The Application of Literal Translation with the Annotation in Translation of Idioms

任燕

Abstract Idioms contain most of the rich cultural background and cultural identity， especially those formed by the historical allusions idioms and phrases. English and Chinese idioms are closely related to culture and convey different cultural features and messages of their own nation， reflecting their own rich culture. Translator should try their best to translate these differences in idiom translation.

Key words idiom， culture， application of literal translation with the annotation

中图分类号：H315.9 文献标识码：A

I. Introduction

An idiom is generally a colloquial metaphor— a term requiring some foundational knowledge， information， or experience， to use only within a culture， where conversational parties must possess common cultural references. As culture is typically localized， idioms are often useless beyond their local context. To understand the idiom translation of strong national culture of the source language， translators often take literal translation and add explanatory text to help the readers understand the culture， implied meaning and the author's intent.

II. Definition of idiom and the application of literal translation with the annotation in idiom translation

Language is the most important communicative tool of all human beings. As the cream of the culture， the idiom is a kind of widespread set phrases or sentences， with specific implications， abstracted from the spoken language and experience of the people and the classical works. English and Chinese idioms， serve as a vehicle bearing the culture characteristics and the original colors， images and rhetorical devices of different nations due to multiplicity of geography， history， religious belief， life style， and custom. The cultural differences in idiom translation carries much weight of the quality of idiom translation for it involves two linguistic patterns and two cultural backgrounds. Literal translation with the annotation is not the best method in idiom translation， but also to achieve the best effect of promoting culture exchange.

III. Advantages of literal translation with the annotation in translation of idioms

The translation with the annotation not only best retains the “genuine” of the original language in style and meaning. It reflects the cultural connotation and idioms metaphorical images， but also ensures that the target language translation is easy for reader to understand and accept. For example：

（1）If the sky falls， we shall catch larks. （天塌下来正好抓云雀，意指：何必岂人忧天。）endprint

（2）He that lives with Muse shall die in the straw. （缪斯是希腊神话中掌管文艺、音乐、天文等的女神。文学艺术家生前大都穷困潦倒，不受世人的重视，只有死后才出名。）

（3）Tie fan wan（铁饭碗） refers to job in Chinese. If we translate it into Iron rice bowl may cause confusion to foreigners， so we need to add the annotation-a job for life， which will give readers a clear understanding.

Many idioms are based on its historical background and unique culture， which can not be found in the target language. On such occasions， literal translation with the annotation has incomparable advantages. The following three advantages will give you a deep understanding.

1. Preserving the original idiom images

Literal translation with the annotation can effectively help us in the process of translation. And retain the original language expression， so as to improve the degrees of cultural communication. For example：

（1）a Judas kiss（犹大之吻——阴险的背叛，源自《圣经》，指耶稣十二门徒之一的犹大以接吻为暗号出卖耶稣，导致耶稣被钉在十字架上）。

With such a Chinese annotation， Chinese readers not only understand the implied meaning， but also know that culture is related to the Bible and Jesus and the original idiom images are reflected in the culture.

（2）to meet ones Waterloo：败走麦城（遭遇惨败）

（3）a blessing in disguise：塞翁失马，焉知非福（因祸得福）

These idioms may be associated with some specific situations of a nation such as history， economy， culture， life， customs， natural environment etc. In translating these idioms， we should take full account of cultural differences and national flavors， and add some necessary annotation to explain the history background， culture and religion， etc.

2. Disposing the cultural vacancy

In the process of translating idioms， the translator will often encounter some unique cultural phenomenon and objective things in the source language， but they dont exist in the target language. That is the cultural vacancy phenomena which bring about cultural gaps and untranslatability. In many cases， adding a note can fill the vacancy and solve the problem. For example：

3.Providing readers with cultural background to deepen understanding of the idiom

Sometimes a good translation can keep almost all of the source language cultural information. But for those readers who lack for original idioms cultural background knowledge， they cannot understand them. At this time， the note provides the necessary cultural background knowledge which can deepen understanding and achieve the purpose of cultural exchange. For example：endprint

“All are not maidens that wear bare hair”不戴帽子的未必都是少女。（注：源于西方风俗，在西方，成年妇女一般出门都戴着帽子，而少女一般都不戴帽子，其寓意是告诫人们看事物不能只看事物的表面。）

If there is no such annotation， we Chinese readers may not know the custom that the adult female will wear hat when they go out of home， while maidens will not. So misunderstanding is avoided if there is a note to the translation.

IV. The points need to be considered

By using the literal translation with the annotation， the following four points must be considered.

The first to consider is the cultural differences. To translate idioms， culture differences should be taken into consideration. Most idioms are related to culture， such as history， religion， custom， etc. English and Chinese have a lot of culture differences.

The second is to realize the authors intention. We translators try our best to think what the author wants to express. Because when the author uses an idiom， it must be in a certain situation and have a certain meaning. So we should consider the authors intention and try to recover the original meaning of the idiom.

The third is to give consideration to the need of readers. The original target of translation is to serve readers， which requires translator to put readers in a vital position. Translation refers to the translation of one language information into another language， concerning variable factors of translation， such as cultural backgrounds and history.

The forth is to put the annotation into right positions. One is after the idioms， it should be short and clear， so it wont affect readers speed and understanding. Another is after the whole passage of the translation. It is suit for long annotation. It often contained more details， and it is suitable for researchers.

V. Conclusion

All in all， in the background of the increasing intercultural communication， the literal translation with the annotation proves to be reasonable to help the translators to convey more foreign cultures in idiom translation and at the same time keeps the translated idioms readable. The method of literal translation with the annotation in idiom translation has incomparable advantages， and its long term effect has a significance in future idiom translation.

Bibliography

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