英语比喻性词语的文化内涵及翻译

Cultural Connotations and Translation of English Metaphors

语言使用者所处的社会、文化环境是语言存在与发展的基本因素,而比喻性词语则是通过语言使用者的想象,将本体与喻体的相似性结合起来而产生的。如果译者对源语使用者的文化及社会生活不够了解,就可能产生错译。鉴于此,列举大量例子,分析比喻性词语的文化内涵,指出在文化内涵方面英汉语言中的比喻的相同与不同,并介绍了英语语言中的比喻性词语翻译处理时采取的针对性方法,旨在说明翻译过程中只有灵活处理,才能达到既忠于原文又便于理解的效果。

The social and cultural environment of the language users is the basic factor for the existence and development of a language. The metaphorical language,which comes into being via the imagination of the language users,draws on the resemblance of tenors and vehicles. A lack of understanding of the culture and social life of the source language users may lead to misinterpretations of metaphors. Through a large number of examples,this article analyzes the cultural connotations of metaphorical words and points out the similarities and differences between English and Chinese metaphors in terms of cultural connotations. Then it introduces the pertinent methods in the translating process of English metaphors,concluding that only by applying flexible strategies of translation can loyalty and readability be achieved.