动物比喻(Animal Metaphors)在英汉两种语言中均有广泛的使用,它使语言生气勃勃,形象鲜明。然而,由于文化背景、思维方式的不同,人们对动物比喻的正确理解和翻译存有障碍。从翻译的角度总体说来,动物比喻可以分为两大类:
一类是:译语与原语存在对应的关系,使动物形象再现成为可能。根据两种语言在意义、形象或风格上的相似性,翻译时可采用同值、近值互借法,以再现原语形象。例如:
1.What a dull speech! He's merely parroting what many others have said.多么单调乏味的讲话!他不过是鹦鹉学舌,重复许多人说过的话而已。
2. A wolf in sheep's clothing 披着羊皮的狼
3. One swallow does not make a summer.孤燕不成夏。
4. He is as sly as a fox. You've got to watch him.他狡猾得像个狐狸。对他你可要当心点儿。
5. You stupid ass! How could you do a thing like that? 你这头蠢驴!怎么会干出那种事儿来?
6. The children were as busy as bees, making preparations for the festival.孩子们准备过节忙得像蜜蜂一样。
另一类是:同一动物形象在原语和译语中的语用意义相去甚远,甚至完全相悖。因此,在翻译过程中就出现了动物形象名称的转换。这种动物形象的转换可以是一种动物形象转换为另一种动物形象。例如:
1. Talk horse.吹牛。(horse译为“牛”)
2. Ass in a lion's skin.狐假虎威。(ass译为“狐”,lion译为“虎”)
3. Black sheep.害群之马。(sheep译为“马”)
4. Lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.亡羊补牢。(horse译为“羊”)
5. Cast pearls before swine.对牛弹琴。(swine译为“牛”)
6. When the cat is away, the mice will play.山中无老虎,猴子称大王。(cat译为“老虎”,mice译为“猴子”)
7. As hungry as a bear.饿得像狼。(bear译为“狼”)
8. Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.杀鸡取卵。(goose译为“鸡”)
9. As timid as a hare.胆小如鼠。(hare充为“鼠”)
10.Neither fish, flesh nor fowl.非驴非马。(fish, flesh译为“驴”owl译为“马”)
11.Break a fly upon the wheel.杀鸡用牛刀。(fly译为“鸡”)