ABSTRACT：Idioms are the embodiment of the long history and colorful reality. As animals have been people’s friends for centuries of years, people need to acquire the characteristics of various animals. Animal idioms vary from different cultures. The discrepancies in culture have made great effect on the cultural connotations of animal idioms. However, the researches on animal idioms are still inadequate. Domestic researchers have made comparisons on cultural connotations of animal idioms that contribute to further studies. Language is the carrier of culture. Idioms are not only a good way of knowing much philosophy and deep thought of other people, but also the essence of languages and it is like a mirror that reflects culture. Animal idioms contain a lot of cultural connotations. In addition, the idioms contain much wisdom in ancient Chinese. Animal idioms play an important role in language because of their plentiful images, unique functions and special expressions. In order to understand idioms clearly, this thesis aims to analyze animal idioms from the perspective of culture. There are many cultural discrepancies indicating the different national characteristics, including fable and mythology, religion, social customs and economic growth and so on. This thesis intends to help Chinese learners of English better understand the relationship between culture and animal idioms. In addition, the study on animal idioms can eliminate people’s misunderstandings caused by different cultures. In spite of much research conducted by scholars, there is still space for the improvement of translation strategies.

Keywords: animal idioms; cultural differences; translating techniques

摘  要：习语是人们日常交流中必不可少的一部分。它们象征着悠久的历史和多彩的文化。动物是人类的朋友，所以人们学习动物各种各样的特征。每个国家的动物习语都大不相同，都有着各自的特点。人们开始使用各种各样的动物习语去表达他们的感受。文化差异对动物习语的含义有一定的影响。国内外的专家学者从未停止对动物习语的研究。语言是文化的载体，习语不仅仅是对哲学和人们内心深处的想法的反映，还是语言的根基，它就像一面镜子反映文化。汉语习语是古代中国文化的结晶。习语在语言中起着重要的作用，因为它们有大量的形象，独特的功能和特殊的表达。为了能更好更清楚地了解习语，论文作者将从文化差异角度进行分析。不同国家的文化差异往往体现在宗教信仰、社会风俗、文化增长等方面。论文意在帮助中国的英文学习者更好地了解文化及动物习语的关系。对他国文化有了进一步了解后才会促进跨文化交际的开展。另外，人们对动物习语文化内涵的进一步了解将有助于减少由文化差异引起的误解。尽管许多专家学者已经做过一定的研究，但在翻译技巧上仍然存在一定的研究空间。

关键词：文化差异；动物习语；翻译技巧

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Literature Review 2

3 Comparison and Contrast of Animal Idioms 4

3.1 Similarities between English and Chinese Animal Idioms 4

3.2 Differences between English and Chinese Animal Idioms 5

3.3 Cultural Influences on English and Chinese Animal Idioms 6

3.3.1 Social Customs 7

3.3.2 Historical Backgrounds 7

3.3.3 Religion 8

3.3.4 Fables, Legends and Myths 8

4 Translation Techniques for Animal Idioms 9

4.1 Literal Translation 9

4.2 Free Translation 10

4.2.1 Substitution 10

4.2.2 Omission 11

4.3 Transliteration 12

5 Conclusion 12

On Translating Animal Idioms from the Perspective of Cultural Discrepancies

1 Introduction

Idioms are the embodiment of the long history and colorful reality. They are the result of cultural development, progress and evolution. As animals are people’s friends for centuries of years, people tend to learn the characteristics of various animals. Animal idioms vary from different countries. People usually use different animal idioms to express their feelings. Therefore, animal idioms are abundant in their culture. The discrepancies in culture have made great effect on the cultural connotations of animal idioms. However, the researches on animal idioms are still inadequate. Early linguists mainly classified and explained the origin and expression of animal idioms. In their research, dogs and horses play an important role in animal idioms. Domestic scholars, first of all, have made researches on animal idioms from the perspective of the associative meaning to research the commonly used animal idioms, for example, cats, dogs, horses and other animals that are close to people. Foreign researchers have made researches on the function of animal idioms that lays solid foundation for the study of animal idioms. Domestic researchers have made comparisons in terms of language and culture of animal idioms that contributes to the further study.