A Comparative Study of English and Chinese

Figurative Idioms

                  LI Qinghua

Many idioms are generally used figuratively, and have an implied meaning. They are figurative idioms，and usually carry a vivid image. The idioms convey their ideas by means of images and figures of speech. Because of their rich associations, the images and figures of speech play an important role in defining the meaning of the idioms.

    Language is the carrier of culture, and idioms are the cream of a language. Among idioms, figurative idioms are most widely used. We might compare figurative idioms to a mirror, which best reflects the special features of a nation or a culture. By adopting different images to denote the same meaning, or using the same image to denote different meanings, we can see the cultural discrepancies in social customs, religious beliefs, the state of mind and historical development.

A learning of figurative idioms in both English and idioms and Chinese idioms can help bridge the cultural gaps and enhance the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. Also it can help students to have a better understanding of idioms and arouse their interest in the study of idioms and that of the language as a whole.

This paper is a comparison of English and Chinese figurative idioms. It focuses on the following aspects: Chapter 2 of this thesis is the brief review of relevant studies on idioms. In this part the author mainly explains the fundamental features of the English and Chinese figurative idioms. Chapter 3 shows the cultural discrepancies reflected by the images used in English and Chinese idioms. In Chapter 4 the author analyzes the origin of English and Chinese figurative idioms to show that the origin of English and Chinese figurative idioms reflects the discrepancies and similarities of English and Chinese cultures. In Chapter 5 the author of this thesis discusses some conditions for image selection in English and Chinese figurative idioms. In Chapter 6 the author presents some approaches in processing the image used in English and Chinese figurative idioms during translation. Chapter 7 is a conclusion.

Kew words: idiom; figurative idiom; image; image processing

                                                 李庆华

很多习语借助某一具体形象来表达意义，以形象来比喻某个意义，这类成语叫比喻性习语。也就是说，包含比喻的成语叫做比喻性成语，这是英语成语的主体。语言是文化的载体，习语又被看成是语言的精华。习语中占多数的又是比喻性习语。我们可以把比喻性习语比作一面镜子，它可以清晰地折射出文化的印记。

英汉比喻性习语往往采用生动鲜明的形象使人产生丰富的联想。通过不同国家采用相同或不同的形象来表达相同或不同的含义，我们可以看到不同文化之间的社会习俗、宗教信仰、思维方式、历史发展等方面的差异。

研究英汉比喻性习语，可以让英汉语学习者了解两国间的文化差异，从而有效加强他们的跨文化的语言交际能力。从比喻性习语中生动鲜明的形象的角度比较和研究英汉比喻性习语，可以引发英汉语学习者学习英汉习语的兴趣，继而引发他们学习语言的兴趣。

在英汉习语的翻译过程中，喻义的传达固然重要，然而形象的处理也是不容忽视的一个重要方面。形象处理是否得当，直接影响到习语翻译的成功与否。在英汉习语的翻译过程中，对形象的处理问题上存在着文化意象的失落和歪曲问题。文化意象的传递问题也是英汉习语的翻译过程中的一个重要课题。

本文对比了英汉比喻性习语，主要着重以下几个方面：

在第二章，作者简要地回顾了比喻性习语研究方面的文献，介绍了国内外学习者对英汉习语的研究成果。在这一部分中还主要阐述了习语的几个基本特征，即习语的结构稳定性、语义统一性、比喻性、和谐性和民族性等。

在第三章，本文作者从形象对比角度对英汉比喻性习语做了比较，从而揭示了英汉比喻性习语中采用相同或不同形象来表达相同或不同的含义，可以表现英汉之间的自然地理环境、宗教信仰、社会风俗习惯等方面的文化差异和相似性。而这些方面的差异和相似又是影响形象的采用的因素。

在第四章，作者主要从历史事件及人物、文学艺术、寓言神话、体育娱乐、劳动人民的劳动经验和生活经历等方面对英汉比喻性习语的来源做了探讨，揭示了比喻性习语的来源也可以显示出英汉的文化差异和相似性。

在第五章，作者比较了英汉语对比喻性习语的设喻比较，显示出英汉语的相似和差异性。

在第六章，本文作者针对在英汉习语的翻译过程中形象的处理问题介绍了几种处理方法。

结束语部分作者对全文做了简要的总结，提出了作者写本文的目的和希望。

关键词：习语 比喻性习语 形象 形象处理

作者：schools
出处：山西大学外语学院