英语习语翻译中的误译_英语论文

On Misinterpreting Words Literally in English Idiom Translation

摘要

习语，作为一种古老的语言现象，大量存在于英汉两种语言中。然而由于英汉文化背景及思维方式等方面的差异，很多英语习语往往被人理所当地理解为其表面的意思，因而在实际习语翻译过程中，不准确的翻译甚至是望文生义也时常存在。作为一名合格的译者，只有充分了解了英语国家的文化背景和民族特点才能尽可能忠实准确地表达出原文的思想内容。

在分析英语习语定义及特点的基础上，本文首先参照是否能够直译这一标准.将英语习语大致分成两个类别，即可以按其字面意思直译的习语及不可直译的习语。通过阐述造成不能直译的原因，本文将重点分析归类习语翻译中常见的一些误译案例及其产生的具体原因，从而尽可能减少译者在今后习语翻译过程中的误译，并使得今后的习语英文更为准确和生动。

关键词：英语习语，望文生义，原因，方法

Abstract

As an age-old language phenomenon, idiom is abundant in both Chinese and English. However, The English language is, in some ways, a far cry from that of Chinese, especially in the cultural background and thinking mode; therefore some English idioms are often misinterpreted or inappropriately translated according to their surface meanings. As a qualified translator, it is his or her job to have a good command of cultural background and national characteristics of those English speaking countries, so that he can faithfully deliver and express the meaning of the target text to the full.     

This thesis, first of all, touches upon the definition and characteristics of the English idioms, then it continues to classify English idioms generally into two categories, namely, those can be translated literally according to the surface meaning and those can’t; Through a detailed analysis of the various reasons accounting for the related misinterpretations, this thesis aims to offer some solutions to those misinterpretations, thus giving impetus to the progress of idiom translation and making the translated version more accurate and vivid.

Key words: English idioms, Misinterpreting, Reasons, Solutions