A Comparative Study Of Chinese And English Proverbs And Their Translation

Proverbs are the cream of a language and they reflect the relation between culture and language. Through this relation, a comparative study is made about Chinese and English proverbs. There are similarities and differences as well. Based on the comparative study, the correspondence between Chinese and English proverbs is cleared out: correspondence, approximate correspondence and non-correspondence. And some correlative translation principles and approaches are put forward.As a product of a particular cultural background, proverbs are closely related to a nation' s culture and enjoy great cultural values. They provide interesting clues to a nation' s geography, history, social conventions, religion and literature.English and Chinese proverbs, carrying the imprint of the two nations' cultural differences and generalities, have their similarities and differences. They enjoy the similar origin, similar functions and some similar features. English and Chinese proverbs both originate from folk life, from literal works, historical events, religious records, fairy tales and mythology, and from other languages as well. They both function as a guide to people' s life. And they enjoy some similar features in wording and rhetorical devices. The similarities between English and Chinese proverbs are coincidental and relative but their differences are absolute. The differences lie in three aspects: different numbers, different images and meanings, and different cultural tint. English proverbs, comparatively speaking, are not so many as Chinese proverbs. The differences in image and meaning are shown in three aspects: similar images for different meanings, different images for the same meanings and image blank. Their cultural tint is different in geographical features, customs and living ways, and also in different philosophical values.Based on the comparative study between English and Chinese proverbs, some standards are taken as the criteria of their correspondence such as syntax, images and implied meanings, among which meanings come first. The correspondence between Chinese and English proverbs falls into three types: correspondent proverbs, approximately correspondent proverbs and non-correspondent proverbs. Comparatively speaking, correspondent proverbs account for only a small part in all proverbs. Most English and Chinese proverbs are only approximately correspondent or non-correspondent to each other.The translation approaches put forward by the author are based on the relevance theory. First, a translator should understand the original proverb fully to achieve the maximal relevance. Then he must transfer the original proverb from one language into another and make the maximal relevance reappear before the readers. That' s to say, in the process of translation, he should guarantee the maximal relevance of the inference, and as for the translated version, he must assure himself that it is the optimum reappearing of the original. In translating proverbs, a translator cannot neglect another fact: Chinese culture is a high-context culture while English is a low-context culture. Therefore some appropriate approaches such as synonymous replacement, literal translation, liberal translation and translation with compensation must be taken to achieve the maximal relevance. And a good translation is supposed to be as close as possible to the original proverbs in semantic transmission, pragmatic function, cultural tint and language style.In translating proverbs, in order to convey the semantic meanings and cultural connotations of the original proverbs thoroughly to the readers of the target language, a translator should have an overall and profound analysis of the proverb, which includes: to pay enough attention to the conditions in which proverbs are produced and applied; to distinguishthe emotional colors and the various language styles of proverbs; and to pay attention to the non-grammatical points instead of taking the words literally.