从时代流行语英译看文化负载词的翻译

论文总字数：32680字

摘 要

文化负载词在中英翻译方法中有着很重要的意义，特定的文化负载词可能反映着特定的时代主流和文化发展方向。本文介绍了2015年相当流行的词：“Duang”，并且对其不同的英译版本和方法做出了分析，这些文化负载词的翻译方法也是非常值得探寻的。最后发现，音译加注法应在文化负载词翻译过程中广泛应用并且认为这种翻译方法将成为文化负载词的主流翻译方法并且译者必须从异化和归化的角度出发。从语言、词汇、语境等方面，创造性地完成翻译。

关键词：归化；异化与音译；文化负载词；翻译方法

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 1

3. Definition and Classification of Culture-loaded Words 2

3.1 Definition of Culture-loaded Words 2

3.2 Classification of Culture-loaded words 4

4. Translation Strategies of Culture-loaded Words 7

4.1 Definition of Foreignization and Domestication 8

5. Methods of Foreignization and Domestication 8

5.1 Methods of Foreignization 9

5.2 Methods of Domestication 11

5.3 Summary 13

6. Conclusion 13

Works Cited 15

1. Introduction

In 2015, “Duang” ranges among one of the top of the hottest Chinese terms on the Internet and later on appears in people’s daily life as “Duang” products can be found everywhere. This term arouses heated discussion, and many Chinese culture-loaded words are endowed with rich meaning. At the same time, the word also has different translation methods, it is very interesting.

These culture-loaded words are the reflection and embodiment of Chinese and English culture. These are all embodied in the important position of culture-loaded words as well as the great contribution to Chinese or English culture. Consequently, it’s of great importance to present the unique culture contained in these culture-loaded words with correct understanding and interpreting. However, it’s a tough task to translate these words.

When it is comes to the translation of culture-loaded words, heated discussion has never stopped. Some scholars adopt literal translation method while some prefer to use free translation, so different schools hold different views. In view of this in mind, the author adopts literal translation, free translation, transliteration and transliteration with annotation methods in this paper. This paper combines translation methods with practice by collecting large numbers of culture-loaded words relating to different translation methods aiming at different culture-loaded words.

2. Literature Review

The translation of culture-loaded words has always been worthy to be discussed and it’s quite significant to find an appropriate translation method for the spreading of Chinese culture. Great efforts have been made by most translators in the history of the translation of culture-loaded words. The translation theorists employ different methods to translate culture-loaded words. Nevertheless, the discussion about the best way to translate culture-loaded words is still a hot issue.

Eugene A. Nida advances Functional Equivalence in his book “Language and Culture” and he holds that the purpose of translation is to make the target language readers understand the message of the source language easily. Therefore he advocates domestication strategy in which readers are the focuses. Nida’s domestication strategy has been highly respected in Chinese translation industry and it dominates the translation of Chinese culture-loaded words. In 1995, the famous translation theorist Venuti’s masterpiece “The Translator’s Invisibility” was born and was introduced to our country at the turn of this century. He points out that domestication obliterates the culture of the source language and brings forward foreignization. He holds the opinion that translation should pursue heterogeneity and retaining the cultural characteristics of the source language embodies the equality of the national culture and promotes cross-cultural communication. By now more and more translators tend to apply his translation strategy during the process of translating culture-loaded words. And transliteration method is put forward by lots of people and I believe that it will be the mainstream in the translation of culture-loaded words in the future.

3. Definition and Classification of Culture-loaded Words

These culture-loaded words enrich Chinese language as well as Chinese culture. Language which is the carrier and the mirror of culture contains rich cultural connotation. While lexicon, as the most active and sensitive element in language, embodies the unique features of a certain nation and shoulders the responsibility of spreading and interchanging culture.

3.1 Definition of Culture-loaded Words

Culture-loaded words are defined as a kind of lexical gap. In other words, the culture information which endowed in the origin term don’t have the corresponding words. Among the practice of the Chinese-English translation, culture-loaded words are always the key and difficult part. As we all know, China is a historical and multicultural country. During his process of development, a large number of new words are created all the time, especially though the Internet. Among all these terms, there is a special group of words, which are called culture-loaded words. And this kind of words are used more and more widely in daily lives, many of them also can be found in the dictionary directly now. However，it is rather difficult to define exactly what culture-loaded words are. Several scholars, both in the west and China, have given their definitions of culture-loaded words in their voice or books.

In the language system, the words which can best embody the language carrying cultural information and reflecting the social life of human can be defined as cultural-loaded words. Scholars have different interpretations for culture-loaded words. “The source language word may express a concept which is totally unknown in the target culture. The concept in question may be abstract or concrete; it may relate to a religious belief, a social custom, or a type of food. Such concepts are often referred to as ‘culture-specific’ ” (Mona Baker, 2006: 21) Culture-loaded words include words with specific cultural images, phrases and idioms. These words reflect Chinese cultural characteristics and a unique way of life. (Liao Qiyi, 2002: 73) Jin Huikang (2003: 265) defines that culture-loaded words that every language has so-called culturally-loaded terms, which are the symbolic representation of the value system, history, religion, customs, thinking patterns and life styles of that peculiar culture. There are no equivalent words or expressions since such things do not exist in another culture. Culturally-loaded terms have the referential meanings as well as connotative meanings.

Despite various definitions, they all point out that culture-loaded words convey a culture and its deep meaning.

Peter Newmark(2001) presents his definition: “(culturally-loaded words) are associated with language and can’t be literally translated.” His definition is quite clear-cut but too general.

Hu Wenzhong (胡文仲1999: 64) distinguishes culture-loaded words from non-culture-loaded ones. His definition is “culturally-loaded lexemes are loaded with specific national culture. They are the direct or indirect reflection of national culture in the structure of lexemes”.

Tang Xiuqiong(唐秀琼 2006)says in her assay Culturally-loaded Words and Their Translation from Chinese to English: “Culture-loaded words are the words or expressions that carry the meaning of a cultural trait to a certain socio-cultural community，and their referent also exists in other communities, but doesn’t overlap the one in other community completely in semantic category，and therefore that just has to some extent，a corresponding equivalent when used in cross-cultural communication. Culture-loaded terms include cultural specialties，idioms，allusions，figurative expressions，etc. They can be in the form of words or phrases. It goes without saying that words rarely occur on their own. They are usually combines together to form stretches of meaning. Culture-loaded terms are deeply engrained into different aspects of culture.”

From the above definitions given by different scholars, we can comprehend that Chinese culture-loaded words are the words (including phrases and idioms) which are closely bound up with unique Chinese culture.

3.2 Classification of Culture-loaded words

With the fast development, China has received more attention than ever before. The world shows great interest in Chinese politics, economy and culture. According to their interest, Chinese characteristic words can be mainly divided into three categories: politics-loaded words, economic-loaded words, culture-loaded words and other terms.

3.2.1 Culture-loaded Words

As China’s economic strength has increased, a growing number of people are taking interest in Chinese culture. With a magnificent history of more than five thousand years, China is famous for Kong Fu, Peking Opera and so on. For example,

1. 新郎一家用轿子迎娶新娘。

The groom’s family would welcome the bride to the wedding in a sedan chair.

China Daily, March, 2014

2. 《红楼梦》

Like a recurring dream, China’s definitive classic tome, The Dream of the Red Mansion, an 18th-century novel by Cao Xueqin, is appearing in various formats throughout the city.

That’s Shanghai, February, 2008

3. 粽子，端午节

Consumers select leaves used to make Zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, at a market in Sizhou township of Shangrao, east China’s Jiangxi province, May 25, 2014. Chinese have the tradition to eat Zongzi to greet the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 2 this year.

Xinhua, May, 2014

“轿子” is a traditional transportation in China, and sedan is considered as popular vehicle in the west. Adding a chair could vividly describe the image of “轿子”. 《红楼梦》 is one of the four great masterpieces, which typically belongs to culture-loaded words. “Zongzi”, after which translator adds a detailed explanation. It could be easier for foreign readers to understand what is Zongzi. “Dragon Boat Festival” is a traditional Chinese festival, on which people hold a dragon boat race to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu yuan. So dragon boat can represent the festival in the aspect of culture.

3.2.2 Politics-loaded Words

With the deepening of opening up and reform, China has caught much more attention from the whole word than ever before, especially political system, economic development. Thus, politics-loaded words under the influence of culture are derived. They are often short but full of deep meaning. How to translate them in order to propagate our socialist system is a difficult problem. For a good translation, first we should grasp Chinese polices and political events. Thus we could know their deep meaning. Then we have to think of good expressions in English as short and simple as possible, which is called literal translation. By doing so, foreigners can figure out its meaning immediately.

3.2.3 Economy-loaded Words

Due to the policy of opening up and reform, China opens an window to the outside world. China owns the second largest GDP in the world. It is obvious that China’s economic strength has shocked world. Foreign readers are eager to know what contribute to China’s fast growth. To introduce and explain the new economics words is of great importance.

3.2.4 Other Terms

There are a lot of proper names of places, food and people with rich Chinese characteristics in the news. Here are some examples.

1. 峨眉山

The biggest Buddha in the world is in Leshan City, about 180 kilometres from Chengdu and 20 kilometres from Mount Emei.

China Daily, August, 2002

2. 锅贴

The Guo Tie (pot stickers) are particularly good. They come to the table inverted (the fried side is up) and joined into a long cylindrical shape. 

Citylife, July, 2006

3.司马光

zi zhi tong jian chronicled Chinese history from 403 B.C. to 959 A.D., after the works were compiled by many ancient Chinese scholars led by the Chinese politician Sima Guang (1019-1086) in the Song Dynasty.

剩余内容已隐藏，请支付后下载全文，论文总字数：32680字