Cultural Strategies For The E-C/C-E Proverb Translation: Foreignization And Domestication

Proverbs are culture-loaded linguistic symbols. The E-C/C-E proverb translation involves not only the transfer of language but also the transmission of culture. From the perspective of culture, the present thesis is aimed at finding a solution to the problem of cultural transplantation in proverb translation.Translation is, in its essence, intercultural communication, the ultimate purpose of which is to promote the cross-cultural exchange. How to realize the transfer of the source language culture to the target language has become one of the important criteria to judge whether the translation is successful or not. And the translator's choice of the cultural strategies for translation, to a large extent, influences the effects of expression of the cultural connotations. Domestication and foreignization are two important concepts and strategies in translation. Domestication is target-language-culture-oriented, stressing natural and fluent expression in the TL; while foreignization is source-language-culture-oriented, emphasizing in the TL the retention of the exotic cultural flavor of the SL.Whether domestication or foreignization should be the dominant strategy in the E-C/C-E proverb translation is the topic of the present thesis.In Chapter One, a brief introduction is given to make clear the purpose and the significance of the present thesis.In Chapter Two, the author gives an analysis of the relationship between language, culture and translation. Language is part of culture and is the carrier of culture; culture without language is unthinkable. Translation, therefore, is not only interlingual communication but also intercultural communication. A good translatoris supposed to be bilingually and biculturally competent. In the E-C/C-E proverb translation, it is of great necessity for a translator to have full knowledge of the cultural features embodied in both the Chinese and English proverbs.In Chapter Three, the author first briefly introduces proverbs and their basic features and then makes a detailed comparison between the cultural similarities and differences contained in Chinese and English proverbs. It is stressed that the cultural disparities endow the two languages with their respective peculiar cultural flavors but at the same time give rise to the special difficulties in proverb translation.Chapter Four mainly discusses the theories of domestication and foreignization. The discussion is focused on the theoretic basis of the two theories and the controversy between them. Both theories admit there exist cultural differences, but they differ from one another in their attitudes towards these differences. Domestication tends to avoid the cultural conflicts in the pursuit of fluent communication, while foreignization is in favor of admitting and accepting the cultural disparities with the hope of retaining the exotic cultural flavor of the SL. The author holds the view that foreignization should be the dominant strategy with domestication as one important complementary strategy in an era of cultural globalization.Chapter Five is on the application of the cultural strategies in E-C/C-E proverb translation. The author analyses the necessity of employing foreignization instead of domestication in proverb translation. By discussing the purpose and criteria of proverb translation, the text type of proverbs and the reader acceptance, the author points out that foreingnization should be mainly employed so as to achieve better conveyance of the cultural peculiarities of both English and Chinese proverbs.Occasions on which foreignization and domestication strategies should be used in the E-C/C-E proverb translation are classified and are illustrated respectively.It is concluded that the E-C/C-E proverb translation should serve the cross-cultural exchanges between the two different nations. It is not only necessary but also possible to present the cultural connotations reflected in English and Chinese proverbs. Whenever possible, foreignization should be used so as to retain the exotic cul...