6.2 Communicating with Foreigners Better 10
6.3 Using English Slang Accurately 11
7. Conclusion 11
8. References 12
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Background
With the rapid development of global economy, politics and culture, relationships between all the nations have been closer and closer over the past decades. As the widely used language in the whole world, English has already become an important medium of intercourse in many international situations. English slang is regarded as one of the most important elements in English, which is also widely used in people's daily life. English slang has become more and more popular and is accepted by more and more people, it has vivid and humorous features, which is closely linked with culture and history of English speaking countries. Therefore, translators should pay more attention to the exact translation when translating English slang into Chinese. Especially, in the cross-cultural communication, if someone doesn't know the meaning of English slang, he may easily make a fool of himself. Although translators have tried their best to remain the original meaning of English slang in the translation, something cannot satisfy the demands of people. Therefore, it is necessary to study the translation of English slang in this paper based on some principles and strategies to solve the problems.
1.2 Research Purpose
English slang is a special idiom. It is considered as the most active, lively and charming part of English language. Doctor Walt Chapman says: “If language is the king, slang would be a clown who enters the palace unexpectedly. This is slang or argot. It comes from ordinary people and does not conform to standard language. And it also can let people speak their mind freely. With the development of inter-cultural communication, the translation of English slang has gradually attracted people's attention. However, the translation of slang does not get enough attention in the theoretical research and translation practice. Consequently, it is not easy for Chinese people to keep and show the original meaning of slang. Besides, different vocabularies of genre should be distinguished in the process of translation. It is better to choose euphemisms to translate mild language. Manner should be given great attention in the procedure of translating vulgar language. Therefore, this paper will employ some methods and strategies to deal with those common problems.
2. Definition, Characteristics and Formation of English Slang
2.1 Definition of English Slang
Slang is easy to use, but very hard to write about with the facile convincingness that a subjective apparently so simple would, at first sight, seem to demand. For a long time, people didn't make common standard to define English slang due to its complicated character. Therefore, English slang has a dozen of definitions by many different dictionaries as an informal language. The definition of English slang in the Encyclopaedia Britannica is: “English slang is an informal language and expression of spoken language. It is also a kind of supplement to standard language. English slang can be expressed in vocabulary and meaning of words more than in speech sounds, repetition and tone”. Furthermore, it has a different definition in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: “English slang is used in ordinary conversation. It cannot be used in the writing and formal situation. And it is referred to the idioms of some section”. Another definition in the Concise Oxford Dictionary is: “Those special vocabularies which are made and used by people in the underclass; low and vulgar language; used in a certain period”. 浅析英语俚语的汉译(2):http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_50890.html