，下则倾盆。

One swallow does not make a summer. 一燕不成夏。

No news is good news.没有消息就是好消息。

An unfortunate man would be drowned in a teacup.人一倒霉，一杯茶也能淹死。When the cat’s away, the mice will play.猫儿不在，鼠儿成灾。

2.汉译英

山高皇帝远。The mountains are high and the emperor is far away.

江山易改，本性难移。Mountains can be removed and oceans can be land filled, but one’s nature can hardly be changed.

前事不忘，后事之师。Past experience, it not forgotten, is a guide for future.

二．意译手法

1.英译汉

Don’t put the cart before the horse.不要本末倒置。

It’s no use crying over spilt milk 覆水难收。

Kings have long hands.王权及四海，勿与帝王争。

2.汉译英

庆父不死鲁难未已。There will always be trouble until the trouble-maker is removed. 失之东隅收之桑榆。What one loses on the swings one gets back on the roundabouts.

三．直译与意译相结合的手法。

1.英译汉

Time tries friend as fire tries gold.烈火见真金，日久见人心。

The blind eats many a fly.瞎子吃的苍蝇多，眼不见为净。

Don’t argue with your bread and butter.别跟你的面包黄油过不去，不要砸自己的饭碗。

Every rose grows from prickles. 玫瑰花都是从刺里长出来的，有苦有甜。

2.汉译英

不见黄河心不死。Until all is over ambition never dies.

搬起石头砸自己的脚。Lifting a rock only to have his own toes squashed.

四．套译手法

1.英汉谚语中有些谚语非常相似或相近

破釜沉舟。Burn one’s own boat.

知足常乐。Who is contented, enjoys.

有志者事竟成。Where there is will, there is a way.

好的开始是成功的一半。Well begun is half done.

有其父必有其子。Like father,like son.

2.借用

1）从汉语谚语中借用来的

Everything is difficult at first.万事开头难。

A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.没有笑脸莫开店。

A dog has no aversion to a poor family.狗不嫌家穷。

2）从英语谚语中借用来的

见树不见林。Not to see the wood for the trees.

滚石不生苔。A rolling stone gathers no moss.

血浓于水。Blood is thicker than water.

五．直译加注释

1.英译汉

An Englishman’s house is his castle.英国人的住宅就是他的城堡。

注：不经邀请，不得擅自入内。

He that lives with Muses shall die in the straw.和缪斯住在一起的人将死在草堆里。注：缪斯是希腊神话中掌管文艺、音乐、天文等的女神。文学艺术家生前大都穷困潦倒，不受世人重视，只在死后才出名。

2.汉译英

尺有所长，寸有所短。

Sometimes a chi(foot) may prove short while a cun(inch) may prove long. Everybody has his strong an weak points.

冰冻三尺非一日之寒。

It takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep. The problem has been brewing for quite some time.

注意：

一．不要用具有本国色彩的谚语套译原文。

Beauty lies in the lover’s eyes. 情人眼里出西施。（误）情人眼里出美人。（正）二．要对原文理解透彻。

East is East and West is West.东就是东，西就是西。（误）东方国家毕竟是东方国家，而西方国家毕竟是西方国家。（正）

三．避免译文过于正式。

Desperate diseases must have desperate crues.猛药起沉疴（误）重病需下猛药。（正）四．分清楚原文的褒贬。

佛要金装，人要衣装。(褒) fine feathers make fine birds.(贬) the gilded Buddha lools better and the well-dressed person looks more decent.