Abstract: Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also a way of thinking, which is one of the basic methods of human existence and cognition. It is rooted in language, thought and culture. By analyzing and comparing the use and concepts of metaphors in different countries, we find that metaphor, as a basic cognitive activity of human beings, is universal and common. However, metaphors in different languages reflect different ways of thinking and behavior and different cultural patterns. Due to the differences of two ways of thinking and cultures, there are differences in understanding and formation that cannot be ignored. Therefore, this paper will discuss the above issues.
Key words: metaphor, cross-cultural differences, translation.
1. Preface
Metaphor is a common phenomenon, and a large number of people use metaphor to express their feelings and ideas. IARichards, a British rhetorician, once said, "In almost every conversation in our daily life, three sentences may be metaphors." According to statistics, about 4.7 million new metaphors and 2140,000 stereotyped metaphors are used in life. There is a great metaphor in recent years' research. On the basis of introducing the definition of metaphor, this paper summarizes the similarities and differences between Chinese and western metaphors, and points out their cultural differences. It is precisely because of the prevalence of metaphor that how to translate metaphor has become a very important issue. In the second half of the article, three translation strategies are put forward for metaphor translation. The purpose of this study is to try to compare and analyze a large number of metaphor expressions in everyday language between English and Chinese, and find out their similarities and differences, so as to explore a little for the accurate translation of metaphors in articles. This paper discusses the differences of thinking modes from the perspective of metaphor, which can help us to understand the relationship between language, culture and thinking more deeply, and understand more clearly the influence of language, culture and thinking modes of different nationalities on translation.
2. Metaphor in Chinese and Western Studies
On 1980, Leikauf & Johnson (George Leikauf & mark johnson) wrote a book "Living Metaphor" (the metaphor we live by), and a modern metaphor school opened a new chapter. Domestic academic circles have also systematically commented on the topic of metaphor, such as the study of "bound" metaphor in "A restricted view of metaphor research abroad" and Li's study of "subject metaphor" in China and India. However, academic research on Chinese metaphor is rare. "I'm afraid the real contribution of China scholars to the study of metaphor should be to establish a more universal, powerful and even unique theoretical basis for metaphor through the study and study of metaphors with China characteristics and the comparative study of metaphors in Chinese and other languages." In the text of the book Basic Research Status, Focus and Trend of Metaphor, Lin Wu put forward the relationship model between metaphor and culture: "Metaphor is the emergence of a systematic language expression, which not only reflects the psychological structure, but also reflects the role of different cultural models."
2. 1 Metaphors in the Cultural Relations between China and the West
2. 1. 1 relation
Response refers to the relationship between the two languages. English and Chinese are used in meaning and metaphor, and the same meaning is also mapped one by one in culture and image. This is because human beings' own existence, as well as all external conditions, including geographical environment, climate change, and the whole human social and cultural background, have certain commonalities, which forms the commonness between human beings themselves and the outside world on many issues. In the "angry" mood, the British express angry physiological reactions, such as grinding their teeth. Show one's teeth. (Ziyaliezui) An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. (An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth), which embodies China culture on the basis of common experience.
2. 1.2 does not correspond.
After all, English and Chinese metaphors are rooted in the soil of two different languages, resulting in very different cultural backgrounds. Only a few metaphors are completely corresponding, and most of them have no common cultural identity, thus forming a corresponding non-(non-corresponding) relationship. Non-relational metaphors can be roughly divided into three categories:
2. 1.2. 1 corresponds to the vehicle, but Yu Yi does not.
English and Chinese have the same metaphors in some cases, but the meanings of metaphors in their respective languages and cultures are different, even different. Peacock is a symbol of auspiciousness and beauty in China culture, especially the Dai people use peacock jumping to express their desire for a better self. If China people are compared to peacocks, it means beautiful light. However, in English, peacock is a symbol of pride, which is often interpreted as arrogance and showing off. For example, they are eager to kill the peacock. They want to suppress the arrogance of that arrogant young guy.
2. 1.2.2 corresponds to Yu Yi, but vehicles do not.
Because of their differences, English and Chinese people will have different metaphors when they look at the same thing from different angles. Because there are different metaphors in English and Chinese, metaphors refer to situations with basically the same meaning, that is, the same non-corresponding relationship. For example, to describe a person's inner anxiety and uneasiness, Chinese is "ant on hot bricks" and English is "cat on bricks". There is something similar: kick down the ladder. Guohe Chaiqiao.
2. 1.2.3 Easy and not corresponding
Some metaphors have metaphorical meanings, and the language they refer to is closely related to culture. In another culture, there is often no corresponding metaphor, which leads to a cultural default phenomenon. For example, the English word "my rib" refers to Yu's wife, which comes from the story in the Bible, that is, Adam's wife Eve was made of Adam's rib by God. China people don't have the cultural background of the Bible, and they don't have the habit of using rib metaphor, so there is a corresponding gap. Similarly, "ugly duckling" (ugly duckling) refers to a small person who will get ahead, and "early bird" refers to diligence. When translating words into Chinese, due to the default of culture, there is no corresponding relationship between metaphors.
2.2 Common metaphors in Chinese and Western cultures
Metaphor and culture, to a great extent, are the common understanding of human beings and rooted in people's own daily experience. In this respect, different nationalities are often the same. The metaphorical expressions of many abstract thoughts in English and Chinese are the same. For example, human beings formed the concept of position in childhood, and entered many easy-to-understand forms in that direction, including the position expressed by metaphor, which has become a fixed mode of thinking. For example, the word "direction" (upward and downward) is used to describe abstract concepts such as people's social status, body and emotion, and upward is better; Sadness is coming down. It is not difficult for us in China to find similar sentences: "gas price", "improving social status", "horizon" and "depressed". Due to the relative unity of objective natural laws, the nature of the understanding and cognition process of different cultures is similar.
2.3 Metaphors of cultural differences between China and the West
Due to the regional cultural differences between English and Chinese, people living in two different cultures have many differences in practice. Different life experiences make people understand the objective world, and different languages carry the cultural characteristics and information of different nationalities. The understanding of metaphor is inseparable from the social and cultural background. For example, the influence of social culture on color words is deeply rooted, and some color words have completely different meanings in different cultures and distinctive national cultural characteristics. For example, in English, green means "inexperienced" and "shallow knowledge", for example, "a novice" and "I was very unfamiliar when I first started working there." People in China like to express the meaning of the word "yellow", such as "yellow-haired girl" and "flower girl". Cultural background knowledge is the source of rich metaphorical thinking. Due to the differences between eastern and western cultures, there are also significant differences in the application of metaphor in English and Chinese.
2.4 Metaphor's influence on cross-cultural differences between China and the West
Language is a complex of cultural development and changes, which is influenced by political, economic, historical and environmental factors. Chinese and western styles are different, but in many ways they are infiltrated and integrated with each other. The inevitable influence of language differences and cultural metaphors is complex and diverse.
2.4. 1 Metaphorical expression of cultural conflict
Different nationalities in the world have different perspectives and ideas, and there are a lot of conflicting or inconsistent metaphors in different cultures. If animals are used as an analogy, in English, dragon is an evil monster that spews out smoke. In the Bible, the dragon is the devil, a symbol of evil and terror, and has a terrible and vicious meaning. Loong is an auspicious symbol in the traditional culture of China, and China people have "long-cherished children" and "descendants of dragons". The same metaphor in different cultures, the two cultures have different meanings.
"Dragon" is endowed with different connotations.
2.4.2 Differences in living conditions caused by metaphorical differences
There are many metaphors in English that are related to the ocean, such as: all in the sea; Binge drinking (drinking cattle); Fish in the air (old moon in water); Abandon the ship. In Chinese, there are many metaphors composed of horses or cows, such as: "Be willing to be a willing ox" (a horse willing to serve the society); "Old cow" (working horse) refers to hard work; "Bragging" (talking about horses), and so on. This is due to different cultural metaphors caused by different geographical locations and natural environments. Britain is an island country and ultimately depends on the ocean, while China is a big agricultural country, and its farming culture is deeply influenced by feudal society.
2.4.3 Metaphorical differences arising from different religious cultures
Religious culture is an important part of human culture, and its cultural consciousness, such as stories in the Bible, formed by referring to the religious beliefs of its own people, has become a feature of daily life in the West with its language and significance. For example, the power of the key (the key to the kingdom of heaven; Pope's right), in the right church, but in the wrong bench (generally correct, but not in detail), and so on. China culture is more influenced by Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and China people have many related argots. Jiehua Xianfo; "cramming"; "Be a monk for a day and hit the bell for a day" and so on.
It is the cultural diversity that leads to the differences between English and Chinese metaphors. This difference has brought an impact on cross-cultural communication. As a student of a foreign language, if you don't understand the difference between metaphor and language, you will make mistakes, and sometimes you will mistakenly say that the good is pleasant, which will cause one or both parties in the conversation to be unhappy. Sometimes it is laughed at as a compliment. When other operators of a native language do not understand the cultural differences contained in this language, it is often difficult to accurately understand the meaning conveyed by this language, which brings difficulties to cross-cultural communication.
3. Metaphors of three translation methods
Metaphor translation not only accurately and effectively conveys the original text, but also faithfully, easily and completely reproduces the cultural connotation and significance of the original text. However, due to cultural differences, metaphors in English are different in the west, so we should not only consider their literal meanings, but also pay attention to their cultural differences in the west.
American Eugene Nida said: "Translation is the communication between two cultures. To be truly successful in translation, it is more important to be familiar with two cultures and master two languages. Because it only makes sense in terms of its role in the cultural background. " Therefore, the translation of metaphor should combine Chinese and western cultures without cultural background, and it is impossible to achieve real communication between the two languages.
3. 1 literal translation
The so-called "literal translation" means to keep the content and form of the original text, especially the metaphor, national image and other local colors of the original text, when the language conditions permit. While literal translation keeps the original expression of culture, the goal enriches vocabulary and expression, such as "Pandora's box"; "chain reaction". The original text requires the same cultural information, so we should adopt literal translation.
(1) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You are my sun, my only sunshine.
In Chinese and English, sunshine is warm and beautiful. In these two languages, the cultural information they spread is the same. As a rule, and requiring that the form, grammatical structure, similar style or color of the original text are basically the same, the law should adopt literal translation.
He is another Sherlock.
He is also a Shylock. (Note: Shakespeare's Shylock is a very harsh and despicable businessman in The Merchant of Venice.
People. )
Redundant.
: Coal to Newcastle. (Note: "Newcastle" is British coal, and the coal here is redundant. )
4. Conclusion
Metaphor, as a figure of speech or skill, is a unique feature of grammar, which makes sentences more flexible, constructive and beautiful. It is a powerful tool for metaphorically expressing more complex thoughts and things. No matter when and where, people often use metaphors in their daily lives. As Mr. Zhuang Lin said, "Metaphor is no longer a passive process to expand his knowledge and understanding. Metaphor plays an active role in helping us acquire new knowledge, enabling us to better understand the objective world. " The differences in metaphorical meanings between English and Chinese are due to the differences between eastern and western cultures, that is, the differences in ways of thinking, moral concepts and consciousness. However, what is the influence of different cultures on the concept of metaphor is still a problem that needs to be examined and solved. At the same time, we must pay special attention to cultural differences in the process of metaphor translation. The best translation is one that can accurately reflect the author's true meaning and his cultural and stylistic characteristics, that is, the translation of metaphor should make the source culture and target culture consistent as much as possible, and so on.