On Translation of Names of Places in English and Chinese Idiom

程江潭?黃萬武

【Abstract】The aim of this research is to analyze the methods in translation of names of places in English and Chinese idioms by qualitative analysis and provide better choices in translation practice for learners.

【Key words】idiom； translation methods； lexical gap

【作者簡介】程江潭（1992-），男，湖北荊州人，湖北工業大學外國語學院研究生，研究方向為計算語言學；黃萬武（1972.9-），男，教授，碩士生導師，研究方向：外國語言學及應用語言學。

1. Introduction

Language is a carrier of culture and idioms are an essential part of language. Idioms， the outcome of culture accumulation， reflect the culture outlook and values of this nation. Cui（2013） thought that because of the extensive difference between China and West in culture， there are many lexical gaps in the lexical system of C&E;（Chinese and English）. Therefore， it is unlikely to find the corresponding expressions of Chinese characteristic words in English. In this case， the task of translation the idioms of C&E; idioms， especially the names of places in idioms， is rather challenging and controversial.

2. Definition and Classification of Idioms

Guralnik（1980） took an idiom as a short saying in common use that striking express some obvious truth or familiar experience. In a board sense， idioms include set phrase（e.g.紅顏禍水（golden apple））， proverbs（e.g. an hour in the morning is worth two in the evening”（一日之計在于晨））， saying（e.g.“樹大招風”（tall trees catch much wind）） and slang（e.g.“墻頭草”（fence sitter））.

3. Methods of Translating Names of Places in E&C; Idioms

3.1 Literal Translation

Only both cultures share some similarities and these similarities reflect peoples attitude toward the world， in this case， these names of places can be translated through literal translation. For example：福如東海（Happiness as immense as the Eastern Sea）.As we can see， “東海” is translated into “Eastern Sea”.

3.2 Free Translation

In order to make the target text readers understand the implications of them clearly， free translation should be used. For example： corn in Egypt（富饒）. “Egypt”has lost its original form by free translation， although the target text readers understand the implications of them.

3.3 Literal Translation Plus Note

Literal translation plus notes will supply notes to the relevant information when translating the names of places in idioms which have obvious characteristics literally， a chief explanation should be added. For example： to meet ones Waterloo（碰到某人的滑鐵盧（比喻一敗涂地））. “Waterloo” is translated respectively into“滑鐵盧”binding with their implication meanings accordingly.

3.4 Transliteration

As for lexical gap， there is other way to solve this problem except for free translation and literal translation plus note. It is transliteration. It can best keep the original features of the source language. For example：圍魏救趙（besiege Wei to rescue Zhao）. “魏”and“趙”are respectively translated into“Wei”and“Zhao”by transliteration. Their original features are completely kept.

3.5 Literal Translation Plus Transliteration

Compared with the transliteration， literal translation plus transliteration has a clear advantage if the names of places are modifying disyllabic words. For example： 安如泰山（Be as steady as Mount Tai）. “泰山”is translated into“Mount Tai”. If we translate them into“Taishan”by transliteration only， the target text readers may feel confused as they are not familiar with Pinyin.

3.6 Corresponding Translation

When it comes to cultural similarities of names of places in idioms， we may use corresponding translation. For example：虎落平陽（Samson at Gaza）.“平陽”corresponds to “Gaza”by corresponding translation， because they have the same derived meanings.

4. Conclusion

In this paper， some major methods are discussed about translation of names of places in C&E; idioms. During translation practice we may take the context into consideration because of the culture difference between China and the West.

References：

[1]Cui Jianshe.On the translation of English-Chinese idioms[J].Overseas English，2013（4）：122.

[2]Guralnik D.B.Webster New World Dictionary of the American Language[M].Simon and Schuster Press，1980.