| 污水净化 |
| repudiate: v. 批判 |
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文化与翻译--Part II 补充阅读--第二页
1. Cultural Differences in Translation between English and Chinese |
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| Another example ： A translator translated “我是为你做嫁衣裳啊 !”into “ You know I am making the bridal gown for you now ．”“吹喇叭抬轿子，王先生可是位行家哩 ! ” into “ Mr. Wang is quite at home in b1owing a trumpet and carrying a sedan chair ． ”It is absurd to translate like that ． One must know Chinese culture, and then he understands the real meaning of the expressions ． All the Chinese educated people understand the original Chinese versions well ． More examples about the translation of colors ． Colors in English and Chinese imply different meanings in the two cultures． In Chinese ， the color “ yellow ” ( 黄色 )has a very different connotation from English ． The Chinese know these very well ． But if these are translated into “ yellow books ” , “ yellow music ” and “ yellow movies ” ， what will happen to English native speakers? They would not understand the meanings. What is English native speakers say about Chinese “黄色 ” in these phrases? Instead yellow they will use the following words ： trashy( 无聊的，低级的 ) ， obscene( 淫秽的，猥亵的 ) ， filthy( 淫猥的 ),vulgar( 庸俗的，下流的 ) ， pornographic( 色情的 ) 。 So ，“黄色书刊 ” would be translated as “ filthy books ” ；“黄色音乐”， vulgar music ；“黄色电影”， pornographic pictures ， or obscene movies ． In most American homes ． there may be a book called “ Yellow Pages ” ( 黄页电话查号薄 ) ． This is a book with the telephone numbers of different shops ， businesses ， organizations ， etc ． arranged according to different categories ． It is a most useful book ． 1ts pages are yellow ， but it is not a “黄书 ” in the Chinese sense ． The connotation of the color “ white ” in the Chinese expression “红白喜事” would be confusing to most Westerners ． It would probably be best not to translate the colors at all ， and literally say “ weddings and funerals ” ． This is because “ white ” is the traditional color for brides at weddings ． To have white at funerals would be offensive ； to have funerals described as “ happy occasion( 喜事 ) ” would be absolutely shocking to Westerners ， although the expression reflects a certain philosophic attitude toward death of the Chinese ． There are many colors ， whose connotations must be paid great attention to or else ， misunderstanding would easily occur ． That is because of the different culture backgrounds ． B ． Helping readers ' understanding by additional meanings Sometimes some important cultural messages will be lost if we use direct translation because in English a phrase of a word can be used to refer to some special meaning ． These extended meanings can only be shared by native people ． We Chinese people cannot get any implication from the literal meaning ． So the translator should add some more information in translation so that Chinese readers can get this important meaning that they cannot get from direct translation. For instance, on Feb ． 3rd ， 1987 ， Reagon ' s veto on “ Water Treatment Act” was repudiated by House Of Representatives with 401 against 26 votes ． This Act is authorized that in the following nine years the government will vote the cities 18 billion dollars for building sewage purification ． (Plants and 2 billion dollars for the other purification plans ． ) President Reagan criticized that the Act was“a pork barrel” ． In all Chinese dispatches from Xinhua Agency in Washington “ a pork barrel”was directly translated into “猎肉桶 ” 。 And there was nothing to explain it ． From the context we cannot find an exact meaning for this phrase ． The readers are confused ． In fact “a pork barrel” is a folk adage in America ． It means the money that the government used on local construction in order to get more favor from voters. So it ' s very important for the readers to get the extended meaning. In this dispatch there is no adding meaning so that this communication is not successful ． More examples ： (1) 万事俱备，只欠东风： Everything is ready ， all that ' s needed is an east wind ． ( ．．． all is ready except what is crucial) (2) 四面楚歌 Hear the sounds of the Chu all around (be besieged on all sides ／ be utterly isolated ／ be in desperate straits) (3) 拔苗助长 Try to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward (spoil things by excessive enthusiasm) (4) 对牛弹琴 Play music to an ox (cast pearls before swine) (5) 八仙过海，各显神通 Like the Eight Immortals crossing the Sea ， each showing his or her special prowess (people doing the same job ， but each in his own special way ， and each doing it well ． ) In above examples ， with additional meanings, the versions would be understood better ． |
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