On The Application Of Domestication And Foreignization In Chinese Idioms Translation

We can find Chinese idioms in different texts, such as tourist information, advertising, news, and even in spoken English. The study of the application of domestication and foreignization in Chinese idioms translation mainly involves the different roles played by domestication and foreignization in preserving and disseminating Chinese culture of Chinese idioms. Idioms are closely linked with a nation's historical background, economic life, geographical environment, customs and religious beliefs. Chinese idioms are full of profound culture and heritage. It is a difficult job to translate Chinese idioms. A good choice in translation strategy means a direct impact on the quality of translation, which affects the understanding of Chinese culture and the spread of Chinese culture. In the two different translation strategies, domestication means that we should not disrupt readers'peace as far as possible in order to make the author get as close as possible to readers, while foreignization means that we should not disrupt the tranquility of the original author as far as possible, so that readers can get as close as possible to the author. This thesis mainly studies the two translation strategies with the purpose of proving a better way to translate Chinese idioms. The main contents of this paper include studying the origin of Chinese Idioms, comparing the differences in the cultural connotation of English idioms and Chinese idioms, highlighting the value of Chinese idioms in thinking patterns, customs and other levels, studying and evaluating domestication and foreignization in the Chinese idioms translation, and analyzing the development trend of Chinese idioms translation from the aspects of synchrony and diachrony, with a conclusion that foreignization should be adopted as much as possible to improve the quality of Chinese idioms'translation.