Abstract

Idioms are an important part of Chinese characters carrying rich national and cultural connotations and undertaking the vital task of culture exchange and expression. Therefore, if translating Chinese idioms into English, we should take into account both language conversion and culture conversion. On account of the special forms and cultural connotation, Chinese idioms translation is still a tough problem. 

Big Breasts and Wide Hips constitutes Mo Yan’s most representative work with many idioms, whose renderings play an important role in expressing the original and spreading Chinese culture. 

The thesis attempts to discuss the idiom translation in Big Breasts and Wide Hips from the prospective of functional equivalence, one of the most important translation theories, which has a great push to literature translation. It will analyze what methods the translator Howard Goldblatt has adopted to render idioms and to what degree he has achieved functional equivalence.

Keywords: idioms; Big Breasts and Wide Hips; functional equivalence； translation methods

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

2.1 Brief Introduction to Mo Yan and Big Breasts and Wide Hips-2

2.2 Brief Introduction to Howard Goldblatt and English Version Big Breasts and Wide Hips-3

2.3 Brief Introduction to Nida’s Functional Equivalence-5

2.4 Chinese Idioms and Idiom Translation-7

3. Methodology-9

3.1 Data Sources-9

3.2 Research Methods-10

4. Analysis and Discussion-10

4.1 Methods of Idiom Translation in Big Breasts and Wide Hips-10

4.1.1 Literal Translation-10

4.1.2 Literal Translation with Annotation-12

4.1.3 Transliteration-13

4.1.4 Free Translation-14

4.1.5 Substitution-15

4.1.6 Omission-15

4.2 Summary-16

5. Conclusion-17

5.1 Major Findings-17

5.2 Limitations and Further Study-17

Works Cited-18