A Study On Translation Of Figurative Idioms

This paper focuses on the translation of English figurative idioms on the basis of Functional Equivalence Theory.As the heritage of the nation, idioms are endowed with specific characteristics of their own. Functional Equivalence Theory put forward by Eugene A. Nida together with researches on translation equivalence made by many other scholars both in China and in the West is studied in detail as it serves as the theoretical basis of this paper.Through the study on cultural factors that influence the figurative meanings of English idioms, the comparative study on English and Chinese idioms is to identify the significance of culture in figurative idioms translation.Equivalence of English and Chinese idioms at word level and above word level is further discussed as common errors in translating practices are collected, categorized and analyzed.With the analysis of corresponding relationship between English and Chinese idioms, this paper suggests several different strategies in translation of English figurative idioms into Chinese, focusing on the figurative meanings behind the words.