The Translation Of English I dioms in American TV Plays

王鑫濤

（曲阜師范大學杏壇學院，山東 濟寧273100）

1 The study of idioms

1.1 The definition of idiom

Idioms are distinctive, fixed expression, formed during the using process of language, through the test of practices. Idioms are words and expressions that have been gradually accepted by people.

1.2 The features of English idioms

1）For example, we can not change “ Jack of all trades is master of none” to “Jack of all jobs is master of none”, like in Chinese we cannot say“奇妙思想” instead of “奇思妙想”.

2）Because of linguistic, psychological, social and historical reasons,there are always differences between true meaning and literal meaning.For example, English idiom “lead a cat and dog life” cannot be translated into “像狗和貓一樣生活”, but “過著經常吵架的生活”.Because cat and dog always cannot get along well with each other, point to lead a life in which people are constantly bickering and quarrelling.

3）Idioms are distinctive images. Language is a part of culture, and idioms are the essence of language, so idioms have rich cultural connotations. Reflected in the ways of expressions, idiom is often used closely related to things as metaphors, vividly explained principles. For example, “sour grapes”(吃不到葡萄說葡萄酸), “to offer fuel in snowy weather”(雪中送炭) .

1.3 The translation methods of idioms

1）Literal translation

For example,

Dark horse 黑馬

Clench one’s teeth 咬牙切齒

An olive branch 橄欖枝

2）Borrowing translation

For example,

Great minds think alike 英雄所見略同

When there is a will, there is a way 有志者事竟成

Easier said than done 說時容易做時難

3）Free translation

For example,

Run like a blue-arsed fly 到處亂竄

Make the air turn blue 詛咒 罵街

Have the blues 無精打采 怏怏不樂

4）Annotation

For example,

With a jaundiced eye 有嫉妒心；偏見；猜疑心（黃疸病人皮膚呈蠟黃，西方將黃色與嫉妒聯系在一起）

Fight like kilkenny cats 死拼；兩敗俱傷（kilkenny 愛爾蘭西部城市，官兵讓兩只貓打斗直至官兵切掉他們尾巴貓逃跑后告知軍官它們是互相吃掉了對方）

Carry coal to Newcastle 多此一舉（Newcastle 是英國產煤中心之一）

2 The subtitle translation of TV plays

2.1 The limit of subtitle translation

First，subtitle translation is limited by space which refers to the size of the screen. We all know that the size of screens and actors’ lip-cynch decided the subtitle’s length.

Second，subtitle translation is limited by time. Here, time means the duration of an image or a sound; the average time that the audience need to view the subtitle.

2.2 The translation methods of TV play subtitle

2.2.1 Additional translation

When the expression in the target language is not clear or can not be founded the corresponding component with the target language,translator should replace parts or supplement.

2.2.2 Language enrichment strategies

Due to the subtitle translation has time and space limitation, it is necessary to make information in the subtitle translation be in the acceptable range, it needs to concentrate on the translation, make simple expression sentences.

2.2.3 Naturalisation and dissimilation

Film subtitles translation is a purposeful translation, also a tool that spreads culture, so it should be ministrant, which determined the translator should translation according to the service object.

3 The translation of idioms in American TV Play

3.1 Reappearance of the tone

For example,

The original：Dude, she burned you!

The translation：伙計，她完勝你啊！

3.2 Amplification or omission of the subtitle translation

For example,

The original： Max: Jacob, you need listen to…？

Jebediah: Jebediah.

Max: For real?

The translation：Max: 雅各布，你需要聽…？（看向Jabediah，表示詢問他的名字）

Jebediah: 杰迪戴亞.

Max: 真的假的？！

3.3 The transformation of cultural images

For example,

The original：My little cupcake brought me a cupcake.The translation：我的小甜甜給我帶來了小蛋糕。

The original: Earl: Let me pay for that.

Max: No, no, no, it’s on the house.

The translation：厄爾：我還是把錢給你吧。

麥克斯：不用，我請客。

3.4 The exchanges between abstract and concrete

For example,

The original: you are really judgmental

The translation：你太以貌取人了吧

Here is another example,

The original: You look so beautiful, I forget your personality is.

The translation：你美得讓我差點忘了你是個悍婦了

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