英汉幽默翻译的文化视角

论文摘要

幽默与文化密不可分。英汉幽默翻译的障碍之一在于英汉两种文化之间存在着巨大差异。本文试从文化差异的视角,结合翻译实例,分析和归纳英汉幽默翻译的问题、困难以及对策。本文共分为三章:第一章介绍了“幽默”一词的来源、定义、分类、特点以及产生机制。幽默是一个众说纷纭的概念,不同的研究者总是从不同的角度来定义和解释幽默。幽默可分为情景幽默和非情景幽默两大类。幽默在概念上也有广义与狭义之分,本论文拟从广义的角度来讨论和分析幽默的,即只要是能引人发笑或给人带来愉悦的任何文字形式都属于本文的讨论范围。第二章论述了幽默与文化之间密不可分的关系,以及由此导致的英汉幽默翻译的困难。幽默在很大程度上折射了一个民族的文化特质,含有大量的文化元素。扎根于一种文化土壤的民族去理解、欣赏和翻译别的民族的幽默自然绝非易事。英汉两种文化在历史背景、宗教信仰、生活环境、民族心理等方面的渊别令英汉幽默翻译举步维艰。第三章介绍英汉幽默翻译过程中如何处理文化元素之策略。大而言之,英汉幽默翻译可分两类,可译与不可译。本章阐述了幽默中文化差异所造成的不可译具有相对性及动态性。据此,在阐述过程中作者罗列了若干常见翻译的方法与对策。诸如,直译、意译、归化、异化加注、替换、形象转换、形象舍弃、抽象译具体、具体译抽象等方法。最后,在实例分析的基础上,本文颇有创意地提出幽默口吻的翻译。最后是全文的结论部分。文化差异是英汉幽默翻译中一道难题,但是,这并不意味着作者就无所作为。从广义上讲,幽默中的文化因素是一道难以逾越,又可以逾越的屏障。

论文目录

• 摘要
• Abstract
• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER ONE HUMOR
• 1.1 Origin of Humor
• 1.2 Definition of Humor
• 1.3 Classification of Humor
• 1.4 Mechanism of Humor Generation
• 1.5 Features of Humor
• 1.5.1 Humor--Concise and Connotative
• 1.5.2 Humor--Full of Playful but Witty Spirit
• 1.5.3 Humor--Filled with Unexpectedness and Incongruity
• 1.6 Functions of Humor
• 1.6.1 Humor--Relaxation and Enjoyment
• 1.6.2 Humor--Art and Lubricant
• 1.6.3 Humor--Mirror and Weapon
• CHAPTER TWO CULTURE AND HUMOR
• 2.1 Introduction to Culture
• 2.1.1 Definition and Interpretation of Culture
• 2.1.2 Importance of Culture
• 2.2 The Relationship between Culture and Humor
• 2.2.1 Humor--Mirror of Culture
• 2.2.1.1 Humor Found in Food Culture
• 2.2.1.2 Humor Found in Campus Culture
• 2.2.1.3 Humor Found in Literary Works
• 2.2.1.4 Humor Found in Advertisements
• 2.2.1.5 Summary
• 2.2.2 Humor--Part of Culture
• 2.2.2.1 Humor--Art of Language
• 2.2.2.2 Language--Carrier of Culture
• 2.2.2.3 Humor--Part of Culture
• 2.3 Cultural Differences in Understanding and Translating Humor
• 2.3.1 An overview of Cultural Differences between English and Chinese..
• 2.3.1.1 Differences in Historical Background
• 2.3.1.2 Differences in Religious Belief
• 2.3.1.3 Differences in Living Environment
• 2.3.1.4 Differences in National Psychology
• 2.3.2 Cultural Differences and Humor Translation
• 2.3.2.1 Culture and Translation
• 2.3.2.2 Implications of Cultural Differences to E-C Humor Translation
• 2.3.2.3 Difficulties and Barriers in E-C Humor Translation
• CHAPTER THREE STRATEGIES OF E-C HUMOR TRANSLATION
• 3.1 Translatability and Untranslatability of Humor
• 3.1.1 Untranslatability of Humor
• 3.1.2 Translatability of Humor
• 3.1.2.1 Translatability of the Untranslatable Humor
• 3.1.2.1.1 Translatability of Culture
• 3.1.2.1.2 Relativity of Untranslatability
• 3.1.2.2 Flexible Transfer from Untranslatability to Translatability
• 3.2 Criterion of Translating Humor with Culture Elements
• 3.2.1 Yan Fu’s Translation Criterion of “Faithfulness”
• 3.2.2 Faithfulness in Translating Humor
• 3.3 Strategies of E-C Humor Translation
• 3.3.1 Literal Translation
• 3.3.2 Free Translation
• 3.3.3 Domestication
• 3.3.4 Foreignization plus Explanatory Notes
• 3.3.5 Substitution
• 3.3.6 Conversion or Rejection of Images
• 3.3.7 Conversion between the Concrete and the Abstract
• 3.3.8 Summary
• 3.4 Inspiration of Humor Translation
• CONCLUSION
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS