The Significance of Foreignization in the Translation of Chinese Idioms from the Perspective of Translation of Culture

[Abstract] Domestication and foreignization are the terms brought up by an American scholar L.Venuti to describe the two different translation strategies. The former refers to translation in which a transparent, fluent style is adopted in order to minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for target language readers, while the latter designates the type of translation in which a target text deliberately breaks target conventions by retaining something of the foreignness of the source text. Translation, generally speaking, is not only a transition between different languages, but also transferring information of culture in the source language to that in the target language. And the nature of translation is cultural communication. Since 1980s, many scholars put forward their own opinions upon domestication and foreignization under the light of cultural translation. In their opinion, the fundamental task of translation is to transfer the original contents and cultures completely into the target language. During translation, translators should consider not only differences between languages but also those between cultures. Therefore, translators should put more emphasis on foreignization. Take Chinese idioms for example. Since the exchanges among different countries and regions become mo无忧论文 【http://www.uklunwen.com】re and more frequent, translators should put more emphasis on foreignization in translating Chinese idioms into English. During translation, translators should facsimile as much as possible the cultural features and connotations of Chinese idioms. In this way, English people can know more and better about China and really contact with the sophisticated Chinese culture. Meanwhile, to some extent, foreignization can help to spread unique Chinese cultural message and even help to enhance cultural communication between China and foreign countries.     
[Key Words] domestication; foreignization; cultural translation theory; Chinese idioms

从文化翻译观看异化在汉语习语英译中的重要性

【摘 要】归化与异化是两种不同的翻译策略。译界有许多学者对此发表了许多的观点。归化与异化之争由来已久，从古至今，从西方到中国，归化与异化都是学者译者们争论的热门话题之一。翻译基本上是一种语言转换活动但又不是一项纯粹的语言转换活动，它还牵涉到种种非语言因素，特别是牵涉到种种文化因素。翻译不仅是语言层面更是文化层面上的一种活动，其本质是文化交流。自20世纪80年代后，许多学者针对归化与异化提出了应该从文化角度来审视二者的观点。孙致礼在《翻译的异化与归化》中提到: “翻译的根本任务是准确而完整地传达原作的 ‘思想’和 ‘风味’。在翻译中，译者不仅要考虑语言的差异，还要密切注视文化的差异，力求最大限度地保存原文所蕴涵的异域文化特色。如果不是万不得已，特别不宜归化，而要尽可能真实地传达出来。” “归化主要表现在 ‘纯语言层面’，在 ‘文化层面’上则应力求最大限度的异化。”以汉语习语为例，在当今跨文化交流不断发展的趋势下，译者在翻译中应多从文化的角度考虑，适度加以应用 “异化”策略及其方法，尽可能重现汉语习语的文化特征及内涵，让西方人更多更好地了解中国，接触中华民族博大精深的文化，同时也有利于传播中国独有的文化气息，进而有利于实现中国与世界各国进一步交流。
[关键词] 归化;异化;文化翻译观;汉语习语

1.  On cultural translation theory
Cultural translation is discussed in the broad context of culture. It includes an analysis of the surfac