8.2 归 化
一些英语动物词语的隐喻意义是英语文化中所特有的,汉语读者无法联想出这些英语动物词汇的文化内涵,因此在翻译时只能采用归化法,译出其喻义,以利于汉语读者的理解和译文的流畅。
no spring chicken不再青春年少
to eat no fish忠诚
as poor as a church mouse一贫如洗
对于这种只在一种语言中出现动物喻体而另一种语言中无对应动物喻体的空缺现象,翻译时可更换喻体或者干脆舍弃喻体,采用意译,译成具有相同内涵的习语。
as close as an oyster守口如瓶
as happy as a clam悠然自得
a big fish in a little pond矮子中的巨人;瘸子队伍里的将军
to throw a sprat to catch a whale吃小亏赚大便宜
Fish begins to stink at the head.上梁不正下梁歪。
to teach fish to swim班门弄斧
to fish in the air水中捞月
to cry up wine and sell vinegar挂羊头卖狗肉
to look for grass on the top of the oak缘木求鱼
Nothing ventured,nothing gained.不入虎穴焉得虎子
to go for wool and come back shorn偷鸡不着蚀把米
The burnt child dreads the fire./Once bitten, twice shy.一朝遭蛇咬,十年怕草绳。
I have no time now. I have other fish to fry.
不译:“我还有其他的鱼要炸。”而译:“有其他的事要做”。
I enjoy my job——the fly in the ointment is that I start early in the morning.我很喜欢自己的工作,美中不足的是每天一大早就得上班。
对于那些在中西文化中文化内涵不一致甚至相悖的动物名称词语,翻译时则宜采用归化的方法。如果目标文化中能找到与源文化动物意象一致的其他动物,这个契合点是当然之选。
let the cat out of the bag露马脚
the black sheep of the family害群之马
如无法在目标文化中找到适宜的动物名称,必要时须舍弃文化寄托的形象,着重传递语言的意义。
cat’s paw被人利用的工具
other fish to try另有打算(www.xing528.com)
swan song最后的作品;绝唱
We still love each other very much, but we fight like cat and dog.我们常吵吵闹闹,但仍很相爱。
a lion in the way拦路虎
lit the cat out of the bag露马脚
like a cat on hot bricks如热锅上的蚂蚁;如坐针毡
teach a pig to play on a flute赶着鸭子上架
cherish a snake in one’s bosom养虎遗患
to set fox to keep your goose引狼入室
Hare may pull dead lions by the beard.虎落平阳被犬欺。
A wise fox will never rob his neighbors hen roost.兔子不吃窝边草。
Carrion crows bewail the dead sheep, and then eat them.乌鸦吃死羊,先痛哭一场。/猫哭老鼠假慈悲。
The leopard cannot change his spots.狗改不了吃屎。
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.宁为鸡头,不做凤尾。
汉英两种文化里的不同动物可能有相同的联想意义,也就是说,一种动物在英语中具有某种联想意义,而在汉语中具有这种联想意义的却是另一种动物,在这种情况下可以进行动物形象转换。
He is as strong as a horse.他壮得像头马。→他壮得像头牛。
drink like a fish鱼饮→牛饮
Don’t beard the lion.别挑逗狮子。→老虎屁股摸不得。
as hungry as a bear饿得像熊→饿得像狼
kill the goose that lays golden eggs杀掉下金蛋的鹅→杀鸡取卵
杜鹃是报春鸟,令人感到快乐。可是“cuckoo”(布谷鸟)在英语中的含义却是“傻子”。所以英国人Hawkes把《红楼梦》中的紫鹃译成了“nightingale”(夜莺)。
He that would catch a fish must venture his bait.
这是句谚语,有人翻译成:舍不得饵,钓不到鱼。译文虽意思明了,但并不是汉语中的熟语,不如将它翻译成:不入虎穴,焉得虎子。
All cats love fish but fear to wet their paws.不入虎穴,焉得虎子。
You can take horse to the water,but you cannot make him drink.强按的牛头不喝水。
A wise fox will never rob his neighbor’s hen roost.兔子不吃窝边草。
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