第三,词义不对等与语言文化、社会环境、风土人情、历史背景息息相关。不同的风俗习惯和民族心理也是产生不同文化意义的重要原因。不同的生活习俗、价值取向、道德标准等使得不同的民族对相同的事物产生不同的看法,因而使一些词汇产生不同的文化意义。
例9
现任的副系主任,当年曾经亲手送别死者,如今却不知该怎么抚慰生者。他为他手下的一头头“老黄牛”的处境而发愁,却无计可施。
说明:因中国是个幅员辽阔的农业国家,牛是最重要的农耕工具,默默无闻地为主人工作。所以汉语文化中,“老黄牛”表示“勤勤恳恳工作的人”,相当于英语文化中的“work like bricks"。在此句中,我们可以将它译为“hard-working/diligent/industrious people"。
The vice dean in office, who attended the funeral, does not know how to console the living now.
He is worried about the conditions of the hard-working men under him, but can do nothing about
it.
例10
中国科学家筑起了预防幽门螺杆菌“钢铁长城”。
Chinese scientists have launched a strong shield against helicobacter pylori.
例11
又一个环境污染后的“马后炮”,对于政府的“补救措施”,多数群众并不满意。
Another umbrella offered after the rain!Most people are dissatisfied with the government's¨remedial measures"
after the environment has been polluted.
不同文化的民族会对相同的颜色产生不同的联想。比如,在英语社会中,白色看成是圣洁的颜色,因此在举行婚礼时,新娘总是穿白色礼服。而在汉语文化里,白色是悲痛的色彩,人们在举行丧葬仪式时穿白衣服,所以“穿白戴孝”应译为“in mourning black”(黑色在英语中象征死亡)。英语中的“红”源于火与血的联想,象征着残暴、耻辱、危险等。例如,catch sb. red-handed指“当场抓住某人作案”,red-light district是“红灯区、花街柳巷”;“红”在英语中也可以象征革命,但多为贬义,有激进、暴力的含义。然而,红色在中国文化中,象征着吉祥、喜庆、成功和兴旺发达。因此,婚礼时新娘穿红色,象征日子会过得红红火火;节日时要挂红灯笼,贴红色窗花,送红包等。在近代历史文化中,红色还象征着革命和进步,如“红旗”、“红军”、“红色根据地”、“红卫兵”等。所以,在翻译颜色时,译者应该根据目标语的习惯用法来选词,有时可能需要颠倒黑白。
例12
妻子白了他一眼,说:“其实,并不是国防意识淡,是现在致富的渠道多,机会多,把国防教育这一块给挤走了……”
His wife gave him a black look, saying,“Actually, not that our national defense awareness has weakened, but that
people have more ways or chances to make money, so the national defense education just gives way...”
例13
个人主义一害自己,二害工作,三害党的事业,历来是党和军队事业的大敌。
原译:Individualism,which firstly poisons oneself,secondly hinders work,and finally jeopardizes the Party's cause, has
always been a big threat to the cause of the Party’s and the army.
说明:“个人主义”在汉语中具有贬义色彩。但在英语中,individualism不具备贬义,属于中性词,是指独立和独特,注重个人目标、愿望和造诣,注重自我知识和自我身份,崇尚隐私、直接表达和竞争。 Individualism强调个性和差异性。因此,该词应该选用“egocentricity或self-centeredness”;
改译: self-centeredness, which firstly poisons oneself, secondly hinders work,and finally jeopardizes the Party's cause, has
always been a big threat to the cause of the Party and the army.
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