论英语典故与习语的来源与翻译[Abstract Idioms are fixed phrases that go through the test of history and cannot be treatedseparately.In order to be loyal to the original text,the translation of English idioms should notonly keep the original taste of the source,but also meet the standards of writing,especially formythology and allusion.Because English idioms have manifested and absorbed the differentnational culture of ancient Greek,ancient Rome,and Northern Europe,it is more typical andrepresentative than other forms of language on reflecting the cultural diversity.Domestication andforeignization are two main methods of translation.And there are some concrete translation skillsas follows:1.Literal translation 2.Free translation 3.Borrowing 4.Literal translation withannotation.In the trend of cultural globalization,culture among various nationalities permeate andstick together mutually.And the readers'ability to accept the new cultural imagery has improvedday by day.Therefore so long as not to affect the understanding of source language,the authoradvocates translating English idioms directly as far as possible to carry on the culture,whichpromotes the exchange and fusion of culture all over the world.[Key Words]idioms;allusion;translation methods【摘要】习语是指那些经受了历史的长期考验，千锤百炼而形成的固定词组。为了忠于原文，习语翻译既要保持源语的原汁原味，也要符合译入语语言文字的需求。尤其在翻译习语中的神话典故时更应注意以下三点1.译入语结构的平衡2.译出源语的民族特色和地域色彩3.尽可能保留源语的形象。因为英语习语吸收了众多来自古希腊，古罗马，北欧古代神话等欧洲各民族的文化精髓，所以在体现语言的文化差异方面，习语比其他语言成分更具有典型性和代表性。基本的英语翻译方法有归化和异化，具体体现如下：直译法，意译法，借用法，直译加注。在当前文化全球化的时代背景下，各民族间的文化相互渗透和融合的趋势愈来愈强。人们对于外来文化、异国情调的包容、接纳以至欣赏能力也日渐提高。因此，作者认为只要在不影响译语读者理解的前提下，应提倡尽量以文化直入模式进行习语翻译，以促进世界文化的交流与融合。【关键词】习语：神话典故：翻译方法1.IntroductionWhen opening Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English,one can see such anentry:"Idiom (n.)Phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of itsindividual words and which must be leamt as a whole unit."[1]And English translationtheoretician Peter Newmark also said:"An idiom is a current and frequently used group of wordswhose meaning is not clear from the common meanings of its constituent words".[2]In brief,idioms are fixed phrases that go through the test of history and cannot be separated.So the wholemeaning usually cannot be surmised in translation and the components must not be separated atone's ease.2.BackgroundEnglish as an international language,its usage is wide-ranging.Many countries choose English astheir official language.What is more,sixty percent of broadcasting in the world use English topropagate their information.Of course,there are many idioms in English and parts of them areloanwords.The features of assimilating loanwords in English are evident.On the one hand,itbelongs to Germanic language family that enables it to take possession of the common words inGermanic language.On the other hand,English keeps in touch with French and Roman languagefamily closely for a long time.The ancient Greek mythologies,Roman myths and fairy tales ofnorthern Europe are the publicly owned wealth of European nations.They have deep influence ondevelopment of whole European culture in which many stories provide source materials forEnglish idioms.Therefore,English idioms take in any word that can represent the main Europeanculture.And it is more typical and representative than others in reflecting the cultural diversity.Just like Bacon said:Talent,quick-witted and spirit in a nation can all be found in its idioms.[3]2.1 The sources of English idiomsAs everyone knows,idioms come from different aspects:different living environments;everydaylife;religion;historical events;literary works and mythology and allusion.2.1.1 Idioms from different living environmentsIdioms are closely related to people's labor and life,because people in a particular culture needwords to name and explain objects and appearance present in that culture.The Han People,live onland,and belong to an agrarian society that places agricultural production at the top of the nationalagenda.During the long history of farming,the Chinese language has accumulated large numbersof farmers'idioms like瑞雪兆丰年(a time snow promises a good harvest),五谷丰登(abundantharvest of all food crops).While British live in an island country,probably have idioms aboutwater and sailing.For example,we speak挥金如土in Chinese,but we should render it intoEnglish as "spend money like water".And there are similar examples as follows:"to keep one'shead about water'”(奋力图存)，“in full sail'”(全力以赴)，“tower one's sail”(甘拜下风).What is more,there come different special products determined by the different geographicalsurroundings.For example,"like mushrooms"and "spring up like mushrooms"in English,means像蘑菇一样，and雨后春笋般地涌现in Chinese.Both of them have the same meaning of thegreat development of a thing,but they use their respective things to form the metaphor,becauseChina abounds with bamboo,whereas it does not grow in England.So the Chinese people arequite familiar with bamboo;while the English don't.This case is quite the same with the idiom"plentifulas blackberries'”,for blackberries are easily available in England while in Chinese,多如牛毛isused,for cattle can be found everywhere in China.2.1.2 Idioms from everyday lifeEntertainment and activities,which are parts of national culture,are quite different in variouscountries.Horse racing,boxing and cricket are ancient and traditional sports in England,so inEnglish,there are idioms like“neck and neck”(不分上下)，“down and out"(倒下出局)，“notcricket'”(不讲信用)，and“straight from the shoulder'”(直截了当)，and“have a good innings'”(一帆风顺)：whereas the ancient Chinese preferred hunting and chess:棋逢对手(diamond cutdiamond),剑拔弩张(at daggers drawn),明枪易躲，暗箭难防False friends are worse than openenemies).There are some aspects in everyday life in the following.(i)Idioms from foodIn England,bread is usually eaten together with butter,and salt,milk and cream are theireveryday diet.All of them are the everyday diet for western people and thus appear"There is nouse crying over spilt milk”(不要做无谓的后悔)，“baker's dozen'”(面包师的第十三个面包)，and“polish the apple”(拍马屁)：China has a long history of cooking and the Chinese are known as themost critical,for who attach greater importance to food than any other people,as is reflected in thesaying like:画饼充饥(to draw cakes to allay hunger)Both in the Chinese and the English languages,idioms about the sea are numerous,becauseboth of these two countries are surrounded and half-surrounded by sea,and they are rich in naturalresources of fish.Fishing plays a vital role in their economy,so a large number of idiomsconcerning fish are handed down:Fish begins to stink at the head”(上梁不正下梁歪)，“Neveroffer to teach fish to swim”(不要班门弄斧)，and“to fish in troubled water'”(浑水摸鱼)(iii)Idioms from military affairsThe history of mankind is almost the history of war,which is the source of numerous idioms.TheChinese nation has a long history of war for more than two thousand years,and therefore theChinese language is rich in such idioms:项庄舞剑，意在沛公(Xiang Zhuang performed thesword dance as a cover for his attempt on Liu Bang'sife.-act with a hidden motive);四面楚歌(be in desperate straits);暗度陈仓(to steal a march on).And it is also mirrored in the followingEnglish idioms:“What millions died that Caesar might be great'”(一将功成万骨枯)；“Meet one'sWaterloo”(遭遇惨败)方“Pyrrhic victory”(得不偿失的胜利)，；and gentleman's agreement(君子协定)2.1.3 Idioms from religionReligion is an important source for idioms.It is a social phenomenon and mainly a code of ethicsgoveming personal and social conduct.Comparatively speaking,Buddhism has greater influencein Chinese culture although China is a multi-religious country.It was first introduced into China inthe first century AD,and has shaped the Chinese language,diet,arts,etc.,and greatly stimulatedthe development of Chinese literature.The large number of words and idioms derived fromBuddhism is one of the manifestations of its influence,.such as放下屠刀，立地成佛(A butcherbecomes a Buddha the moment he drops his cleaver---a wrongdoer achieves salvation as soon ashe gives up evil)and做一天和尚，撞一天钟(take a passive attitude toward one's work).Andthere are quite a few English idioms from religion.Such as::Benjamin's mess(最大的份a额)：raise Cain(大吵大闹)方apple of Sodom(金玉其外，败絮其中)方sop to Cerberus(贿赂)；handwriting on the wall(不祥之兆)and so on.2.1.4 Idioms from historical eventsIn most language,people embellish their speech or writing with references to characters or eventsfrom their history,that is to say,idiomatic expressions are closely related to a country's history.There are a lot of idioms in the Chinese language cannot find an equivalent in the Englishlanguage because the history of the two countries are quite different.Many idioms are from theirown history.The English language has much less idioms from historical events than the Chineselanguage because English just has a history of more than one thousand years during which lessimportant historical events happened.For example,“to meet one's Waterloo'”(遭遇滑铁卢)is