文化与翻译

I. Introduction

1. Culture

a. the narrow sense

“It is the totality of the spiritual，intellectual，and artistic attitudes shared by a group，including its tradition, habits, social customs，morals，laws，and social relations.”

b. the broad sense

It includes material culture which refers to all the products of manufacture, institutional culture which refers to social system, religious system, ritual system, educational system and kinship system etc. and mental culture which refers to people’s mentalities and behaviors, their beliefs, perceptions, concept of value, thought pattern etc.

2. The relations between Culture and Translation

① The man of principle is courageous. He knows the right and will fight for it at all costs. God is on his site, and he takes courage from the knowledge of this fact.

② The two presidents exchange sir’s and ma’am’s in the venerable Southern style. After 25 minutes, Cater slowly disengages.“ I’m grateful for this meeting.” He says. O n his way to the car, he talks about his next visit, then tell Davis: “I love you. I’ m proud of you.”

③ Do you see any green in my eyes?

④ SS guards then shoved each prisoner in the direction the doctor had indicated.

a. the macroscopical way

to see what influences the translation has produced on the cultural development of a nation or country.

b. the microcosmic way

to see what cultural elements restrict or affect. It concerns more concrete problems.

Nida 奈达

-- from the Story of Stone or Dream of Red Mansion

a. Ecological Culture

真是 ‘天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福’。（曹：156）

“Truly, ‘Storms gather without warning in nature, and bad luck befalls men overnight.’ …” (Yang: 155)

“I know ‘the weather and human life are both unpredictable.’” (Hawkes: 231)

癞想吃天鹅肉 （曹：165）

A toad hankering for a taste of swan (Yang: 1)

A case of “the goose on the ground warning to eat the swan in the sky” (Hawkes: 242)

b. Language Culture

至于才子佳人等书，……（曹：5）

As for books of the beauty-and-talented type,… (Yang: 4)

And the “boudoir romances”，… (Hawkes: 50)

更是一种风月笔墨，…… （曹：5）

Even worse are those writers of the breeze-and-moonlight school,… Still wore is the erotic novel,… (Hawkes: 49)

c. Religious Culture

谋事在人，成事在天。（曹：95）

Man proposes, Heaven disposes. (Yang: 90)

Man proposes, God disposes. (Hawkes: 152)

d. Material Culture

将道人肩上褡裢抢了过来背着，……（曹：19）

He transferred the sack from the Taoist’s shoulder to his own,.. (Yang: 4)(Yang: 17)

But Shi-yin merely snatched the satcel that hung from the other’s shoulder and slung it from his own,… (Hawkes: 65)

陋室空堂，当年笏满床。（曹：18）

Mean huts and empty halls

Where emblems of nobility once hung. (Yang: 16)

Mean hovels and abandoned halls

where courtiers once paid daily calls (Hawkes: 65)

成则为王败则贼（曹：31）

Such people may become princes or thieves, depending on whether they’re successful or not. (Yang: 29)

Zhang victorious is a hero.

Zhang beaten is a lousy knave? (Hawkes: 29)

俗语说得好：“杀人不过头点地。” （曹：139）

Remember (Yang: 142)

the proverb “A murderer can only lose his head”

“You know what the proverb says:

He who checks a moment’s rage

Shall calm and carefree end his days.” (Hawkes: 216)

Unit 2 Chinese and English Though Patterns and Translation

I. Thought Pattern

➢ thought pattern is an ingenerate part of culture.

➢ the unique spiritual activity of human beings

➢ the process during which one chooses, evaluates and deals with the stimulus from the outside

II. Main Differences between Chinese Thought Pattern and English Thought Pattern

a. Dialectical Thinking vs. Formal-Logical Thinking

1. Dialectical thinking is to understand the reality from the angle of changing and developing.

✓ The Chinese traditional philosophy treats the objective world as the whole constituted by two all-inclusive opposites, the Yin and the Yang

✓ Chinese people tend to pursuing the equilibrium and symmetry among different things.

断断续续；风风火火；男男女女；吞吞吐吐；来来往往；是是非非。

2. English thought pattern takes the Formal-Logical thinking as one of its characters.

✓ The Western thought pattern owns the characteristics of rationality, analysis, demonstration, accuracy and system.

✓ They use the language with the free collocation of the words according to the grammatical rules.

b. Synthetic Thinking vs. Analytic Thinking

 Chinese people usually take the unity of Heaven and Human as their ideal state and acquired the synthetic thinking.

 They become used to observing the features of the objective world on the whole and studying synthetically on their findings under the overall situation.

 the English-speaking people put much emphasis on the individual and analysis.

 The analytical thought pattern is used to dividing the whole into many small parts and then classifying them, through the experiments and logical inference it comes to analyzing the essential factors of each part, and finds the essential laws of things from the qualitative analysis to quantitative analysis.

1. How strange then, when, seemingly, all that was venerable and progressive, old and young, sophisticated and innocent, mighty and modest in the Tory party was united to save Mr. Heath from political extinction, extinguished as he was— at the hands of comparative unknown,

and what is more, a woman.

译文1：然而多奇怪啊！看起来，当所有托利党的成员，无论德高望重的或思想进步的，城府老到的或清纯幼稚的，还是年迈的或年轻的，骄傲的或谦虚的，大家都团结起来挽救希思先生，使他不至于政治垮台。尽管他声名显赫，他还是垮台了，而且是载在一个女人的手里。

译文2：尽管希思先生声名显赫，而且保守党内形形色色的人，无论德高望重的或思想进步的，城府老到或清纯幼稚的，还是年迈的或年轻的，骄傲的或谦虚的，看来都抱成了一团，以求挽救希思先生的政治生涯，但他还是败在一个无名小辈的手上，而且是一个女人的手上！这真是不可思议。

C. Thinking in Images vs. Thinking in Concepts

 Thinking in images is a psychological process in which human beings analyze, synthesize, and reorganize memory presentations in brain so as to form new ones.

 The Chinese are used to using images and specific things to express the abstract concepts so as to understand the abstract things better and more vividly.

 English-speaking people do judgment and make inference by using concepts. .

 These differences tell us that the English-speaking people are used to expressing the complex rational or mental concepts in abstract nouns, while the Chinese people usually express them in specific, vivid nouns

 E.g.

1. And yet it almost provokes a smile at the vanity of human ambition, to see how they are crowded together and jostled in the dust.

译文1：看到他们挤成一堆在泥土中推推搡搡地前行的样子，对于人类之志向的空虚，我只能报以微笑。

译文2：然而，只要看到这些人现在横七竖八地在坟墓中挤成一堆的样子，对于人类志向的虚幻都几乎只能报以淡淡的一笑了。

2. When he was in Congress, sundown would not find us in Washington the day Congress adjourned.

译文1：他在国会时，凡议会休会之日，落日是不会发现我们在华盛顿的。

译文2：当他在国会的时候，凡议会休会之日，我们就出华盛顿郊游，不到太阳落山，我们是不回家的。

d. Differences in the Distance between Subject and Object

 The traditional Chinese thought treats the subject (human beings) as the center of the universe.

 no clear difference between subject and object.

 human-oriented culture

 The western people traditionally treated nature as their cognitive object, holding that only by having understood nature can human beings grasp it and tame it.

 objective thought pattern

E.g.

1. Absence and distance make the overseas Chinese heart increasingly fond of the Peking regime.

译文1：缺席与距离使海外华人越来越向往北京。

译文2：华侨背井离乡，远居国外，因此他们在感情上越来越向往北京政权。

2. Symbols of reflectiveness passed into her face, and a note of tragedy at time into her vioce .

译文1：沉思的神情笼上了她的脸庞，声音中也常常有悲调。

译文2：她的脸上出现了沉思的神情，声音中也时常有悲调。

e. Inductive Thinking vs. Deductive Thinking

 The traditional Chinese thought pattern puts much emphasis on the intuitive experience and the intuitive comprehension.

 Aristotle emphasized deduction, regarding the deduction as an advanced thinking method and claiming that it can derive the unknown.

f. Spiral Thinking vs. Linear Thinking

✓ Chinese people like to express their opinions in an indirect and implicit way.

✓ English-speaking people is straightforward. They are used to putting the theme of the talk at the very beginning of the sentence.

g. positive vs. negative

1. She has been a widow for only six months.

译文1：她成为寡妇才六个月。

译文2：她的丈夫死了才半年。

2. We must never stop taking an optimistic view of life.

译文1：我们不能停止对生活抱乐观的态度。

译文2：我们对生活要永远抱乐观态度。

3. The real escapist can watch a free film show and sip champagne on some services.

译文1：在某些航班上，真正想逃避现实的人，可以看看免费电影、喝喝香槟。

译文2：在某些航班上，如果你实在觉得无聊，就可以看看免费电影、喝喝香槟。

4. He was displeased with her honesty…it took a certain amount of experience in life, and courage, to want to do it quite that way.

译文1：列奥倒是喜欢她这么直来直去……有点生活经验、又有点胆量的人才敢这么做。

译文2：列奥对于她的直率没有感到不快……有点生活经验、有点胆量的人才敢这么做。

III. The Transfer of Thought Patterns in the Course of Translation

1. Transfer between Concreteness and Abstractness

✓ 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆

As you sow, you will reap

✓ English: abstraction; necessity; relativity; intensity; jealousy; arrogance

Chinese: 抽象化；必要性；相对论；强度；嫉妒心理；傲慢态度

✓ English: Our appeal remained a dead leChinese

Chinese: 我们呼吁犹如石沉大海。

2. Rearrangement of Word Order

(1) English: The suggestion put forward by the teacher was accepted by his students.

Chinese: 老师提的建议被学生接受了。

(2) English: The woman holding a baby in her arms is waiting to see the doctor.

Chinese: 那个手里抱着婴儿的妇女正等着医生看病。

(3) English: The National Science Conference was held in Beijing in 1977.

Chinese: 全国科学会议是一九七七年在北京举行的。

(4) English: When he was twelve, Mark Twain lost his father.

Chinese: 马克·吐温十二岁时失去了(他)父亲。

3. Transfer between Covert Coherence and Overt Cohesion

(1) Chinese: 他们去用餐。美酒佳肴，使他们顿受感染。言谈间绝无恶意，甚至有友好之情。

English: They went to dinner. It was excellent, and the wine was good. Its influence presently had its effect on them. They talked not only without acrimony, but even with friendliness.

(2) Chinese: 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。

English: As long as the green mountains are there, one should not worry about firewood. 4. Rearrangement of Sentence Stress

(1) English: I went out for a walk after I had my dinner Chinese: 晚饭后我出去散步。

(2) English: He has to stay at home because he is ill. Chinese: 他病了只得呆在家里。

(3) English: His chief contribution was making me realize how much more than knowledge I had been gotten from him.

Chinese: 他使我认识到，我从他那里学到的，远远不只是知识，这是他最大的贡献。

5. Transfer between the Subjective and the Objective

(1) English: The patient is being operated on by the doctor.

Chinese: 病人正在由医生动手术。

(2) English: Electricity can be most easily turned into other forms of energy

Chinese: 电力最容易被转换成其他形式的能量。

(3) English: Steps have been taken to diminish friction.

Chinese: 已经采取措施减少摩擦。

(4) English: The teacher may be asked questions

Chinese: 可以向教师提问。

(5) English: All objects are made to expand by heat.

Chinese: 热使所有的物体膨胀。

A Comparison of Cultural Connotations between Chinese and English Color Words and Their Translation

I. Classification of color words

➢ three categories: basic color terms（基本颜色词），object color terms(实物颜色词) and color words in shades（色差颜色词）

➢ Some words dominated by a common concept can form a semantic field（语义空间）. The concept is called the super ordinate term（上位词）while the words forming the field are subordinate terms or hyponyms（下位词）.

➢ ten basic color terms: white, black, red, green, yellow, blue, brown, orange, gray and purple.

➢ 黑、白、红、黄、绿、蓝、紫、 灰等

II. Structural Characteristics

1. ad j.+ basic color word

1) “deep/dark+color words”: indicating the strong color

e.g., deep blue; deep green; dark brown; dark red

2) “light/pale+ color words” :indicating the light color

e.g., light yellow; light blue; pale grey; pale whit

3) “bright/rich/vivid+ color words”: indicating the bright color

e.g., bright/rich/vivid red; bright/rich/vivid yellow

4) “dull/dirty+ color words”: indicating the dark color

e.g., dull yellow; dull gold; dirty grey; dirty white

2. color words+-ish : the different shades of the color. An adjective followed by –ish means “slightly….”

e.g., whitish sky, yellowish book leaves; reddish face…

3. color words+color words : the mixture of the color. The former stands for the while the latter functions as modification.

e.g., red green; green yellow; grey blue. . .

4. color words +and+ color words: Two colors coexisting in something without being mixed form a design and color.

e.g., The dog is black and white.

She has a yellow and black car.

II. Contrasts of Cultural Connotations of Basic Color Terms between English and Chinese

I. Black and 黑

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) Darkness, Death, Misfortune and Sadness:

“黑暗”, “黑沉沉”, “黑漆漆” ；

“blackout” ， “black future”, “black and white”

“In a black mood”, “a black dog”, “Black comedy”, “black humor”,

“黑色的心情”，“黑色七月”

(2) Dirtiness, Illegality, Evil spirit:

“A black sheep” ，“a black mail” ；“黑手” ， “黑心”.

“一身黑汗” “black sweat”

“黑水”， “black water”

“黑道”，“黑货”，“黑市”，“黑手”，“”，“黑暗势力”，“黑幕”“ black economy ”, “ blackguard ”, “ blacklist ”,

“A black sheep” ，“a black mail”

(3) Rage, Dignity and Justice :

“气得脸铁青(意指黑)”， “turn black with rage”.

“to look at someone black”

“玄衣”

ii. Cultural Non-equivalence

(1) In Chinese, “黑”was used to refer to reactionaries, such as “黑组织”，“黑后台”，“黑爪牙”，“黑纲领”，“黑材料” ,

(2) “Negro” : “work like a black”

(3) In business English, “in the black” and “black figure” have a positive meaning: operating a business profitably

“Black figure nation”

iii. Translation Examples

• “black market price” － “黑市价格”.

• “black figure / in the black” －“盈利、赚钱、顺差”.

• “black figure nation” － “国际收支顺差国”. “interest in the black” － “应收利息”not “黑色利息” . • The black dog is over him.

• 他意气消沉。

• Tom is the black sheep of his family.

• 汤姆是个败家子。

2. White and 白

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) Brightness :

in Chinese, yin and yang, which is represented by black and white respectively .

白鹿，白鹤，白狼，白堆，白雁，白大鹅: the symbols of luck and fortune.

In Christianity, white is the most sanctified color.

（2）Purity and Innocence :

“白璧无瑕” ，“洁白”,

“white-handed”， “Mark one’s name white again”

“不白之冤”, “清白无辜”

“青山有幸埋忠骨，白铁无辜铸奸臣” ：

“Honored is the green hill to provide eternal resting place for the loyal soul; Innocent is the iron used to cast the image of the hated traitorous ministers.”

（3）Death and Failure :

White is the color of death in the West.

“白事”

“白旗” “white flag”

ii. Cultural Non-equivalence

In Chinese

(1) ，“白”is the symbol of being reactionary.“白区”“白色政权” “白军”

(2) “illiterate or commoner” as in“白衣”and “白丁”

In English

(1) Useless: “white elephant”

(2) Holiest Color: White is the holiest color in Christianism, which is manifested in the

belief that Jesus and his angels wear white dress. “white wedding”

(3) kindness and good intension：“A white hat” “A white sheep” “A white magic”

iii. Translation Examples

“white war”－“没有硝烟的战争”

“white goods” － “体积大、单价高的家用电器用具”

“white coal” － “水力”

“white sale” － “大减价”

They treated us white.

他们公正地对待我们。

My children have bled me white.

我的一切都为孩子花光了。

3. Red and 红

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) Happiness, Luck, Love and Beauty :

the favorite color to most Chinese ；“中国红”• 红人: a favorite with somebody in power

• 红榜: honor roll

• 红利: 红运: good luck

• 红颜、红粉佳人: a beautiful or young woman

“红喜事”

• 红妆: a woman in rich attire

• 红显: love

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) Happiness, Luck, Love and Beauty :

“red-letter days” “Red hat” “Red Cross”

“to paint the town red”

“The red carpet”

(2) Aggravation, Violence, Danger and Shyness :

“白刀子进去，红刀子出来”，“刺刀见红”, “杀红了眼”

“a red alert” and “红色警报”

“Red light” and“红灯”

“Red battle” “Red activities”

（3）Eroticism, Health, Power and Deficit :

“红杏出墙” ； “Is she really so red?”

“满而红光” “red-blooded”

“朱门” “朱衣” “朱轩” “scarlet”,

“in the red”, “red figure”, “red ink” or“赤字”

ii. Cultural Non-equivalence

(1) In China,“红”is the symbol of “revolution”, “communism” and “political loyalty” :

“五星红旗” “红军’“红色根据地”“红色政权” 红色江山: the socialist country governed by the proletariat 红太阳: Chairman Mao 红宝书: works of Chairman Mao 红色长城: the people’s Liberation Army

To express one’s envy “眼红”

ii. Cultural Non-equivalence

(1) In English, the word “red” is generally used as a synonym for “communism” :

“reds under the bed” “Red neck” “Red Army (Faction)” and “Red Brigades”

(2) “红”in Chinese is often used to express one’s envy :“眼红”

(3) specific usages in English :

“Red lining” “redbrick” “Catch somebody red-handed” “Red

tape”

4. “Yellow” and“黄”

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) Holiness, Power and Honor

one of the most respected color in ancient China; “黄”has the same pronunciation as“皇” , to symbolize imperial power :

“黄榜” “黄袍”;and“黄旗” “黄道吉日”

In the English-speaking countries, yellow, as the color of gold and the sun honor and power, is a holy color in Christianity.

(2) Warning

used negatively on some occasions :

“A yellow card” or“黄牌” “A yellow line” or “黄线” “double yellow lines” or “双黄线”

in China

(1) “pornographic”, “obscene”, “filthy” or “vulgar” ： “黄色书籍”，“黄色电影”，“黄色录像”，“扫黄”

（2）associated with “things visional or out of date”：“昨日黄花”，“陈年黄历” and“黄粱美梦”

（3）\"failure\".“我和他黄了” “买卖黄了”

（4） “precious” ：`黄金日”，“黄金周”，“黄金月”，“黄金季节” “黄金时代”

in English

(1) “jealous” ： “yellow with envy”

（2）“cowardice” and “contemptibility” ：

“a yellow dog” “too yellow to stand up and fight” yellow streak”

（3）an editorial style with heavy emphasis on scandals：“Yellow journalism”, back”， “the yellow press”

V. Green and 绿

i. Cultural Equivalence

(1) a symbol of life and vigor, but also a sign of peace and hope :

“Greenhouse” “绿油油的田野”

(2) closely connected with the environment :

“have a “yellow

green peace(绿色和平组织) green revolution(绿色) green party(绿色政党) green consumerism(绿色消费)

（3）a symbol of passing :

“green light” and“绿灯” “Give somebody the green light” or“开绿灯” “Green card” or“绿卡”

ii. Cultural Non-equivalence

in Chinese

(1) often connected with females :

“红男绿女” “依红偎翠” “绿窗”;“绿云”and“绿鬓”

（2） “degrading”, “humble” or “of bad reputation” ：“绿帽子”and “青楼女子”

in English

(1) “immature” :

“green apple” or “green corn”

（2） “vigorous”, “hopeful”, “youthful” and “happy”

：

“the green years”, “a green old age”, and “a green memory”

（3） “jealous” or “envious”：

“green-eyed” “the green-eyed monster” .

ii. Translation Examples

“green meat” - “鲜肉” “a green hand” -“新手” “green back” - “美钞” “green power”- “金钱的力量”,“财团”.

He said-Ladies and Gentlemen, -May we all live to a green old age and be prosperous and happy. 他说－诸位女士、先生－祝我们大家都有一个幸福的晚年，富裕而安康。

(2) “My eyes, how green!” exclaimed the young gentleman.

“啊哊，多么幼稚!”小绅士喊道。

(3) You cannot expect Mary to do business with such people. She is only eighteen and

as green as grass.

你不能指望玛丽同这样的人做生意，她只有十八岁，还毫无经验。

VI. Blue and 蓝

i 蓝 in Chinese

 To Chinese people, blue is the color of the dress worn by Confucian scholars in ancient times. “蓝衫” –秀才

 “青天” in Chinese often refers to a just judge or an upright magistrate;

 “青云” is extended to mean a high official position as in “平步青云”.

 “青出于蓝而胜于蓝” implying the pupil surpasses the master.

ii. Blue in English

(1)In the western religions, it is a holy color representing sacredness, truth and loyalty.

(2)Dismal and Melancholy:

“in a blue mood” ；“a blue Monday”, indicating the first day of work or school after a pleasant, happy weekend.

“Have the blues” and “in a blue funk” also have the meaning of “unhappy” and “sad”.

(3) Noble:

“Blue blood” is used to refer to a person of aristocrat origins. A “Blue ribbon” is a small piece of blue material given to the first-prize winner of a competition.

(4) Business Use: “blue-chip” , “blue button”

(6) Filthy and Obscene: ‘blue movies’, ‘blue jokes’ and ‘blue talk’.

(7) Other Usage: “Out of the blue” indicates the news which is sudden and unexpected; “the blue moon” refers to the rare opportunity.

iii. Translation Examples

By one survey, more than 20 million Americans now watch at least one blue video each week.

据一项调查显示， 现在美国有二千多万人每周至少观看一部黄色录像片。

Unit 4

Cultural Connotation between Chinese and English Personal names and Translation

I. Personal names and culture

Study in West :

➢ anthroponymy 姓名学

➢ Personal Names: A Bibliography ➢ The Story of Our Names, Dictionary of American Family Names

➢ English Surnames by Matthews in 1966, American Given Names: Their Origin and History in the Context of English Language by George R.. Stewart in 1979, Family Names

Study in China : ➢ Explaining the Names(《释名》刘熙 ) .

➢ Review of Chinese Personal Names(《华夏姓名面面观》王泉根 )

➢ Research of Personal Names in Han and Wei Period(《汉魏人名考》张孟伦 ) ➢ To See Society and Culture from the mew of Names(《从姓名看社会和文化》罗光庆 1985年)

II. The Similarities and Differences between Chinese and English Naming Systems

a. The Similarities between the Two Naming Systems

1. Family Names and Given Names in Both Naming Systems

✓ the family name comes down from the father’s side

a) Naming after the place names.

“Dongguo东郭”“Nanguo南郭”“Xiguo西郭”and “Beiguo北郭”

London, Washington, York, Kingston, Lincoln

✓ the family name comes down from the father’s side

b) Naming after a person’s occupation .

“Yue乐” “Shang商” “Shi石” “Tao陶” “Tu屠” and “Wu巫”

Baker, Barber, Carpenter, Fisher, Hunter, Butcher

c) Naming after some colors .

“Huang黄” “Bai白” and “lan蓝”

Blue, Brown, White. Green, and Black

d) Naming after animals

“Ma 马” “Niu牛” “Xiong熊”and “Long龙”

Lamb, Fox, HuII, Wolf, Eagle, and Dove

2. The Gender Differences in Both Naming Systems

✓ different given names for girls and boys

the sexual bias in both naming cultures

“fa发”，“加贵”，“fu福”and “shun顺” ; “zhaodi招弟”，”pandi盼弟”，and “mengdi梦弟”

Christian一Christians, Glen一Glenda, Paul一Paula, Patrick一Patricia, Stephen一Stephanie

“Nancy boy” is a boy behaves like a girl .

“Tom girl” a girl with the characteristics as a boy.

✓ different given names for girls and boys

the sexual bias in both naming cultures

to transliterate women’s and men’s names differently by choosing different Chinese characters

“Martin/Martina (Marline)” and “Jusiin/Justina (Justine)” : “马丁/玛丁娜(玛汀)” and “贾斯丁/嘉丝蒂娜(嘉斯汀)”

Evelyn, Innocence, and Marion respectively into“伊夫林/伊芙琳”，“殷诺生/茵诺珊”，and “马里安/玛丽安”

“王丽”,“王力” :

Mr. Wang Li and Miss Wang Li

3. Pet-names, Nicknames and Pen-names in Both Naming Systems

✓ The Pet-names in Chinese

a) Reduplication. “Jingjing静静”，”linlin琳琳”，”feifei飞飞”

b) Addressing by just one Chinese character. “jing静”，”lin琳”，”fei飞”

c) Adding “xiao 小”or “lao老”

d) One character of the given names plus “er儿”. “jing’er静儿”， “lin’er琳儿”，”fei’er飞儿”

e) Some other pet-names are irregularly formed not relating to the family or given names, usually given by parents in the childhood, like “meimei妹妹”， “didi弟弟”

✓ The Pet-names in English

a) Front clipping. “Robert一Bert/Bertie”, “Anthony 一Tony”

b) Back clipping: “Patrick一Pat”, “Phillip-Phil”, “Benjamin一Ben/Benny”

c) Front clipping or back clipping : “Andrew一Drew/Andy”, “Elizabeth一Beth/Elise”d) Front clipping plus back clipping : “Rebecca一Beck/Becky”, “ElizabethLiz/Liza/Lizzie”

e) The irregularly formed ones: “William一Bill/Billy/Billie”, “Mary一Minnie/Molly” “Helen” and “Neil” belong to the same person

梁实秋: “海伦”and“耐耳”

朱生豪: “海伦”and“耐儿” “伦儿”

“Catherine一Kay”: “凯瑟琳一凯”.

✓ The Nicknames in Chinese

一

a) With only the describing words. “Fatty一胖子”, “Shorty-矮冬瓜”，”Beanpole一竹竿”，”Skinny瘦猴”，and “Lippy婆婆嘴”

b) The describing words plus the full names of the persons. “及时雨宋江”，“九纹龙史进”，“黑旋风李逵”，“智多星吴用” “豹子头林冲”

“Song Jung the Timely Rain”, “Nine Dragon Shi Jin”, “Li Kui the Black Whirlwind”, “Wu Yong the Wizard” and “Panther Head Lin Chong”.

“Alexander the Great” and “Killer Lewis” ： “亚力山大大帝”and“杀人王刘易斯

c) There are also some nicknames not just for one individual but for a group of people.

“Uncle Sam” referring to the Americans and “John Bull” referring to the Englishmen.

”洋人yangren”,

people from Hebei province：“九头鸟jiutouniao”.

✓ The Pen-names

“Lu Xun鲁迅”'(Zhou Shuren周树人)，”Lao She老舍” (Shu Qinchun舒庆春), “Bin Xin冰心”(Xie VJanying谢婉莹) and “Ba Jin巴金”(LiFugan李芾甘)

Mark Twain (Samuel Longhorne Clemens), O.Henry(William Sidney Porter), and George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

b. The Differences between the Two Naming Systems

1.Different Written Forms between the Two Naming Systems

 NF1一F+(X)+G ：Chinese names

NF2一G+(X)+F： English names

NF3一G+(X)+(Y)

 the initials of English given names and middle names ：

In Britain. people are used to initiating both the given name and the middle name like “W. S. Allen”

in America people always only initial the middle name like “Richard H. Lee”.

some well-known figures : “G. H. S” (George Bernard Shaw), “F. D. R” (Fanklin Delano Roosevelt)

“FDR” stood for “Franklin Delano Rooselvelt” ; “FDRDEAD”

2 Patriarch-oriented and Religion-oriented

 People of the same clan in China will have a mark to identify the same generation ：

“贾赦(Jia She) ”,“贾政(Jia Zhen)” and“贾敏(Jia Min)”

 the taboo on using the personal names of emperors or one’s elders.

 in the English world, where being named the same names as the emperors’ or the elders’ is a way to show respect and love to them ：

““Junior/Jun/Jr” and “Senior/Sen/Sr”

“2nd” or “II, III”

“John Smith Jr./John Smith Sr.”, “Henry V” and “John Ford II”, and we translate them respectively into“小约翰·史密斯/老约翰·史密斯”，“亨利五世”and“约翰·福特第二”.

 The spirit of Confucianism focusing on patriarch and ethics has also influenced the diction in Chinese naming：

“jizu继祖、guangzu光祖、yaozong耀宗、xiaoxian 孝先”and “xiaoru孝孺、kejian克俭、zhongliang忠良、fangzheng 方正”

 “In English culture, every phase of a man’s life is touched by Christianity

a Christian name

Adam, Daniel, David, Eva, Paul, John and Peter

3 the Special “Zi字”and “Hao号”in Chinese Nearing Culture

 the Chinese characters “ming名”and “zi字” had different meanings. When a baby was three-month old, he would get a “ming”(the given name), and at twenty years old would get a “zi字”， which is the courtesy title by which a person is addressed by his friends, so in English it is translated into “courtesy name”.

 Some literati even gave themselves some laudatory titles to call themselves, especially used when publishing works or giving their autographs in calligraphy, paintings or letters, and this title is called “hao号” translated as “literary name” in English.

 “TaoYuanming陶渊明”: “Mr. Five Willows”(五柳先生)

4 English Naming is Less Purposive than Chinese Naming

 Chinese people used to connect names with people’s life and soul, believing that the name would determine one's fate .

“kang 康” or “jian健” , “fu富”“gui贵”or “fa 发” , “xiaag祥” or “fu福”

 English choice of names comes from the Bible, the circle of kin, the public figures, and the influence of books and films.

c. Translation in Literary Works and in Rhetoric Use

 In literary works the authors have formed a lot puns in the names of fictional figures, some in lotion, while some others in meaning

“Jia Baoyu贾宝玉”(假宝玉), “Jia Yucun贾雨村”(假语存), “Zhen Shiyin甄士隐”(真事隐)

“yuan 元、ying迎、tan探、xi惜”(原应叹息)

John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress: Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Faithful, Hopeful, Giant Despair, and Mr. Nogood

 In literary works the authors have formed a lot puns in the names of fictional figures, some in lotion, while some others in meaning

free translation, “袭人”(Aroma),“紫鹃”(Nightingale),“晴雯”(Skybright), and “平儿”(Patience)

Hawks used Latin names to rename the religious people, in order to keep the refined and mysterious color. “空空道人” (Vanitas) “茫茫大士” (Impervioso),渺渺真人” (Mysterioso) “妙玉”(Adamantina ), “芳官” (Perfumee).

d. Two Unsuccessful Cases

“I bet you can’t spell my name,” says I.

“I bet you what you dare I can,” says he.

“All right,”says I, “go ahead.”

“G-e-o-r-g-e J-a-x-o-n一there now;” he says.

(The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. Chapter XV1I. P 134)

译文：“我敢说你准不知道我的名字是哪几个字，”我说。“我敢说你这可难不住我，我知道，”他说。“好吧，”我说，“你说说看。”“荞麦的荞，自治的治，清洁的洁，克服的克，孙子的孙一一怎么样，”他说。

(Zhang Yousong(张友松)and Zhang Zhenxian(张振先)in 1978 )

责子

白发被两鬓，肌肤不复实。虽有五儿男，总不好纸笔。阿舒已二八，懒惰故无匹。阿宣行志学，而不爱文术。雍端年十三，不识六与七。通子垂九龄，但觅梨与栗。天运苟如此，且进杯中物。

 “Yong-twan is thirteen now/ And yet I do avow/He can’t discriminate/The figures six and seven.”

c. Translation of Personal Names in Rhetoric Use

 “Lin Daiyu” “Lei Feng雷锋” “A’Q阿Q” “Ghuge Lung诸葛亮” “Napoleon” “Shylock” “Don Juan”

 “Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu张三，李四，王五” “every Tom, Dick and Harry”

 “Jack of all trades, and master of none”, “Jack of both sides” “Every Jack has his Jill”

门门懂，样样瘟”，“墙头草，两边倒” , “有情人成眷属”

 Pure Transliteration

--“亚当Adam” “夏娃Eve” and “诺亚Noah” “罗密欧Romeo”，“朱丽叶Juliet” and “奥塞罗Othello”

 Culture Compensation

a) To Give up the Name, Only Get the Image Transferred into a Seemingly Equivalent One in the TL.

--“说曹操，曹操到” “talk of the devil and he will appear”

--“情人眼里出西施” “Helen is always in the lover’s eyes”

b) To Give up Both the Name and Its Image, Only Get the Meaning Transferred

--“I’m not a Helen of Troy or a Cleopatra.” “我既无沉鱼落燕之容，又无闭月羞花之貌”.

--“情人眼里出西施” “Helen is always in the lover’s eyes”

c) To Reserve the Name

--我不是花容月貌的海伦，也不是倾国倾城的克莉奥佩特拉”

--“东施效颦”

“Tong shih imitating His shih” （ Hsi shin was a famous beauty in the ancient Kingdom of Yueh. Tung shih was an ugly girl who tried to imitate her ways.）

I．Animal Expressions in General

1. eight categories in English:

(1) adj.+animal expression

• Eager beaver(干劲十足的人) big bug (大人物) early bird (早起或者早到者) lucky dog (幸运儿) black sheep (害群之马)

(2) n.+animal expression

• movie bug (电影迷) spring chicken (年轻的少女) iron horse (自行车) sea wolf (海盗) saw horse (锯木架)

(3) -ing+ animal word

• spelling bee(拼字竞赛) sitting duck(容易攻击的对象) fighting cock(好斗的人) willing horse(自愿工作的人)

(4) animal expression + n.

• monkey business (不法或不道德的行为) flea market (旧货市场) crocodile tears (假慈悲) lion heart(勇士) calf love (少年时代的恋爱)

(5) animal expression+-ed

• chicken-hearted (胆小的) hen-pecked (妻管严的) dog-tired (疲劳的) He horse-played around with the boys.(疯狂地) His judgment is worthless. He parrot-talks and just repeats what he has heard. (重复地)

(6) animal expression + animal expression

• cock sparrow (公麻雀) hen sparrow (母麻雀) bull elephant (公象) cow whale (母鲸)

(7) animal expression – and - animal expression

• cat-and-mouse(折磨人的) horse-and-buggy(过时的) cat- and- dog(不和谐的)

(8) as+adj. +as+animal expression

• as brave as a lion (勇猛如虎) as timid as a hare (胆小如鼠) as hungry as a hawk (如同饿狼) as mute as a fish (噤若寒蝉)

2. Chinese patterns:

• 虎背熊腰，虎头虎脑，狐朋狗友，龙腾虎跃, 虎头蛇尾，龙飞凤舞，龙马精神，狗仗人势

(1)小家伙儿虎头虎脑，真可爱。 This little boy is lovely, strong and good-natured.

(2)有什么了不起，他不就狗仗人势嘛! He is not extraordinary but takes advantage of somebody else’s power to hotly people.

(3)他那驴脾气一上来，谁都拦不住。 He is so stubborn that when he is in the temper, nobody can draw him back.

(4)他有一群狐朋狗友。 He has a gang of scoundrels.

(5)他猫腰进了山洞。 He climbed into a mountain cave by couching one's body

II．Similarities of English and Chinese Animal Words

(1)Fox

In the both language fox refers to crafty people,

“as cunning as a fox”

(2) Wolf

bloodthirsty and cruel: “as cruel as a wolf” , “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”. to seduces women: “色狼” greedy: “wolfing down his food” , “狼吞虎咽” telling lies : “cry wolf” , “狼来了”

(3) Monkey

to describe naughty children make a fool of: “耍猴” , “make a monkey (out) of”

(4）Parrot refers to a man who repeats the words of others without his own opinions

He doesn’t have an idea of his own. He just parrots what others say. 他没有自己的观点，只是鹦鹉学舌罢了

(5) Bee stands for busy and hardworking people. “as busy as a bee”;

(6) Jackal means greedy, contemptible.

(7) Pig: dirty, greedy, lazy, and ugly

“eat like a pig(吃得象猪一样)”; “make a pig of oneself(大吃大喝)”; “as dirty and greedy as a pig(象猪一样脏、贪婪)”; “He has been a pig about money(他对钱贪得无厌)”.

(8) Pigeon: peace

(9) Ass: such a person who is foolish and simple “make an ass of oneself(使自己出洋相，干蠢事)”

(10) snake : harmful

“a snake in the bosom(恩将仇报的人;背信弃义的人)” “a snake in the grass(暗藏的敌人:背后捣鬼的人)”

III. Different Animal Words Referring to the Same Meaning

 To describe that a person is timid, Chinese people say “胆小如鼠”,

while in English people would use “rabbit”, “chicken”, or “pigeon”, e.g.: “as timid as a rabbit”, “chicken-hearted” and “pigeon-hearted”. And think that mice are quiet, so they say “as quiet as a mouse”.

Chinese consider hare as a prompt and rapid animal, so they have the saying of “动如脱兔”, while in English hare means cowardly, such as “as timid as hare”.

To describe someone is anxious about something, Chinese use the idiom “热锅上的蚂蚁”, while English use “like a cat on hot bricks”.

Chinese say “吹牛” while English say “talk horse” .

To describe some one is strong, people in English say “he is as strong as a horse” while Chinese say “健壮如牛”; English say “work like a horse” while Chinese say “温驯肯干似老黄牛”.

IV. Same Animal Words Having Special Meaning only in English or Chinese

(1) Cat “Cat” is an animal word that has abounding connotations in English, but little in

Chinese. E.g. “rain cats and dogs”, “let the cat out of the bag” , “cat burglar”, “A cat has nine lives.”, “ A cat may look at king.”

(2) Beaver English people consider that a beaver is an animal that holds good skill and original creation. beaver stands for the active and studious man. e.g. “eager beaver”

(3) Ostrich stupid, escapist, good appetite in English

“ostrich belief” means the thought of self—deception; “to bury one’s head ostrich-like in the sand” means somebody who refuses to face reality; “ostrich policy” ; “have the digestion of an ostrich”

（4）lion bravery, dignity, and power in English

“the lion and the fox” , “British Lion” , “beard the lion” , “twist the lion’s tail”

(5) Silkworm Culture of Chinese silkworms is of long standing; the poem says that “春蚕到死丝方尽，蜡炬成灰泪始干” highly praise the man who is devotional and self-giving. But in western people’s eyes it is at most a worm.

(6) Turtle In China, turtle stands for long life in the past, but now it stands for men whose wives are affair with other men.

(7)Mandarin Duck In China, the mandarin duck symbolizes love.

(8)crane is a long-lived symbol in Chinese culture.

V．Cultural Differences of English and Chinese Animal Words

Phoenix It symbolizes the power in Chinese. “百鸟朝凤” corresponds to the relationship of Lord and his ministers. “Phoenix” gradually became a special byword for empress in feudal times. Its appearance betokens a peaceful period. “龙凤呈祥”

In English phoenix has a meaning of rebirth or revival. It refers to perfections and excellent persons.

(2) Horse In China phrases about horse always connected to war, talents ,such as“戎马生涯”,“金戈铁马”, “单匹马”，“马前卒”, “厉兵秣马” , “马到成功” , “兵荒马乱” , “千里马” .

In English horse stands for courage, magnanimity, and means each aspect in life. “A good horse should seldom spurred”, “A good horse can not be of a bad color”, “horse doctor” ,”lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.”

VI. Words with complimentary sense in English, but derogatory sense in Chinese

Dog

In Chinese, dogs are generally connected with unpleasantness. Phrases with dogs are used as disparaging terms, and connected with various bad human actions. “走狗”, “狐朋狗友”, “丧家犬（狗）”, “狗仗人势”, “狗东西”, “狗腿子”, “狗嘴里吐不出象牙来”, “狗急跳墙”, “挂羊头，卖狗肉” “兔死狗烹”

Dog

The word in most situations is in good sense in English, used to describe a person who

deserves the deserving pity. “help a dog over a stile”, “a lucky dog”, “an old dog”, “love me, love my dog”, “every dog has his day”.

They even call some food with “dog”, such as “hot dog” , “a dog in a blanket”, “dog and maggot” , “doggie bag”,

In western culture, dog means faithful, reliable and hard-working. “as faithful as a dog” , “dog-tired” .

“dog sleep” , “dog-eared books” , “dog watch”

(2)Dragon

Chinese regard the Chinese dragon “龙” as a totemic. It stands for propitious, authority, and rareness. In feudal society, the dragon stands for the monarch.

While in English-speaking countries, dragon is an evil symbol. It means a fierce person, a ruthless guardian or a tough old woman, the dragonish woman also is called \"dragon\" in English.

(3) Cattle

Chinese call people who is earnest and diligent in his work “老黄牛”, and connect “obstinate” and “stubborn” with cattle, “牛脾气” .

In English there are many forms of address to “cattle” . Cow is a derogatory term, meaning fat, clumsy, rude and disgusting. “cow son”. “Bull” in English stands for ponderous, savage, and violent people. “bull gang”, “a bull in a china shop” , “John Bull” . Bull also means absurd and speculative, such as “shoot the bull” “bull market”.

(4) Fish

In English “fish” is a derogatory term, describing bad persons or things, “a poor fish” , “a loose fish” , “fish in the air”

In Chinese “鱼”(fish) pronounces the same as the word “余” , to express their fine wish of “年年有余(鱼)” .

(5) Magpie

It means gab, tragedy and doom and the condition of chaos or a great mess in English culture. “mutter like a magpie ”, “a magpie collection ”

In Chinese culture, magpie is a luck symbol. It stands for happy, lucky and blessedness. For example: “灯花结彩，喜鹊闹枝”； “喜鹊叫，贵客到”； “喜鹊嘈，有喜兆” .

VIII. Suggestions on Translation

1. Same Animal Words with Same Cultural Connotations――Literal Translation

• Cowboy (牛仔) A cat has nine lives (猫有九条命) barking dogs do not bite (吠大不咬人) big fish eats little ash (大鱼吃小鱼) eat like a wolf (狼吞虎咽)

2. Same Animal Words with Partially similar Cultural Connotations-- Literal Translation with Footnotes

• He is a pig.“他像一头猪，又脏又贪吃.”

3. Same Animal Words with Partially Different Cultural Connotations――Free Translation

(1) Do not pour water on a drowned mouse.

• Literal translation: 不要往死的老鼠身上泼水。 Free translation: 不要落井下石。

(2) He is holding a wolf by the ears.

• Literal translation: 他正扯着狼的耳朵。 Free translation: 他现在骑虎难下。

4. Different Animal Words with similar Cultural Connotations―― Substitution

“black sheep(害群之马)”; “a lion in the way(拦路虎)” ; “beard the lion(虎口拔牙)”; “place oneself in the lion’s mouth(置身虎穴)”;

5. Unique Cultural Connotations in One Language-Explanation

• “a bull in a china shop(像钻进瓷器店里的公牛一动就闯祸)”，

• “兔死狐悲(The fox is sad at the death of a bare----to feel sad for the less of one’s kind.) ”