A Study On Translation Strategies Of E-C Animal Idioms Under The Perspective Of Functional Equivalence

Idiom is the essence of a language,whose cultural connotations may be shown vividly and completely.Human beings have closely relationship with animals.Animals have a very important impact on human production and life.People use different animals to express their feelings and emotions.While also with a variety of vivid animal images to explain some of the complex social phenomena or rules.Thus,it forms a rich cultural meaning of animal idioms.There exist a lot of animal idioms in both English and Chinese languages.There are similarities in idioms,but there are some differences in the pattern of expression and cultural importance.Because of these similarities and differences,English and Chinese animal idiom translation has become a very difficult task.At the same time,Eugene A.Nida proposed Function Equivalence,so that he became an outstanding American linguist and translation theorist,which is crucial to direct the translation of English and Chinese animal idioms.According to the diversity of the cultural meaning of idioms,the following four correspondence relations are summarized: complete equivalence,incomplete equivalence,totally unequal and semantic vacancy.A thorough understanding of the cultural meaning of English and Chinese animal idioms can help translators to correctly translate animal idioms.When animal idiom is translated,it is very hard to know by which way to show some language features and cultural connotations of the source languages(SL)in the target language(TL),and also the live image of animal can be transferred.In the process of translating animal idioms,by which way to show the features and cultural connotations of the source language in the target language,but also to convey the vivid image of the animal,so that the target language readers get the equivalent response with the source language readers.Nida's “functional equivalence” translation theory is used to make the target language readers have the closest response to the source language readers.Based on the guidance of “functional equivalence” translation theory and a lot of examples,this paper mainly discusses and summarizes several methods suitable for translating animal idioms.In line with different cultural corresponding phenomenon,the flexible translation of the use of free translation,borrowing,literal translation,and other translation methods may all be applied here,so that the target readers' response can be met if possible.However,idioms can reflect different connotations in changeable backgrounds.Hence,in the process of the translation,a translator need make a choice to various translation approaches which make the readers gain the true connotation of idioms.The culture shock can be reduced by studying translation of animal idioms so that cultural exchanges may be promoted in Chinese and Western states,which might be help the westerners deep know Chinese civilization.Meanwhile,it is also hoped that Chinese people acquire the excellent western culture and make China's culture become richer.