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This paper mainly holds a discussion about metaphorical features of idioms based on the theory proposed by Lakoff and Johnson and several methods and techniques of the translation of idioms. We can learn idiomatic metaphors from these three basic types——ontological metaphors, orientational metaphors and structural metaphors. The first one consists of personification and container metaphors, indicating that people view those abstract, vague mindsets and states as concrete substances, particularly our bodies. The second type means the metaphor constructed with reference to up and down, in and out, front and back, deep and shallow. The last one means structuring other conceptions with a highly-structural one, notably featured by systematization. For the improvement of our translation capability, it is of great importance to ensure that we not only get a good knowledge of the correct meaning of idioms but also do the utmost to preserve the original structures and unique features of idioms. Furthermore, undoubtedly we ought to know more about idioms and comprehend how culture has a great impact on idioms.
2. Literature Review
Throughout the history, Aristotle was the first to give a systematic exposition of metaphors, considering it a linguistic phenomenon. Later, Lakoff and Johnson gave a definition of metaphors as grasping and experiencing one thing through another thing. The book Metaphors We Live by was jointly written by them to prove that metaphors were everywhere and the majority of daily conceptual systems were essentially metaphorical. The British linguist, Jennifer Seidl, once said in the preface of his book English Idioms and How to Use Them (1978) that “Idioms are not a separate part of the language which one can choose either to use or to omit”. In 1898, Yan Fu, an outstanding writer and translator of the Qing Dynasty once put forward the relatively comprehensive standards of translation involving faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance. The famous principles of translation concluded by Alexander Fraser Tytler include: (1) That the translation should give an integrated transcript of the ideas of the original text; (2) That the style and manner of writing should be of the same character with that of the original; (3) That the translation should have all the ease of original composition. What’s more, the well-known theory of functional equivalence from Eugene A.Nida has produced a great influence on translation, by which, English idioms can be translated into Chinese versions. Naturally, the methods of equivalent analogy, equivalent exchange or equivalent description generally used in the translation can assist people exposed in different cultural contexts to arrive at the better communications in a certain sense.来!自~751论-文|网www.751com.cn
3. Definitions and Features of Idioms
3.1 Definition of idioms
Idioms are made up of metaphorical phrases, slang, colloquialism and proverbs. They are the concentrated reflection of linguistic national forms and various rhetorical devices. In addition, they are terse and lively set phrases and short sentences formed after the long-term and repeated usage of certain part of language. Throughout the world, the languages that have a long history contains enormous idioms, let alone that English is not only the most widely-used language in the world, but also one of the languages featuring ample expression methods and glamorous traditional cultures. Without idioms, language may be as dry as dust. Oppositely, if idioms are used in a suitable way, they will add luster to the language’s present splendor. They always appear in the form of phrases or short sentences and are used as one component in the sentences to make them more dynamic. At times, it plays the role of one word. Although some idioms can be analyzed semantically and grammatically, they should be seen as an integration. However, the meaning of an idiom is not equal to the combined meaning of the words composing it. Since many idioms are formed with the help of historical allusions, they are featured with integrity established by people through the long social practice. The production and usage of them are intricately linked with historical and cultural backgrounds, therefore even if the concrete circumstances are different, usually they cannot be taken apart or changed at random.