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To help readers have a better understanding of this language form and consequently the culture of western countries, plenty of translators have long been making great effort in finding the proper strategies in the translation of English proverbs. Domestication and foreignization, as two important culture-oriented translation strategies, have aroused great controversy in the process of translation.
Therefore, this paper will make the utmost effort to analyze the domestication and foreignization strategies in English proverb translation, which aims at improving English learners’ language skills and cultural competence so as to promote Sino-western cultural communication.
II. English Proverbs
2.1 Definition of English Proverbs
Proverbs are defined in various ways. According to Longman Modem English Dictionary, a proverb is “a brief familiar maxim of folk wisdom, usually compressed in form, often involving a bold image and frequently a jingle that catches the memory.”(1578) According to The New Oxford Dictionary of English, a proverb is “a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or a piece of advice.”(1860) According to Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, a proverb is “a short saying in common use that strikingly expresses obvious truth or familiar experience.”(1560) According to Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, a proverb is “a popular saying usually of unknown and ancient origin that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought.”(2460)
To summarize, proverbs are of the following features:
(1) Proverbs are usually brief fixed-expressions in general use;
(2) Proverbs usually state some commonplace truths or familiar experiences or pieces of advice;
(3) The language of proverbs is usually concise and simple, and is often with vivid images and a jingle that catches the memory. Proverbs are generally terse and vigorously expressive;
(4) Origins of proverbs are often ancient and unknown.
Thus, in simple words, a proverb is a fixed saying, with fixed linguistic form and profound cultural background. A proverb should reflect the real life and exert functions like edifying, persuading and warning. That is to say, proverbs give directive conclusion and judgment based on people’s experience.
2.2 Characteristics of English Proverbs
Characteristics of proverbs are closely related to the definitions. Thus, in this part, the linguistic characteristics, cultural characteristics and rhetorical characteristics of English proverbs will be discussed.