Image-Processing in Translation of Chinese Idioms into English

JIANG Ling-min

This paper explores the commonly used translating methods and the frequency of their usage through the analysis of the examples of imagery idioms in Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Idioms. Findings include the following. First， three image-processing methods in translation of Chinese idioms into English are adopted commonly， namely， preserving the original image method， replacing the original image method and giving up the original image method. Second， changing the original image method and giving up the original image method are the major translation methods in the idiom translations surveyed.

Keywords： Chinese idioms， image， Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Idioms， translation methods

Introduction

Idiom is characterized by its vivid image. Since the vivid image contained in idiomatic expressions not only contributes significantly to the overall meaning of them but also add to the expressive and emotional power of these idiomatic expressions， image-processing becomes an important issue in the expressive and emotional power of idiomatic expressions. In China， quite a few translation practitioners and scholars have made laudable attempts to render Chinese idioms into English. They have undertaken various thought-provoking analysis on the structures， meanings， methods， effects， skills， and experiences of translation that have laid the foundation of the theories in the field of Chinese idioms translation. However， important these efforts are， few article is found which combine image-processing in translation of Chinese idioms with Chinese-English dictionaries up to present， though there have been numerous refined articles which involve various image-processing methods of Chinese idioms.

This paper re-elaborates on the old topic of idioms translation but from a new angle. With fresh illustration and concise explanation in English and Chinese， this essay sheds light on these expressions， some of which are thousands of years old.

2. Methodology

2.1 Research Questions

The present study examined the situation of the translation of Chinese idioms in the Dictionary of Chinese-English Idioms to answer the following research questions：

（1） What methods can be employed in image-processing in translation of Chinese idioms into English？

（2） Which translation method is more frequently used than the others？

2.2 Data Collection

To do this research， the choice of a proper Chinese-English dictionary is a really important thing. So the choice of dictionary must be very careful and serious. After comparing and consideration， the author decided to use the Dictionary of Chinese-English Idioms compiled by Shi Zhengxin， Wang Chunqing and Zhang Jianzhong as the source of the Chinese idioms. Published in the year 2006， this dictionary is a relatively new one and is in wide use among Chinese and English language bilingual readers. It has paid special attention to the image-processing problem.

Referring to the dictionary mentioned above， some 3000 common Chinese idioms were identified. Among the 3000 idioms， there are 1890 idioms with images. As it was impossible to examine all the 1890 idioms， the method of random sampling was employed. This method allowed us to examine a portion of the 1890 idioms to obtain the features of the whole group. To represent the population of 1890 idioms， 1/6 of the population was selected. Finally 316 Chinese idioms were left as the sample idioms.

2.3 Data Treatment and Analysis

First chart was designed to put translation of all 316 Chinese idioms. The chart is mainly about the image-processing methods applied in English translation of the idioms. The translation methods include： to preserve the original image， to replace the original image and to give up the original image.

An instruction to the raters was developed before the rating materials were provided to the raters. It told the raters the purpose of the research and criteria for rating. Three raters took part in this research. One is the author of this thesis. One is a college teacher of English. The other one is a master’s candidate of English major. Of the three raters， one is male. Each worked on the rating material independently.

The chart designed and the instructions offered to the raters， there went the process of evaluating the translation of each sample chosen. Results of each evaluation of each sample were put on the chart according to the instructions. This job lasted each rater well over one month.

Then， results of the evaluations from three raters were triangulated. Different results of evaluation on a certain translation were settled when two or above agreed on the same result. The fact was that disagreement on the results of evaluation among the three raters was rare. So， triangulation of the results further confirmed the results of the evaluation of the translation of the sample idioms.

3. Results and Discussion

After all the jobs done from data collection to data analysis， the statistical results were obtained to provide foundations for the answers to the two research questions. In the following sections of this chapter， results and discussions of each of the two research questions are provided respectively.

3.1 Image-processing Methods

In the translation process of idioms， the conveyance of metaphors is of course important. However， the image processing is also an important element that cannot be ignored. Whether the image is handled properly or not， it directly affects the success of idioms translation. Due to the different national cultural backgrounds of English and Chinese， each language has formed a distinct image feature， so when translating， we should strive to achieve vivid， both in form and meaning （Bao， 2001）.

Based on the statistical results of the remaining 316 Chinese idioms with images， the result shows that： generally speaking， the image processing in the English translation of Chinese idioms usually adopts the following methods：

3.1.1 Preserving the original image

There are a few idioms in English and Chinese that are equivalent in metaphor and coincident in image. In translating， the image in the target language can be used to reproduce the image in the source language， and strive to maintain the original meaning， image and grammatical structure of English and Chinese idioms， basically taking into account “formal equivalence” and “functional equivalence” （Hu， 2001）. For example：

易如反掌 as easy as turning one’s hand

影子内阁 shadow cabinet

如坐针毡 to sit on pins and needles

Sometimes an image in Chinese language has no corresponding image in the English culture， or an image in Chinese language does have the corresponding image in English language but may not convey a certain connotative meaning. At that time， simply reproducing the same image can not achieve the same esthetic and expressive effects in the translated text. So we may reproduce the same image with its connotative meaning added to the translated text. As a result， English readers can visualize the fresh image in their culture with the connotative meaning explained so that the readers’ horizon of expectation is broadened. The same esthetic feeling of Chinese readers can be retained in English readers. For example：

东施效颦 Tung Shih imitating Hsi Shih， which is not original but rather tiresome.

三个臭皮匠顶个诸葛亮 Three cobblers with their wits combined surpass Zhuge Liang， the master mind.

班门弄斧 show off one’s proficiency with the axe before Lu Ban， the master carpenter.

3.1.2 Replacing the original image

As we all know， an image occurring in idioms has its national color. If such an image has no corresponding image in the target language culture， we may conduct the image processing by reproducing the same total image plus paraphrase. But if such an image has its corresponding total image in the target language yet different association is aroused in the two cultures， then we may replace the image with another one in the target language which has similar connotative meaning in the source language. For example， “to talk horse” and “吹牛”， the total image of the two idioms are almost the same. If we don’t change the image， it will cause misunderstanding and the stability of idioms in the target language will be affected. Therefore， we cannot translate “talk horse” into “吹馬” （unless it is used to achieve some humorous effect） but into “吹牛”. Similarly， we cannot translate “to spend money like water” into “挥金如水” but into “挥金如土”.

3.1.3 Giving up the original image

Sometimes the image of the source language idiomatic expressions may be either untranslatable or improper to be conveyed to the target language readers even though it can be kept， the translated text would be lengthy in language form and difficult to understand. Or sometimes the image in the source language does not make sense to the target readers at all as the correlation between images and meaning itself is unclear or illogical in the source language and it is absurd or unimaginable for the receptors of the target language. Therefore， we have to sacrifice its image， only retaining its sense， that is to say， to reveal the intended meaning of the source language idioms through brief interpretations. For example：

望子成龍 to wish that one’s son would stand out among his fellows

得胜回朝 win the day

袖手旁观 stand by with folded arms

The Chinese idiom “得胜回朝” in the examples consists of two images. One is “winning the day” and another is “returning to the court”. The meanings conveyed by the two images are different. Why is the second image abandoned in the translated text？ The reason is that the first image is the main meaning carrier and the reproduction of the second image in the translated text would be redundant.

In general， Image-processing involves three principal methods： （1） to preserve the original image， （2） to change the original image， （3） to give up the original image. The first method is very important in our translation of idiomatic expressions because it could retain the “sentiment” and “charm” of the original. The second is the method of transformation of images. It still makes the language vividly and lively although it transform the original images into new ones.

3.2 Frequency of Image Processing Methods

The second research question is “Which translation method is more frequently used than the others？”Answers to this question were developed based on the statistical results. Results related to frequency of translation methods used are provided in the table below.

From Table 1， we can see that in all the idioms surveyed， changing the original image method appeared 164 times； giving up the original image method appeared 101 times； preserving the original image method appeared 51 times. When it comes to the percentage of image-processing methods being used in all the idioms， changing the original image method takes up 51.9%； giving up the original image method takes up 32%； preserving the original image method takes up 16.1%. The overall result of the table shows a declining order of changing the original image， giving up the original image and preserving the original image. From the numbers above， we may find that changing the original image method and giving up the original method take up 83.9% of the total translation methods while preserving the original image takes up 16.1%.

3.3 Discussion

As stated above， changing the original image method and giving up the original method take a leading role in the three basic translation methods in the 316 idioms examined. Preserving the original image method only serves as supplements. Both being a major translation method applied， changing the original image method takes up the superiority over giving up the original method. Why does this happen？

Contradictions between images and figurative meanings in English and Chinese idioms show the corresponding relationship between English and Chinese idioms when they indicate their semantic and cultural features. Their corresponding relationship can be divided into three kinds： basic corresponding， semi-corresponding， non-corresponding. Different types of idioms of course calls for different translation methods. As a matter of fact， some idioms conveying specific cultural features have no corresponding equivalents in Chinese and they are considered as cultural vacant idioms. The following are idioms of this type：

An Olive Branch 橄欖树枝

Aaron’s rod 亚伦的神杖

Noah’s ark 诺亚方舟

These idioms are all typical cultural vacant idioms bearing traces of English culture. It is chiefly this absence of relevant cultural knowledge that gives rise to misrepresentations of the idiom in some Chinese readers who are not so often exposed to Western culture as the English majors surveyed. Most English and Chinese idioms fall into the category of semi-corresponding and non-corresponding types. It needs to point out， however， that the discussions above are based on the results of the examination of the idioms in one dictionary. Whether or not this situation of the use of changing the original image and the use of giving up the original in Chinese idiom translation stands true across all Chinese-English dictionaries requires more research.

4. Conclusion

To sum up， Based on idioms in Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Idioms this paper explores the commonly used translating methods and the frequency of their usage through the analysis of the examples of imagery idioms in A Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Idioms. The research shows that changing the original image and giving up the original image processing methods in translation of Chinese idioms into English are the two most frequently used methods in this dictionary. Although preserving the original image method serves as supplementary method used， it also has its special advantages over other methods in its capability of being faithful to the original source language and keeping the original flavor of the idioms as well as the Chinese culture and tradition carried by them. It’s intended to provide reference for translation study about imagery in idioms and the teaching and the practice about the translation from Chinese to English.

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