Transcript Chinese-English Translation

Chinese-English
Translation
English Department
College of Foreign Languages
Yangzhou University
Definitions of translation
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Translating is the art of recomposing a work in
another language without losing its original flavor.
—Columbia Encyclopedia
Translating is the replacement of textual material
in one language (SL) by equivalent textual
material in another language (TL).
—J. C. Carford
Definitions of translation
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
Translating consists in reproducing in the receptor
language the closest natural equivalent of the source
language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly
in terms of style.（ 翻译是指从语义到文体在译语中
用最切近而又最自然的对等语再现原文的信息。）
—Eugene A. Nida
To translate is to change into another language, retaining
as much of the sense as one can.
—Samuel Johnson
Definitions of translation
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
(Translating ) is rendering the meaning of a text into
another language in the way the author intended the
text.
—Peter Newmark
Translation is an art that involves the re-creation of a
work in another language for readers with a different
background.
—Malcolm Cowley
Definitions of translation
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A translation is taken to be any target-language utterance
which is presented or regarded as such within the target
culture, on whatever grounds.
—Gideon Toury
Translation is the production of a functional target text
maintaining a relationship with a given source text that is
specified according to the intended or demanded
function of the target text.
—Christiane Nord
Definitions of translation

Translation is an externally motivated industrial
activity, supported by information technology, which
is diversified in response to the particular needs of
this form of communication.
—Jean Sager
Elements involved in the process of
translating
Author of ST—ST—Translator—TT—Readers of TT
Elements involved in the process of
translating
Intermediate information receiver
Author of ST—ST—Translator—TT—Readers of TT
Secondary information dispatcher
Definitions of translation
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翻译是一种跨文化的信息交流与交换活动，其本
质是传播，是传播学中一个有特殊性质的领域。
――吕俊
翻译是把具有某一种文化背景的发送者用某种语
言（文字）所表述的内容尽可能充分地、有效地
传达给使用另一种语言（文字）、具有另一种文
化背景的接受者。
――沈苏儒
Definitions of translation

翻译是两个语言社会之间的交际过程和交际工
具，它的目的是要促进本语言社会的政治、经
济和文化进步，它的任务是要把原作中包含的
现实世界的逻辑映像或艺术映像，完好无损地
从一种语言译注到另一种语言中去。
――张今
Sense of language
1.sense of grammar
 2.sense of idiomaticness
 3.sense of meaning
 4.sense of style
 5.sense of situation
 6.sense of coherence
（杨晓荣.汉译能力解析.中国翻译，2002/6）

Translation as a task to be
accomplished
It is sometimes said that there is no task more complex than
translation—a claim that can be readily believed when all the variables
involved are taken into account. Translators not only need to know their
source language well; they must also have a thorough understanding of
the field of knowledge covered by the source text, and of any social,
cultural, or emotional connotations that need to be specified in the
target language if the intended effect is to be conveyed. The same
special awareness needs to be present for the target language, so that
points of special phrasing, local (e. g. regional) expectations, and so on,
can all be taken into account.
—Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language
翻译的性质

翻译是将一种语言文化承载的意义转换到另一种
语言文化中的跨语言、跨文化的交际活动。意义
的交流必须通过语言来实现，而每种语言都是一
个独特文化的部分和载体。我们在转换一个文本
的语言信息时，也在传达其蕴含的文化意义。翻
译的本质是释义，是意义的转换。
Criteria of translation

诸佛典皆在天竺。天竺言语，与汉异音……名物
不同，传实不易……仆初嫌其词不雅。维祇难曰：
“佛言依其义不用饰，取其法不以严。其传经者，
当令易晓，勿失厥义，是则为善。”座中咸曰：
“老氏称：‘美言不信，信言不美。’……今传
胡义，实且径达。”
----支谦
（《法句经序》）
Criteria of translation

夫译之为事难矣，译之将奈何？其平日冥心钩考，
必先将所译者与所以译者两国之文字，深嗜笃好，字
栉句比，以考彼此文字孳生之源，同异之故，所有相
当之实义，委曲推究，务审其音势高下，相其字句之
繁简，尽其文体之变态，及其义理精深奥折之所以然。
夫如是，则一书到手，经营反复，确知其意旨之所在，
而又摹写其神情，仿佛其语气，然后心悟神解，振笔
而书，译成之文，适如其所译而止，而曾无毫发出入
于其间，夫而后能使阅者所得之益，与观原文无异，
是则为善译也已。 ――马建忠（1845－1900，《拟
设翻译书院议》，1894）
Criteria of translation
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“译”事三难：信、达、雅。求其信，已大难矣。顾
信矣不达，虽译犹不译也，则达尚焉。……译文取明
深意，故词句之间，时有所颠倒附益，斤斤于字比句
次，而意义则不倍本文。……至原文词理本深，难于
共喻，则当前思后衬，以显其意。凡此经营，皆以为
达：为达，即以为信也。《易》曰：“修辞立诚”。
子曰“辞达而已！”又曰：“言之无文，行之不远”。
三者乃文章正轨，亦即为译事楷模。故信达而外，求
其尔雅。
――严复（1854－1921，《天演论·译例言》）

Translation has to do three difficult things: to be
faithful, expressive and elegant. For a translation to
be faithful to the original is difficult enough, and yet
if it is not expressive, it is tantamount to having no
translation. Hence expressiveness should also be
required….

The Book of Changes says that rhetoric should uphold
truthfulness. Confucius says that expressiveness is all
that matters in language. He adds that if one’s
language lacks grace, it will not travel far. These
qualities, then, are the criterion of good writing and, I
believe, of good translation too. Hence besides
faithfulness and expressiveness, a translator should
also aim at elegance. (王佐良 译）
Criteria of translation
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译者不但要求达义，并且要以传神为目的，译
文必须忠实于原文之字神句气与言外之意。
――林语堂
以效果而论，翻译应像临画一样，所求的不在
形似，而是神似。
――傅雷
Criteria of translation
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文学翻译的最高标准可以说是“化”。把作品从
一国文字转变成另一国文字，既不能因语言习惯
的差异而露出生硬牵强的痕迹，又能完全保存原
作的风味，那就算得入于“化境”。
――钱钟书
真有灵感的译文，像投胎重生的灵魂一般，令人
觉得是一种“再创造”。
――余光中
Criteria of translation
We expect approximate truth in translation…what
we want to have is the truest possible feel of the
original. The characters, the situation, the reflection,
must come to us as they were in the author’s mind
and breast, not necessarily by precisely as he had
them on his lips.
—Oliver Edwards
Criteria of translation

A good translator is: 1) To give a just representation
of the sense of the original, 2) To convey into his
version, as much as possible, in a consistency with
the genius of the language with which he writes, the
author’s spirit and manners, and 3) To take care that
the version has at least the quality of an original
performance so as to appear natural and easy.
—
George Campbell
Criteria of translation
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The best of a real translation is that it should not read
like translation at all. —J. B. Philips
No translation, however learned, is of any value that
does not give at least some of the joy to the readers
that was given by its
original.
—A. J. Arborry
Criteria of translation
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(Tri-ness) Faithfulness, expressiveness, and
gracefulness were considered the golden rule in the
field of translation.
—Herbert Rotheinstein
Criteria of translation
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一是易解，二是保存原作的丰姿（鲁迅）
神似（similarity in spirit）（傅雷）
化境（sublimation）（钱钟书）
Alexander F. Tytler’s three principles
Functional equivalence (Eugene A. Nida)
功能相似，语义相符（similarity in function and
correspondence in meaning）
Yan Fu’s three-character criterion for
translation
Diverse interpretations are made of Yan Fu’s threecharacter criterion for translation as:
 “信”——Being faithful to the original（忠实于原
文）
 “达”——Being explicit and smooth（明白晓畅）
 “雅”——Being elegant in diction (words)（措辞
的优雅）
Yan Fu’s three-character criterion for
translation
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“信”(faithfulness)——达旨（将原文说明）
“达”(expressiveness)——前后引衬，以显其意
“雅”(elegance)——尔雅（用汉以前字法句法）
Alexander F. Tytler


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（1）译文应完全传达原文的思想。（A translation
should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the
original work.）
（2）译文的风格和笔调应与原文一致。（The
style and manner of writing should be of the same
character as that of the original.）
（3）译文应像原文一样流畅。（A translation
should have all the ease of the original composition.）
Basic Differences between Chinese
and English
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一、语系
汉语属汉藏语系（Sino-Tibetan Family），英语属
印欧语系（Indo-European Family）。
二、文字
汉语是表意文字（ideographic script），英语是拼
音文字（alphabetic script）。
三、语音
汉语是声调语言（tonal language），英语是语调
语言（intonation language）。
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四、词汇
五、句法(形合与意合)
六、篇章
（一）构词
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1、构词法
汉语和英语都能用合成法（compounding）、
缀合法（affixation）、音变法（sound-changing）、
缩略法（abbreviation）构词，也都通过翻译从外
语中借进新词。不同的是，汉语还使用重叠法
（reduplication），英语还用转换法（conversion）、
逆构词法（back-formation）和截短法（clipping）
构词。（p.36）
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2、词义对比
(1)词义涵盖
(2)词的搭配
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3、词义关系
词义相符（semantic correspondence）
词义相异（semantic non-correspondence）
词义空缺（semantic zero）
Translation of Words and Expressions
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Proper words in their proper places (词适其所)
make the true definition of style. (Jonathan Swift)
The difference between the right word and the
almost right word is really a large matter—‘tis the
difference between the lightning bug and the
lightning. (Mark Twain)

A word is a world. It is history in the briefest form.
It is a spot on a page but often a story of great
events and movement. You can’t examine a word
and learn it well without learning more than a
word. (Charles W. Ferguson) （转引自：思果.
《翻译研究》.中国对外翻译出版公司，2001：
17－18）
Translation of Words and Expressions
据文章 “积字为句、积句为段、积句为
篇”的创作程式，汉英翻译过程可相应为三个
部分：选词、构句、谋篇。
在翻译实践中，篇章是最终的考核质量的
单位，句子是基本的操作单位，而大部分的难
题都集中在词汇单位。（Peter Newmark, 1981）
（陈宏微2004：69）

There is inevitably a collision of backgrounds, of
tradition, of environment, which each language
carries with it. The mere understanding of what
words and sentences mean is not enough. To
understand, each has to enter into the mental
landscape, the history, the stage-setting of the
other’s mentality.
(Stephen Spender英国现代诗人) （转
引自：思果.《翻译研究》.中国对外翻译出版公司，2001：17－18）
词语指称意义与蕴涵意义的确定
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指称意义的理解与表达
蕴涵意义的理解与表达
指称意义的理解与表达
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一词多义
广义狭义
蕴涵意义的理解与表达
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褒贬
语体
修辞
文化
语体
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庄严的文体（the Frozen Style ）
正式的文体（the Formal Style）
商议性的文体（the Consultative Style）
随意的文体（the Casual Style）
亲密的文体（the Intimate Style）

我们要紧密地团结起来，同心协力，树雄心，
立大志，向科学技术现代化进军，力争上游，攀
登高峰。

先交代我自己吧。我是个算命的先生。我也
卖过酸枣，落花生什么的，那可是先前的事了。
现在我在街上摆卦摊，好了呢，一天也抓弄个三
毛五毛的，老伴儿早死了，儿子拉洋车。我们爷
儿俩住着柳家大院的一间北房。（老舍《柳家大
院》）

United closely with one heart and concerted
efforts and cherishing heroic aspirations and lofty
ambitions, we will march toward to modernization of
science and technology, aiming high to scale to
heights.

First, a few words about myself. I’m a fortuneteller. Once I was a vender of sour dates, ground-nuts
and what not. But that was ages ago. Now I keep a
fortune-teller’s stall on the side-walk and can scrape
up three or five dimes a day at best. My old gal had
long kicked up her heels. My son’s rickshaw-boy.
That’s wot he’s. We two, father and son, hang up our
hats at a south-facing room in the Liu’s compound.
词语翻译与语言（微观）语境
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根据语言语境确定原文词义
根据语言语境选择译文用词
根据语言语境消除歧义
语言语境与词语感情色彩的传达
词语翻译与文化（宏观）语境

A word is a world. It is history in the briefest form. It
is a spot on a page but often a story of great events
and movement. You can’t examine a word and learn it
well without learning more than a word.
(Charles W. Ferguson)

你信也罢，不信也罢，考试那天他可是出
足了风头。他靠一知半解的临时抱佛脚居然考
及格了，还受到了表扬。好多人比他强一千倍，
反而没及格。

生长在乡间，失去了父母与几亩薄田，
十八岁的时候便跑到城里来。带着乡间小伙
子的足壮与诚实，凡是以卖力气就能吃饭的
事他几乎都作过了，可是，不久他就看出来，
拉车是件更容易挣钱的事；作别的苦工，收
入是有限的；拉车多着一些变化与机会，不
知道在什么时候和地点就会遇到一些多于希
望的报酬。
（《骆驼祥子》）

If you will believe me (believe it on not,
would you believe (it)), he went through with
flying colors (successfully; be in the limelight;
attract more than enough attention) on the
examination day! He went through on that
purely superficial “cram”, and got compliments
too, while others, who knew a thousand times
more than he, got plucked (Brit. Slang: to reject
a candidate in an examination).

Born in the countryside and having lost his parents
and his barren lands, Xiangzi came to Beijing when he
was eighteen. With strong muscle and honesty he did
almost the labors by which he could earn his bread. Soon
it appeared clear to him that a rickshaw was more paid
than to do other labors with limited payment. Besides,
drawing a rickshaw may be flexible and of much
opportunity and sometimes he may be paid even much
more than what he expected.
Text types and translation types
1.
2.
3.
4.
The content-focused text
The form-focused text
The appeal-focused text
The audio-medial text
The content-focused text

The principal kinds of text in the content-focused
type would include press releases and comments,
news reports, commercial correspondence (商业信
件), inventories of merchandise (货物清单),
operating instructions (操作指南), directions for
use (说明书), patent specifications (专利说明),
treaties (条约), official documents, educational
works (教材), non-fiction books of all sorts ,essays,
treatises (专著), reports, theses (论文), and
specialized literature in the humanities, the natural
sciences, and other technical fields.
The form-focused text

Form-focused texts include literary prose (essays,
biographies, belles-lettres), imaginative prose
(anecdotes, short stories, novellas, romances), and
poetry in all its forms (from the didactic to balladry to
the purely sentimental).
Appeal-focused texts (感召性文本)

The appeal-focused text type would include all texts
in which the element of appeal is dominant, with
advertising, publicity (布告), preaching (布道),
propaganda, polemic (辩论), demagogy (劝诱) or
satire (讽喻) providing either the purpose or
linguistic means of expression.
Audio-medial texts (听觉媒介文本)

Generally speaking, any text that requires the use
of and a degree of accommodation to a nonlinguistic medium in order to communicate with
the hearer, whether in the source or in the garget
language. Primary examples would be radio and
television scripts, such as radio newscasts and
reports, topical surveys (专题调查或评论) and
dramatic productions (戏剧创作).
Audio-medial texts (听觉媒介文本)
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Also belonging here are all texts which combine
words with music, from the most popular hits of
the day to songs and hymns, to choral works and
oratorios.
Audio-medial texts would also include all stage
productions, from musicals to operettas and
operas, comedies and tragedies.
Eugene A. Nida

奈达（Eugene A. Nida）认为：“翻译是指从语义
到文体在译语中用最切近而又最自然的对等语再
现原文的信息。”（Translation consists in
reproducing in the receptor language the closest
natural equivalent of the source language message,
first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of
style.）
Language Functions （Nida）
奈达在From One Language to Another(与J. Waard合著)
中将功能分为九类：
（1）表现功能(expressive function)
（2）认知功能(cognitive function)
（3）人际功能(interpersonal function)
（4）信息功能(informative function)
（5）祈使功能(imperative function)
（6）行为功能(performative function)
（7）感情功能(emotive function)
（8）审美功能(aesthetic function)
（9）语言文化功能(metalingual function)
Halliday
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Halliday认为语言有达意功能（ideational
function）、人际功能(interpersonal function)和组
篇功能(textual function)。
The ideational function is to organize the speaker’s
or writer’s experience of the real or imaginary world,
i.e. language refers to real or imagined persons,
things, actions, events, states, etc.
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The interpersonal function is to indicate, establish, or
maintain social relationships between people. It includes
forms of address, speech function, MODALITY, etc.
The textual function is to create written or spoken
TEXTS which cohere within themselves and which fit the
particular situation in which they are used. (Jack. C.
Richards. Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching &
Applied Linguistics. 2000：188)
Karl Buhler（布勒尔）
According to Karl Buhler（布勒尔）,
language serves simultaneously to
1.represent (objectively)
2.express (subjectively)
3.appeal (persuasively).
Peter Newmark
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英国翻译理论家Peter Newmark将语言功能分为七
类：
1、信息功能（informative function），传达信息。
如：他是我哥哥。（He is my elder brother.）
2、 表情功能（expressive function），表达感情。
如：这里风景多美啊！（What a beautiful view!）
3、祈使功能（vocative function），使听者或读者
作出文本所期望的反应。如：请坐下。

4、美感功能（aesthetic function），使感官愉快。如：
“层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地
开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，
又如碧天里的星星。” （朱自清：“荷塘月色”）
（The leaves were dotted in between the layers with
white flowers, some blooming gracefully; others, as if
bashfully, still in bud. They were like bright pearls and
stars in an azure sky.王椒升译）.一寸光阴一寸金
（Time is precious）。
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5、认知功能（cognitive function），人必
须用语言进行思考，用语言“进行分析、
综合、抽象、概括等思维活动，形成思想，
表达思想。”（王德春，1997：8）这便是
语言的认知功能。
6、酬应功能（phatic function），使交际者
保持接触，也可反映交际者之间的关系。
如：你好。（How do you do!）幸会。
（Nice to see you!）
7、元语言功能（metalingual function），
指语言解释或命名自身特点的功能。如：
语言是一种独特的符号系统。（Language
is a unique system of signs.）
Meaning
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
Denotation
Connotation
Denotation

denotation: that part of meaning of a word or
phrase that relates it to phenomena in the real
world or in a fictional or possible world. For
example, the denotation of the English word “bird”
is a two-legged, winged, egg-laying, warmblooded creature with a beak. In a meaning
system, denotative meaning may be regarded as
the “central” meaning or “core” meaning of a
lexical item. It is often equated with referential
meaning and with cognitive meaning and
conceptual meaning.
Connotation

connotation: the additional meanings that a word
or phrase has beyond its central meaning. These
meanings show people’s emotions and attitudes
towards what the word or phrase refers to. For
example, child could be defined as a young
human being but there are many other
characteristics which different people associate
with child, e. g. affectionate, amusing, lovable,
sweet, mischievous, noisy, irritating, grubby.
Meaning (semiotics, semiology)



Intrinsic meaning
Referential meaning
Pragmatic meaning
Meaning within the language



Meaning on the phonological level
Meaning on the lexical level
Meaning on the textual level
Meaning on the phonological level


头韵(alliteration)：pretty as a picture, deaf as a
doornail (全聋)
半韵(assonance)：The rain in Spain stays mainly in
the plain.



和音(consonance)：The splendor falls on castle
walls.
尾韵(rhyme)：嘴上无毛，说话不牢。（Downy
lips make thoughtless slips.）
三个臭皮匠，合成一个诸葛亮。
Meaning on the lexical level
While the Vietnam vet was fighting, and losing limb
and mind, and dying, others stayed behind to pursue
education and career.
双关语(pun)：If we don’t hang together, we’ll
hang separately.
拈连(zeugma) ：
1.他和他的驾照上周一道报销了。
2.泪流满面，悲痛欲绝
3.发动战争，谋求和平
4.人穷志不穷（人贫志不短）
5.这架飞机该有多大的重量啊！它载着解放区人民
的心，载着全中国人民的希望，载着我们国家的
命运。
1.He and his driving license expired last week.
2.weeping eyes and hearts
3.wage war and peace
4.poor but not wanting in enterprise; poor but with lofty
ideals (aspirations)；
5.What a heavy load this aeroplane bore! It carried the
hearts of the people of the liberated areas, the hopes
of the entire Chinese people, and the destiny of our
country.

除了‘内战内行’之外，对于‘外战’，就不能
不是一个‘外行’。In their element（in one’s
accustomed or preferred surroundings,在自己活动范
围内，如鱼得水） when fighting internal war , they
cannot but be out of their element when it comes to
fighting external war.）
回环 (anadiplosis)
1. Beauty is truth, truth beauty.美就是真，真就是美。
2.举杯消愁愁更愁。Lift my cup of wine to drown
my sorrow? My sorrow leaves me not.
3.女人如花，花似梦。Women are like flowers,
flowers are like dreams.
大
学(孔子)
古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国；欲治其国
者，先齐其家；欲齐其家者，先修其身；欲修其
身者，先正其心；欲正其心者，先诚其意；欲诚
其意者，先致其知；致知在格物。物格而后知至；
知至而后意诚；意诚而后心正；心正而后身修；
身修而后家齐；家齐而后国治；国治而后天下平。
Meaning on the textual level
无边落木萧萧下，不尽长江滚滚来。（杜甫《登
高》）
Through endless space with rustling sound
The falling leaves are whirled round.
Beyond my ken a yeasty sea
The Yangtze’s waves are rolling free.

Their powers of conversation were considerable.
They could describe an entertainment with accuracy,
relate an anecdote with humor, and laugh at their
acquaintance with spirit. （Jane Austen, Pride and
Prejudice）她们的健谈本领真是吓人，描述起宴
会来纤毫入微，说起故事来风趣横溢，讥笑起朋
友来也是有声有色。

Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.
Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and
retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability,
is in the judgment and disposition of business.读书足
以怡情，足以傅彩，足以长才。其怡情也，最见
于独处幽居之时；其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之
中；其长才也，最见于处世判事之际。
Referential meaning

直升飞机；回扣；广播讲话；法人实体；体育道
德；裁判长；花样滑冰；社会主义市场经济；开
发区；畜牧业；社会语言学；知识产权；水土流
失；白费力气 (口语)；白吃白喝（美口）；改革
措施；齐步走（term of command）

空姐；空勤人员；三通（通商，通航，通邮）；
综合国力；足球流氓；贸易保护主义；美差；肥
缺；面面俱到的研究；积重难返的酒徒；报喜不
报忧的报告；治标不治本的解决办法；新秀；大
器晚成者；三教九流的一伙；不学无术的花花公
子；仓促做出的决定；点播节目；精打细算的旅
游者；经济实惠的饭菜；世间的功名成就； 苏轼
字子瞻，号东坡
Pragmatic meaning





表征（indicative）意义
表达（expressive）意义
联想（associative）意义
祈使（imperative）意义
社交（social）意义
Man and Nature (Version 1 )

The bounty of Nature is equal to everyone, rich or
poor, and therefore all men are all strongly attached to
her. This is particularly true in the rural areas, where
people have kept the same lifestyle for a millennium
or so. They plant crops and grapevines, brew wine to
drink, feed cows to milk, and weed the garden to
grow flowers. They go to church at weekends, and
they meet in the square on holidays, playing the
violin, singing and dancing. The age-old land remains
the same as their family hearth. Each place boasts its
folklore and thereby social customs go down.
Man and Nature (Version 2)

Nature favors men on equal terms regardless of their
wealth; therefore, they unanimously put great trust in her.
This is particularly true of people in the countryside,
where life follows a set pattern for hundreds of years.
They grow crops and grapes, brew wine to drink, feed
cattle and milk cows, weed the garden and plant flowers.
At weekends, they go to church; on holidays, they play
musical instruments, sing songs and dance around on
public squares. The age-old country fields and gardens
remain unchanged, today’s cozy and comfortable land for
them all. Thus, each place has its own stories and customs
and habits are passed down.
Errors and Analyses
1、词汇语义对比及选择
组合关系：feed bulls for milk；they go to church to pray and
worship
聚合关系：brew wine and drink alcohol; brew spirits and drink
wine; brew wine and drink beer
 2、连接词使用
无论贫富：no matter rich or poor; no matter people are rich or
poor; no matter poverty or wealth (richness)
 3、句式结构
种植庄稼和葡萄，酿酒和饮酒…：Growing crops and grapes;
Grow crops and grapes
(to be continued)

(continued)
 4、平行结构
They go to the church, praying and to attend church
service.
They play the violin, dancing and sing.
People, poor or with property.
 5、语法
大小写；拼写（they go to church to prey）；时态；
大自然（the nature）
Idiomatic pairs usually with the linking
word of “and” in English



noun pairs and verb pairs
adverbial pairs and adjectival pairs
identical/prepositional pairs
Noun pairs and verb pairs


peace and quiet: a period of quiet and calm, often
with “have/get/enjoy/some”. It’s impossible to get
any peace and quiet in this house with you two
arguing all the time.
body and soul: physical and mental energy, as in “put
body and soul into”. She puts body and soul into her
work with the girl guides. She is an inspired leader.



life and limb: risk death or serious injury, as in “risk
life and limb”. You’ll risk life and limb if you decided
to go white-water rafting after such heavy rainfall.
grin and bear it: put up with something unpleasant
without complaining because it cannot be changed. I
know this hotel isn’t very good, but all the better
accommodation is taken, so we’ll just have to grin
and bear it.
hearth and home: your home and family. the joys of
hearth and home.
Adverbial pairs and adjectival pairs



here and there: to or in several places. I could see a
number of houses scattered here and there over the
hillside.
now and again: occasionally. How often do you see
her now?-Every now and again. Not as regularly as I
used to.
first and foremost: most importantly. –Why don’t you
get a job that pays more? –First and foremost because
I really enjoy the job I’m doing.

short and sweet: not too complicated, as in a speech,
often with “keep/make it”. I’ll try and keep this short
and sweet. I know you don’t want to stay here longer
than you need to. I only needed two minutes with the
doctor – the visit was short and sweet.我找医生治病
只用了两分钟，别管受罪不受罪，反正时间短。
Short but sweet. With faux fur (仿皮草), a dress coat
doesn’t need to be long.


safe and sound: not harmed at all. Oh, I’m so glad to
have you back home safe and sound. I was beginning
to get worried about you.
sick and tired: extremely annoyed with someone,
often with “of hearing /listening”. I’m sick and tired
of hearing your excuses. It’s about time you did an
honest day’s work.

touch and go: risky; of uncertain result. From this
point on, his work went from strength to strength,
and his supervisor began to believe that
Hawking might, after all, manage to pull together
the different threads of his PhD research. It was
still touch and go, but a wonderful chance was
just around the corner. a touch-and-go state of
affairs .
Identical/prepositional pairs



round and round: moving in circles or spinning,
usually with “go”. We’re not making any progress by
arguing like this. We’re just going round and round in
circles.
little by little: gradually or slowly. Little by little his
health improved and he was able to walk further and
further each day.
all in all: taking everything into consideration. All in
all, it was a successful holiday in spite of some scary
moments.
over and above: besides; in addition to. The waiters get
good tips over and above wages.


leaps and bounds: leaps and bounds is really a
prepositional idiom as it is always used after the
prepositions “by” or “in”. If you do something “by leaps
and bounds”, then you are making rapid or spectacular
progress: I feel that my English is coming on in leaps and
bounds now that I can understand idioms. Her health is
improving by leaps and bounds.
up hill and down dale: everywhere. We’ve been chasing
up hill and down dale trying to find you.
Version (1)
Father said: “Do you like the peanut?”
We vied in giving the answer: “Yes, we do!”
My elder sister said: “It’s very delicious to eat.”
My bother said: “It is good for making oil.”
I said: “It is inexpensive….”
Version (2)
“Do you like the peanut?” said my father.
“Yes, we do!” we said eagerly.
“It’s very delicious to eat,” said my elder sister.
“It’s good for making oil,” said my elder brother.
“It’s expensive…,” I said finally.
Version（3）

The weather was not very good that night but, to our
great delight, Dad came all the same. “Do you like
peanuts?” Dad asked.
Version (3)
“Yes!” we vied in giving the answer.
“But who can tell me what the peanut is good for?”
“It’s very delicious to eat,” my sister took the lead.
“It is good for making oil,” followed my brother.
“It is inexpensive,” finally came my turn. “Almost
everyone can afford it and everyone enjoys eating
it. I think this is what it is good for.”
Culture and translation



cultural return (文化回归)
从文化的角度看翻译必然导致一系列理论思想的转变：
传统的两分法思维方式（形式/意义、直译/意译、原
语/译语、作者/译者等）必须让位于整体的、格式塔
式随具体情况而变化的思维方式；多维性、似是而非
和矛盾冲突是翻译研究的基础；
译文文本不再是原文文本字当句对的临摹，而是一定
情境、一定文化的组成部分；
文本不再是语言中静止不变的标本，而是读者理解作
者意图并将这些意图创造性再现于另一文化的语言表
现。
Definitions of culture

Culture is succinctly defined as “the totality of beliefs
and practices of a society.”

一个复合的整体，其中包括知识、信仰、艺术、
法律、道德、风俗以及作为社会成员而获得的任
何其他的能力和习惯。(泰勒(Edward Tylor).原始
文化.1871）
文化是人类在社会历史发展过程中所创造的物质
财富和精神财富的总和。（陈宏薇、李亚丹.新编
汉英翻译教程.2004：21 ）

Characteristics of culture
1）社会习得，而非遗传获得；
2）社会成员所共有；
3）具有象征的特性；语言就是文化中最重要的象征
系统；
4）是一个统一的整体，其中每一方面都和其它方面
相关联。（柯平，1993：76）
Characteristics of culture
文化作为一种“原本性的存在”，具有其本体论
特征：
1）文化的民族性
2）文化的传承性
3）文化的流变性
4）文化的兼容性（刘宓庆，1999：15）
The structure of cultural system
1）技术――经济系统
2）社会系统
3）观念系统
4）语言系统（柯平，1993：77）
Strata of culture
文化系统结构有四个层次：
1）物质形态层（material stratum）
2）典章制度层（institutional stratum）
3）行为习俗层（behavioral and customary stratum）
4）心理或心智活动层（mental stratum）
（刘宓庆，1999：33）
Classifications of culture
物质文化（material culture）
 制度文化（institutional culture）
 心理文化 （mental culture）
（邢福义（2000：8）
语言属于制度文化。（陈宏薇、李亚丹，2004：
22）

物质文化
物质文化（material culture）：指人类创
造的物质文明，指一切可见可感的物质和精神产
品。它下属的文化有饮食文化、服饰文化、建筑
文化、戏曲文化等。
制度文化
制 度 文 化 （ institutional culture ） ： 指
人类的社会制度、宗教制度、生产制度、教育制
度、劳动管理分配制度、家庭制度、亲属关系、
礼仪习俗、行为方式等社会规约以及与他们有关
的各种理论。
心理文化
心 理 文 化 （ 也 称 观 念 文 化 ） （ mental
culture）：指人类的思维方式、思维习惯、价值
观念、审美情趣、信仰、心态等。
中西文化对比




思维差异
语言差异
信仰差异
价值和态度差异
（廖七一，2000：276）
汉英思维方式对比
(1) 中 国 人 注 重 伦 理 （ ethics ） ， 英 美 人 注 重 认 知
（cognition）
(2) 中 国 人 重 整 体 （ integrity ） 、 偏 重 综 合 性
（ synthetic ） 思 维 ， 英 美 人 重 个 体
（individuality）、偏重分析性（analytic）思维
(3) 中 国 人 重 直 觉 （ intuition ） ， 英 美 人 重 实 证
（evidence）
(4)中国人重形象思维（figurative thinking），英美人
重逻辑思维（logical thinking）（陈宏薇、李亚丹：
2004：25－32）
文化因素对翻译的影响




文化因素对指称意义的影响
文化因素对语用意义的影响
文化因素对言内意义的影响
文化因素对篇章结构的影响
（柯平：
78）
Translatability of culture
文化的可译性含有三层意思：
（1）译者可以理解作者原作所蕴含的文化信息；
（2）译者可以用译入语表达自己理解了的原作所蕴
含的文化信息；
（3）译入语读者可以接受译者所表达的文化信息。
Translatability of culture
译者要做到三个把握：
(1)把握两种文化的异同，把握文化的地域性和超地
域性；
(2)把握作者的创作意图、思路以及所要传递的文化
信息；
(3)把握译入语读者对自己表达原语文化信息的方式
的认同接受程度。
在现今竞争激烈的社会中，每个人都免
不了承受压力。有些人因为无法处理压力而产
生严重的心理问题。因此我们要学会正视压力、
释放压力。时刻保持健康向上的心态，是克服
压力的好办法。
Version (1)
In today’s society which is full of fierce
competition, everyone can’t avoid bearing pressure.
Some people have serious mental problems due to
their inability to get rid of pressure. So, we should
learn to face correctly and release pressure. Having a
healthy, upward attitude is a good way to overcome
pressure.
Version (2)
In today’s fiercely competitive society, nobody
can avoid pressure. Some people have serious
psychological problems because of their inability to
cope with (deal with, handle) pressure. So, we should
learn to face up to pressure, and release it properly.
Having a positive, optimistic attitude is an effective
way to manage pressure.
生活在都市的喧嚣之中，人们常常感
到莫名的压抑。人们都梦想着有时能抛开
烦恼，为心灵寻求一片宁静。那么，不妨
在周末去山间田野走走，让身心得到彻底
放松。
Version (1)
Living in bustling urban cities, people often
feel unknown pressure. People all dream of
getting rid of their problems sometimes and
finding a piece of peace for the heart. In this case,
you might as well go out for a stroll in the hills
and fields on the weekends to fully relax your
body and soul.
Version (2)
Living in today’s bustling cities, people often
feel inexplicably depressed. Everyone dreams of
casting aside their problems sometimes and
finding peace of mind. In this case, go out for a
stroll in the countryside on the weekends to fully
relax.
以前我听说大学非常清闲，是玩乐的天
堂。然而现在每天清晨我都看见小树林中有很
多人在晨读。现在我才知道，忙并快乐着的大
学生活才是充实的。
Version (1)
I heard that universities were as relaxed as a
paradise of playing. However, now I see many
students reading in the campus grove every
morning. Only now I realize that a busy and
happy campus life is substantial.
Version (2)
I heard that campus life was relaxed, and that
university was like a fun-filled paradise. However,
now I have seen many students reading under the
trees in the campus park every morning. I have only
realized now that only a campus life which is both
busy and happy is meaningful.
人的包装
人如商品需要包装，但切忌过分包装。夸张包装，
要善于展示个性的独特品质。在随意与自然中表
现人的个性美，重要的是认识自己，包装的高手
在于不留痕迹，外在的一切应与自身浑然一体，
这时你不再是商品，而是活生生的人。
参考译文

A person, like a commodity, needs packaging, though
going too far is undesirable. A little exaggeration,
however, does no harm when it shows the person’s
unique qualities to their advantage.

To display personal charm in a casual and natural way,
it is important for one to have a clear knowledge of
oneself. A master packager knows how to integrate
art and nature without any traces of embellishment, so
that the person so packaged is no commodity but a
human being, alive and kicking.
晚年的乔羽喜爱垂钓，他说：“有水有鱼的地
方大都是有好环境的，好环境便会给人好心情。
我认为最好的钓鱼场所不是舒适的、给你准备好
饿鱼的垂钓园，而是那极其有吸引力的大自然野
外天成的场所。”钓鱼是一项能够陶冶性情的运
动，有益于身心健康。乔羽说：“钓鱼可分三个
阶段：第一阶段是吃鱼；第二阶段是吃鱼和情趣
兼而有之；第三阶段主要是钓趣，面对一池碧水，
将忧心烦恼全都抛在一边，使自己的身心得到充
分休息。”
After his retirement, Qiao Yu takes to fishing.
“Beautiful surroundings make people happy, and they
are places where water is clear with fish,” he said.
“To my mind, the most fascinating natural fishing site
is the one in the open countryside, not a pond where
you find easy comfort in catching easily-hooked
starved fish specially prepared.”
Fishing is a temperament-molding sport that brings
health to your body and mind. “Fishing falls into
three states,” Qiao Yu remarked. “The first involves
in eating the fish. The second is concerned with the
enjoyment in your eating, and the third consists
mostly in the delight you derive from fishing in a
pool of clear water, free from the cares of the world
with your body and mind relaxed to the full.”
语
境(Context)
语
微观语境MiC
境
宏观语境（历史语境）MaC
Collocation or
Text
Social, cultural, historical
frame of words,
background, matrix
Sentence or
or sentence groups
搭配与词语/句与句句群 篇章、文本
社会、文化、历史背景(矩阵)
(联立关系)（刘宓庆，2003： 366）
语境对意义（meaning）具有非常重要的意义（significance）(语境释义)
语境释义论







语境在翻译学意义理论中的重要性：
词语的适境即特定的意义适应于特定的语境，是双语意义换转的最基本
要求。
语境是使意义从模糊、游移、不确定进入精确、清晰、确定的固定因素；
语境使意义固定。
语境分为语言语境（微观语境）和非语言语境（宏观语境）。微观语境
（主要指各式词语搭配，词组即固定词组与非固定词组、分句、句子、
语段直至文本）决定指称意义，宏观语境（指文本的题材、主题、交际
功能及文本的文化、社会、历史背景）决定超指称意义。
微观语境和宏观语境都可以使词语意义情态化，但一般说来，文本的情
态化、风格化的主要手段是宏观语境。
不应该忽视微观语境特别是固定词组（典故性成语）和非常规搭配可能
具有的超指称意义，尤其是在情态化、风格化中所起的作用，它们所提
供的超指称意义通常是“画龙点晴”式的。
（刘宓庆，《翻译与语言哲学》，中国对外翻译出版公司，2001年。 p. 336）

There is inevitably a collision of backgrounds, of
tradition, of environment, which each language
carries with it. The mere understanding of what
words and sentences mean is not enough. To
understand, each has to enter into the mental
landscape（见识）, the history（阅历）, the
stage-setting of the other’s mentality（学养）.
(Stephen Spender)
神舟七号再一次实现了中国人的飞天梦，谱
写了中华民族自强不息的壮丽诗篇。它的成功发
射是我们伟大祖国日益强盛的有力见证。我愿发
扬航天人吃苦耐劳的精神，为祖国贡献自己的一
分力量。
Shenzhou Seven realized the Chinese people’s
dream of flying into the space, writing a magnificent
poem on the continuing hard work and independent
spirit of the nation. Its successful launch is a powerful
witness of the increasingly prosperous China. I’d like
to develop the astronauts’ spirit of bearing hardships
and contribute my efforts to our nation.
Shenzhou VII realized the Chinese people’s
dream of flying into space, composing a magnificent
poem to the continuing hard work and independent
spirit of the nation. Its successful launch is a powerful
witness to our country’s increasing prosperity. I’d like
to carry on the astronauts’ spirit of perseverance and
make my contribution to our nation.
回家的感觉真好，可以吃到妈妈亲手做的家
乡菜。虽然妈妈说我回家是给她添乱，但我知道
那不是心里话。其实她早就盼着我回来。如果过
年时都没有见到我，她会很牵挂。家里呆的时间
长了，我有时也会想念学校的生活。那里没有妈
妈的唠叨，自由很多。
I feel good to be at home. I can eat the
hometown dishes my mom makes. Mum says my
coming home makes trouble for her, but I know
those are not her words at heart. In fact, she
expects me. She feels concerned if she can’t see
me during Spring Festival. I sometimes miss the
school life when stay home for too long. I have
more freedom there without mum’s endless
talking.
It’s great to be home. I can enjoy the local dishes
my mum makes. Mum says that my coming home
adds to her troubles, but I know she doesn’t mean it.
In fact, she has been expecting me. She feels worried
if she can’t see me during the Spring Festival. I
sometimes miss campus life when I stay home for too
long. I feel more free there without mum’s nagging.