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【Abstract】It has been at the center of fierce debate that how exactly we can define translation. This essay attempts to state that translation is not just a linguistic process, it also relates to cultural differences and translation strategies. Thus, we should try to apply suitable way to do precise and effective translations rather than confining it to linguistic aspect.
【Key words】 Cultural Differences; Translation Strategies
【作者簡介】汤青媚，武汉晴川学院。
1. Introduction
Translation can be defined as transferring the same meaning with different languages (Picken, 1983). So it is likely that this can be called a linguistic process because it deals with lexis, sentences, grammar and so on. However, other elements should also be taken into account.
2. Cultural Differences
(1)Expressions and culture.As is known, customs that differ among countries may make distortion and mislead readers. For example, people from western countries treat dogs as intimate friends, as companions. Dogs can even own household records as human beings. This seems ridiculous to those Chinese who just consider dogs as animals taking care of the family. Thus, in English, we can find phrases like “love me, love my dog”, “a lucky dog”, “every dog has his day”.
(2)Idioms and culture.Sometimes idioms in original text are factors leading to confusion in translation. For example, if we translate the word “potluck” from linguistic aspect, it seems refer to a pot that may bring luck to you which is totally different from its real meaning. It is argued that we could translate it with the knowledge of linguistics, which is to translate two words separately and then use synthetic analyses to get out a new meaning. In this way what we get are not the patchwork meanings of two words, but is the true meaning through creation. However, it is nearly impossible for the non-native learners to recognize the exact meaning of idioms since there are a large amount of backgrounds behind the idioms.
3. Translation Strategies
(1) Literal Translation.Literal translation seems to be a kind of method only stresses on semantic meaning of sentences or paragraphs. However, a part of words with solid definitions in the dictionaries do not often used in reality or we cannot find a concrete substance to refer to the meaning. Furthermore, as for those words with various meanings, when they are put into certain context, their meanings will change frequently that is not easy to reach (Hervey and Higgins, 1992). For example, the word “sound” in the phrase “sound advice”, it means “good”. But in the phrase “a sound person”, it refers to “calm”. Thus, in the literal translation the translator also needs to try to use replacement and choose the most appropriate word while following the form of original text rather than just using the linguistic tool. (2) Free translation.Free translation produces the target language text without conforming to the style, form, or content of the original text (Newmark, 1988). It cares more about the TL readers since it facilitates readers’ understanding. For instance, a sentence in English “I give my youth to the sea and I came home and give her (my wife) my old age”. If we translate the sentence only with the knowledge in linguistics, it could be “我把青春獻给海洋,我回家的时候便把老年给了我的妻子”, which is using literal translation and is hard to understand the deep meaning. Some may argue that it makes sense in Chinese because it relies on the meaning and structure of the original text. However, it is a challenge for the Chinese readers to fully comprehend. When it is translated into “我把青春献给海洋，等我回到家里见到妻子的时候,已经试白发苍了”, which tries to describe the grey hair of his wife to express “give her(my wife) my old age. It seems to be easier to be understood when we rearrange the sentence of the structure and add more words to explain.”
4. Conclusion
Although we could also do translations with knowledge in linguistics, such as semantics, syntax and pragmatics which is also a linguistic process, this essay has shown that it is likely to cause distortion and confuse the readers without knowledge in culture and strategies.
References:
[1]Hervey, S.
【Key words】 Cultural Differences; Translation Strategies
【作者簡介】汤青媚，武汉晴川学院。
1. Introduction
Translation can be defined as transferring the same meaning with different languages (Picken, 1983). So it is likely that this can be called a linguistic process because it deals with lexis, sentences, grammar and so on. However, other elements should also be taken into account.
2. Cultural Differences
(1)Expressions and culture.As is known, customs that differ among countries may make distortion and mislead readers. For example, people from western countries treat dogs as intimate friends, as companions. Dogs can even own household records as human beings. This seems ridiculous to those Chinese who just consider dogs as animals taking care of the family. Thus, in English, we can find phrases like “love me, love my dog”, “a lucky dog”, “every dog has his day”.
(2)Idioms and culture.Sometimes idioms in original text are factors leading to confusion in translation. For example, if we translate the word “potluck” from linguistic aspect, it seems refer to a pot that may bring luck to you which is totally different from its real meaning. It is argued that we could translate it with the knowledge of linguistics, which is to translate two words separately and then use synthetic analyses to get out a new meaning. In this way what we get are not the patchwork meanings of two words, but is the true meaning through creation. However, it is nearly impossible for the non-native learners to recognize the exact meaning of idioms since there are a large amount of backgrounds behind the idioms.
3. Translation Strategies
(1) Literal Translation.Literal translation seems to be a kind of method only stresses on semantic meaning of sentences or paragraphs. However, a part of words with solid definitions in the dictionaries do not often used in reality or we cannot find a concrete substance to refer to the meaning. Furthermore, as for those words with various meanings, when they are put into certain context, their meanings will change frequently that is not easy to reach (Hervey and Higgins, 1992). For example, the word “sound” in the phrase “sound advice”, it means “good”. But in the phrase “a sound person”, it refers to “calm”. Thus, in the literal translation the translator also needs to try to use replacement and choose the most appropriate word while following the form of original text rather than just using the linguistic tool. (2) Free translation.Free translation produces the target language text without conforming to the style, form, or content of the original text (Newmark, 1988). It cares more about the TL readers since it facilitates readers’ understanding. For instance, a sentence in English “I give my youth to the sea and I came home and give her (my wife) my old age”. If we translate the sentence only with the knowledge in linguistics, it could be “我把青春獻给海洋,我回家的时候便把老年给了我的妻子”, which is using literal translation and is hard to understand the deep meaning. Some may argue that it makes sense in Chinese because it relies on the meaning and structure of the original text. However, it is a challenge for the Chinese readers to fully comprehend. When it is translated into “我把青春献给海洋，等我回到家里见到妻子的时候,已经试白发苍了”, which tries to describe the grey hair of his wife to express “give her(my wife) my old age. It seems to be easier to be understood when we rearrange the sentence of the structure and add more words to explain.”
4. Conclusion
Although we could also do translations with knowledge in linguistics, such as semantics, syntax and pragmatics which is also a linguistic process, this essay has shown that it is likely to cause distortion and confuse the readers without knowledge in culture and strategies.
References:
[1]Hervey, S.