Chapter3TheoreticalFoundation
Chapter 3 Theoretical Foundation
卜冰
This disrtation follows the definition that culture means every aspect of a nation's life. Language is the carrier of culture and idioms are the cream of a language and the concentration and of a culture. The translation of idiom to some degree is cultural translation. Thus the features of culture will influence the translation of idioms, undoubtedly, in which the feature of universality and peculiarity are the basic ones that decide the translatability and untranslatability of idiom translation.
"Culture of each nation has universality and peculiarity. Universality stems from the same objective nature and the same cognition to the whole world of human beings; while peculiarity comes from each small distinct environment."(Liu Zhongde, 1992) Xiao Hui(2004) also holds that the objective law of cultural information is the Coexistence of culture universality and peculiarity . Cultural universality turns the possibility of communication between different people into reality. And the peculiarity is the reason of the
凤眼蓝existence of cultural barriers in communications. When we study the translation of idioms, cultural communication unavoidably becomes the central point. This chapter will focus on the universality and peculiarity of culture and the basic reasons for the translatability and untranslatability of idioms in cultural framework, which will provide the theoretical foundation for the studies of this disrtation.
电力论文
3.1 Cultural universality in idioms
建筑施工合同Cultural universality means the properties common to all cultures. "If there is not any universality between people from other cultures, cross-culture communication can not be done and so does translation."(Ye Zinan, 2001:39) This nature is the premi and foundation for the possibility of communication between different people. Human beings share universalities: no matter what the nationality or race they belong to, they generally posss similar physiological or psychological structures that contribute to the similarity of the living habits or ideological systems. Abundant evidence can be found in the languages. Even in different regions or nations "all languages consist of four major struct
ures: sounds, lexemes, syntax, and discour." (Eugene A. Nida, 1993: 22) Language fulfills the same functions in all language communities.
3.1.1 Similar Human Physiological Structures and Cognitive Ability周记六百字
"Human beings live in the same material world and the languages of human reflect the common ideas. Although languages are different, people can u the same concepts."(Wang Bingqin, 1994)
Chine and the English speakers live far from each other, but they share the sameness’on physiological needs and cognitive ability. The almost identical physiological structures are always the determiner of some basic behaviors, including linguistic performances. Human body is made up of various organs, and they are always ud as linguistic materials to invent fresh metaphors to describe their cognitive experiences, among which head enjoys the highest frequency of u in
metaphorical expressions; becau of its predominant position and the power the brains
have for thinking. Accordingly, both Chine and English endow the word (head，头)with the meanings of intelligence, authority, leadership and importance. In Chine, many words with the character tou(头)carry the n of command and priority. For instance,“包工头(foreman ) ",“头领(ringleader)"(首领) and“领头军(vanguard army unit)" all have such connotations as leadership. As to English, the word head also stands for authority and significance: head master, head of the committee, Head of State, the head workman, the head waiter, etc. might have clearly displayed the people's great influence or high rank in charge of a certain organization.
"Eyes" are quite an important organ too, becau they are of primary significance for perceiving the outside world and obtaining information; mostly they are employed to refer to the ability to perceive, comprehend or judge, e.g. have an eye for something. As to Chine,“眼光”is ud as well, to designate the vision or eyesight, and the capability to give an insightful prediction of the future. From this angle, eyes have similar cultural associations in both systems becau of their physiological and cognitive functions. Other organs such as hand and foot have the same meanings in word-formation. "A dab
hand" has the same meaning with Chine“好手”.for example "I'm a dab hand at making pastry(我是做糕饼的能手)”.English phra” old hand” is equal to Chine“老手”with literal correspondence and metaphorical meaning as well.” To bind hand and foot" and“缚住手脚”is another example in the same language functions.
咸稀饭>汽车的图片
According to Eugene A. Nida (1993: 8), "The primary psychological functions of Language are naming, modeling of reality, expression, and cognition." To name the same animal English say "dog" and Chine has“狗”.In English when somebody wants to express love they "make eyes at somebody", and in Chine people `抛媚眼”.
To sum up, the similar physiological structures and cognitive ability to know the world of human beings help people to perceive the world with the help of the same biological organs to formulate similar linguistic patterns with the universal implications.
黄金豆腐3.1.2 Similar Natural Conditions and Resources
Both the Easterners and the Westerners inhabit the same planet. Therefore, the shared n
atural conditions on the planet have contributed to the great similarities between the East and the West. Basically, human beings first of all depend on the geological and meteorological conditions to survive. Conquently, the strong influences of such natural conditions have been reflected in the making of languages.
