Dilemma in English Translation of Euphemism in Honglou Meng 〔＊〕

Yu Yuanyang

（School of Foreign Studies Hefei University of Technology，Hefei Anhui 230009）

Ⅰ.Introduction

Euphemism is a universal phenomenon in various languages around the world.In different language systems，some concepts and some things are avoided being mentioned directly in communication.When talking about some topics or applying some words and phrases，people usually adopt“avoidance”in varying degrees，to slide over using language which is unhappy，discontent and causing damage on relationships.For expressing ideas and communication，tortuous methods are adopted and blurry，palatable and urbane words are used by people.This language phenomenon is called“euphemizing”，the result of which is accompanied by lots of euphemisms.Euphemisms in Chinese and in English differ a lot in deed，but Chinese and English euphemism shares the same core：seeking benefits and avoiding disadvantages.And the functions of euphemisms（Evasive function，Politeness function，Amusement function，Cosmetic function）in Chinese and English are also very similar.It is these similarities that provide the feasibility to translate the Chinese euphemisms in Honglou Meng into English.And two great English translation editions have been fulfilled in recent half of century.

Ⅱ.Differences between Chinese euphemism and English euphemism

According to the definition by Neaman ＆Silver：“Euphemism is a good or favorable interpretation of a bad word”，〔1〕there are also various and complex differences between Chinese and English euphemism，which could be found everywhere in the original Honglou Mengand English translation editions.

1.Difference of history

Both Chinese and English euphemism originated from fear to inexplicable natural phenomena，but the development is so different in the long history.According to Shuding Fang’s research，in ancient China，euphemism developed mainly on two aspects：forbidden words（讳）and folk customs（民俗）.〔2〕

“民间俗讳，各处有之，而吴中为甚，如舟行讳翻，以著为快儿；帆布为抹布；讳离散，以梨为圆果，伞为竖竺；讳狼藉，以榔褪为兴哥；讳恼躁，以谢灶为欢喜”《菽园杂记》〔3〕

Development of Euphemisms in English is quite different.English euphemisms relates so much with religions.After the puritan revolution，political euphemisms flourished in English.In neoclassical era，euphemisms were used to show elegance and solemnity.From18’s and 19’s century，slangs from lower classes invaded，most of which were adopted in euphemism.At the same time，English as official language spread to different colonies，where English euphemism developed its own features.

2.Philosophic and religious difference

Religions in English speaking countries and in China are totally different，in which philosophy usually originates.

Taoism，Buddhism，and Confucianism have great impact on Chinese euphemism.

Taoism is a native religion，which believes one should let nature take its course and will be punished quickly for the evil one has just done.Taoism and its philosophy have great impact on Chinese euphemism.For example“仙逝，登仙，仙去，仙游，羽化”，etc.“贾夫人仙逝扬州城”（第二回）.〔4〕

Buddhism is an influential religion which was drawn into China in Han Dynasty.It emphasizes on karma （preordained fate），and Buddhism believes that bad deeds，as well as good，may rebound upon the doer.Buddhism and its philosophy also have great impact on Chinese euphemism.For example：“坐化，入寂，圆寂，物化，升天，归西，转世，涅磐”，etc.

Confucianism affects Chinese most，which emphasizes on interaction between heaven and mankind.There is an old saying：“死生有命，富贵在天。”《论语》.〔5〕Chinese Euphemisms relate with Confucianism so much.For example：“不虞，不测”，etc.

3.Different language features

Chinese is hieroglyph，formed by strokes.This feature determines that euphemism could come from changes of characters and phonology.For example，“千红一杯”（悲），“万艳同窟”（哭）（第五回）.〔6〕

English is linear，formed by letters of an alphabet.The feature determines shortening of letters.For example，“W.C.”is abbreviation of“water closet”.

And English is affected by European language so much，especially French and Latin.English euphemism borrowed so many words from French and Latin.For example，“indisposed”is taken from French to express“sick or ill”euphemistically.

4.Different way of expression

The ways of expressing similar or same euphemism sometimes are very different between Chinese and English.Taking number euphemisms for example：in Great Britain，“go to the fourth”means “to to the toilet”.In USA，“number one”and“number two”do mean“piss”and“shit”.In China，“小号”and“大号”are used to express“piss”and“shit”.

5.Cultural difference

In the above four points，comparison between Chinese and English euphemism on the aspects from the devolepment of euphemism to language features tells us that the differences relate closely with cultural difference.If we don’t know cultural backgrounds of each language very well，we can not get a deep understanding of euphemisms in different languages.In another word，culture is the basis and premise of the language research.Cultural factors could not be ignored.In the following analysis，cultural difference could be seen in different dilemmas in translation of euphemism in the novel.

Ⅲ.Dilemmas in the translation process of euphemism in Honglou Meng

As mentioned above，euphemism is not only a special language phenomenon，but also a special cultural phenomenon.Sometimes it is very hard to achieve a perfect effect in translation.Especially the euphemism itself is in dispute in the academic world now.Fortunately there are already two famous English editions of Honglou Meng.

“My one abiding principle has been to translate everything … the novel was written by agreat artist with his very lifeblood.I have therefore assumed that whatever I find in it is there for a purpose and must be dealt with somehow or other”（Hawkes in preface）.〔7〕

Because of similarities and especially differences between Chinese euphe misms and English euphemisms，dilemmas in translation of euphemisms in Honglou Mengexist everywhere.

1.Mistranslation

Before translation，the step of understanding of source text is very important.If there is inadequate or false understanding，translation would also be inadequate or false.And functional equivalence is very hard to be achieved.Honglou Mengis a masterpiece in Chinese literature，in which culture－loaded expressions，especially euphemisms，sometimes are very difficult to understand not only for foreigners but also for native speakers.In the famous Yang’s and Hawkes’translation editions，there are also lots of mistranslations.

（1）我便学戏，也没往外头去唱。我一个女孩儿家，知道什么是粉头面头的！姨奶奶犯不着来骂我，我又不是姨奶奶家买的。（第六十回）〔8〕

Even if I did train as an actress，I never performed outside.I’m only agirl；what do I know about painted whores？You’ve no call to swear at me，madam.You didn’t buy me.（Yang Hsien－yi ＆ Gladys Yang）〔9〕

And suppose I have been trained as an actress，I’ve never played outside for money，I’m a little girl，not a trumpet or whatever it was you called me.And as for being “bought goods”，well，it wasn’t you who bought me.（Hawkes）〔10〕

In the above examples，“粉头”is a euphemistic expression of prostitute in Chinese.In Hawkes’translation，“粉头”is translated into“trumpet”，which does not mean prostitute in English.“Trumpet”means“a brass musical instrument with a bright ringing tone”（The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.1997）.〔11〕Obviously，Hawkes got a misunderstanding of“粉头”，and “trumpet”in Hawkes’edition is a mistranslation，while Yang’s translation “painted whores”is better.Actually，“painted whores”seems too plain and direct，and“painted”is not a good modifier.In my opinion，“scarlet woman”，a euphemism for prostitute in English，would be a more suitable choice in this context.

2.Loss of Chinese lingering charm

According to Nida’s equivalence theory，translators do not only pay attention to the source text，but also to the target text，and reader’s reaction to the target text is more important.Although Nida said that concerned with target text and reader’s reaction does not mean looking down upon the source text，we will be partial to the target text when we compare the source text and the target text in translation.Sometimes the translation of euphemisms in Honglou Meng seems achieve functional equivalence，but the deviation from the source text may lead to the loss of Chinese lingering charm.

The death euphemism “升仙”（第六十三回）〔12〕with local Chinese Taoist meaning is translated into“have gone straight to heaven”in Hawkes’edition；and“归了西”（第五十四回）〔13〕with Budhhist meaning is translated into“has ascended to the Western Paradise”in Yang’s edition.These two Chinese euphemisms are translated into English euphemisms with western Christian meaning in different editions.In these translations，Chinese lingering charm in Chinese euphemism is apparently lost.How to keep Chinese lingering charm of euphemisms in the novel is a dilemma the translators would face in the process of translation.

3.Lack of equivalent word

Some subjects are in the sensitive position in one language，on which lots of euphemisms are formed.While the same subjects are not so sensitive in another language，in which euphemism is not necessary.Although a similar euphemism in the target language would be good，most of time，translators can not find corresponding euphemisms in the target language.

For example，there are about 95 Chinese death euphemisms used in Honglou Meng，most of which have no corresponding euphemisms in English.

（2）林如海捐馆扬州城。（第十四回）〔14〕

Lin Ruhai dies in Yangzhou；（Yang Hsien－yi ＆ Gladys Yang）〔15〕

Lin Ruhai is conveyed to his last resting place in Soochow.（Hawkes）〔16〕

In the novel，“捐馆”is from Intrigues of the Warring States which means“officials leave and donate one’s house”.Although there are also many euphemisms of death in English，none is simiar to“捐馆”.In Hawkes’s edition，“捐馆”is translated“is conveyed to his last resting place”which is also an English death euphemism.The translation is good in the euphemistic sense，but the original meaning is totally different.In Yang’s edition，the euphemistic meaning of“捐馆”is totally ignored.

In fact in ancient China，the society is more hierarchical than in Europe.Death euphemisms are formed on many aspects related to Chinese feudal hierarchy.

“天子死曰崩，诸侯曰薨，大夫曰卒，士曰不禄，庶人曰死。”《礼记·曲礼》〔17〕

“范睢既相，王稽谓范睢曰：“事有不可知者三，有不可奈何者亦三：宫车一日晏驾，是事之不可知者一也；君卒然捐馆舍，是事之不可知者二也；使臣卒然填沟壑，是事之不可知者三也。”《史记·范睢蔡泽列传》〔18〕

We can see that in ancient China death euphemisms differ in different hierarchies.In English，death euphemisms are not emphasized on this aspect.In translation，it is hard to find a similar English euphemism on this aspect.Obviously，there is no equivalent English euphemism on feudal hierarchical level.In fact，in English it is difficult to express euphemistic avoidance“讳”.In English world，people believe that it is God that created the world and human being，which means all men are created equal.So there is no obvious avoidance on appellation in English.

4.Dead translation caused by cultural obstacles

Cultural differences often cause problems in the understanding of euphemism.Sometimes it would lead to dead translation.Nida also admitted that there is no perfect translation.About the feature of euphemism，belittling ourselves tends to be used in Chinese and flattering somebody else tends to be used in English.Humble address is widely used in Chinese.There are so many Chinese euphemisms of humble address used in Honglou Meng.

For example，“下官”（第三十三回）〔19〕and“犬妇”（第十四回），〔20〕there are no corresponding words in English.In both Yang’s and Hawkes’editions，they are translated into“we”and“daughter－in－law”.“犬子”（第十回）〔21〕is even translated into“my worthless son”in Yang’s edition.Euphemistic meaning apparently can not be transferred into English in these translations.

Ⅳ.Conclusion

This study has attempted a preliminary investigation into the translation of euphemisms in Honglou Meng，in particular，the dilemmas in the process of translation.

First，euphemism is a universal phenomenon both in Chinese and English.Although there are similarities between Chinese euphemisms and English euphemisms，differences exist everywhere.Five aspects of differences are concluded and investigated in the paper，which are difference of history，philosophic and religious difference，different language features，different way of expression and cultural difference.

Second，due to the differences between Chinese euphemisms and English euphemisms，there must be dilemmas.In the two famous English editions of Honglou Meng，some euphemisms are dealt with so well，but there are problems in both English editions.In the paper，these problems and dilemmas are investigated and concluded in four points：mistranslation，loss of Chinese lingering charm，lack of equivalent word，and dead translation caused by cultural ob－stacles.

〔1〕Neaman，J.S，Kind Words：A Thesaurus of Euphemisms，New York：World Publishing Corp，1983，p.4.

〔2〕束定芳：《现代汉语中的委婉语》，《汉语学习》，1989年第2期 ：第34－38页。

〔3〕陆容：《元明史料笔记丛刊》，中华书局，1997年，第11页。

〔4〕〔6〕〔8〕〔12〕〔13〕〔14〕〔19〕〔20〕〔21〕曹雪芹、高鹗：《红楼梦》，岳麓书社，2004，第8、34、420、450、317、85、219、90、91页。

〔5〕孔子：《论语》，中华书局，2006年，第51页。

〔7〕〔10〕〔16〕Hawkes，D.＆ Minford，J（trans.），The Story of the Stone，London：Penguin Books，1973，Preface，pp.594，111.

〔9〕〔15〕Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang（trans.），A Dream of Red Mansions，Beijing：Foreign Languages Press，2005，pp.583，104.

〔11〕 The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary，London：Oxford University Press，1997，p.773.

〔17〕戴圣：《礼记》，中华书局，2006年，第98页。

〔18〕司马迁：《史记》，中华书局，2013年，第2245页。