关联理论视角下英汉习语翻译探析

论文摘要

习语不仅是语言的精华,而且也是语言的缩影,是语言特征的集中反映。大部分习语是劳动人民在生产实践和日常生活中所创造出的具有独立、固定特点的语言表达方式。由于习语不仅包含着丰富形象的客观物质,而且承载着多彩的民族情感和鲜明的民族特色。如何有效地向译入语读者传达原语中习语所蕴含的意义,同时又能保持其在原语中的文化内涵成为习语翻译的关键。Sperber和Wilson于1986年首次在他们的著作《关联性:交际与认知》中提出了关联理论。在关联理论框架下,语言交际是一个明示-推理的行为:说话人通过明示行为向听话人展示自己的信息意图和交际意图;听话人根据对方的明示行为所提供的信息,结合语境,理解说话人的意图。在这种交际过程中,交际双方以最佳关联性为取向。Gutt（1991）进一步发展了关联理论,把关联理论和翻译结合起来,提出了关联翻译理论。Gutt认为成功的译文只是而且只能是原交际者的目的和受体的要求在认知环境相关的方面与原文相似。关联理论的翻译观把翻译看成是一个涉及大脑机制的推理过程,是一种语言交际行为,是对原语进行语内或语际间的明示—推理的阐释活动。译者要依据原交际者的意图和译文接受者的认知结构和认知环境进行合理的推理和语码的取舍,使译文接受者找到译文与语境之间的最佳关联。换言之,译文必须以最佳关联性为取向。本文基于习语及其翻译的特殊性,从关联理论出发来探讨关联理论对翻译的解释力;根据翻译作为一种特殊的跨语际、跨文化的交际行为,是一个对原语进行阐释的明示—推理过程,为英汉习语的翻译提供一个新的视角。本文认为,在英汉习语的翻译实践过程中,不仅要实现语际间的相互转换,更为重要的是要实现不同语言中习语所蕴含的文化内涵的转换,根据最佳关联性原则,译者在翻译时应尽量使译文高度接近于原语,并能够为译入语读者所理解和接受。

论文目录

• Acknowledgements
• 摘要
• Abstract
• Chapter I Introduction
• 1.1 The background of the study
• 1.2 The aim and significance of the study
• 1.3 Structure of the thesis
• Chapter II An introduction to idioms
• 2.1 Definition of idioms
• 2.2 Sources of idioms
• 2.2.1 Idioms originating from the specific geographic environment
• 2.2.2 Idioms stemming from religion belief
• 2.2.2.1 Idioms formed by the name of persons and places in religion
• 2.2.2.2 Idioms formed by set phrases and sentences in religion
• 2.2.3 Idioms coming from the custom of an ethnic
• 2.2.3.1 Idioms about eating
• 2.2.3.2 Idioms about social custom
• 2.2.4 Idioms deriving from historical stories
• 2.2.5 Idioms springing from literary and artistic works
• 2.3 Characteristics of idioms
• 2.3.1 The nationality of idioms
• 2.3.1.1 Identity in figurative meanings but diversity in images
• 2.3.1.2 Identity in images but partial or thorough diversity in figurative meanings
• 2.3.2 The iconicity of idioms
• 2.3.3 Phonetic euphony of idioms
• 2.3.4 Semantic unity and structural stability of idioms
• 2.4 Language, culture and translation
• Chapter III Essentials of relevance theory
• 3.1 Researches abroad
• 3.2 Researches at home
• 3.3 Overview on relevance theory
• 3.3.1 Definition of relevance
• 3.3.2 Ostensive-inferential communication
• 3.3.3 The degree of relevance
• 3.3.4 Two principles of relevance
• 3.3.5 Contextual effect and optimal relevance
• Chapter IV The explanatory power of relevance theory to translation
• 4.1 Traditional notions of translation
• 4.2 The advantage of relevance theory over traditional translation theories
• 4.3 Theoretical essence of relevance theory
• 4.3.1 Translation as a dual ostensive-inferential process
• 4.3.2 Translation as an interlingual interpreting process
• 4.3.3 The role of translator from the perspective of relevance theory
• 4.3.4 Optimal relevance and context in translation
• V Application of relevance theory to the translation of Chinese and English idioms
• 5.1 Untranslatability and translatability
• 5.2 Translatability of English and Chinese idioms observed from relevance theory
• 5.2.1 Linguistic feature and functional feature
• 5.2.2 Translatability of the culture-specific idioms
• 5.2.3 Translatability of the stylistic values of idioms
• 5.2.4 Optimal relevance as the principle in the translation of idioms
• 5.3 Approaches for the translation of idioms from the perspective of relevance theory
• 5.3.1 Direct translation
• 5.3.2 Direct translation plus notes
• 5.3.3 Direct translation plus paraphrase
• 5.3.4 Indirect translation
• 5.3.4.1 Substitution
• 5.3.4.2 Paraphrase
• VI Conclusion
• Bibliography