Translation of Nationally Coloured Phraseologisms and Stable Expressions. 


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Translation of Nationally Coloured Phraseologisms and Stable Expressions.



From the point of view of national colouring which must be taken into consideration in translating phraseological units can be roughly divided into the following groups:

1) international word-combinations: to pass the Rubicon, to shed crocodile

tears, to burn one`s boats;

2) neutral word-combinations: to strike the iron, while it`s hot,to wash dirty

linen in public;

3) specific national word-combinations: to fight like Killkenny cats, to send

to Coventry, to put the Thames on fire, etc.

The phraseological and stable word-combinations of the first two types can be translated with the help of the above-mentioned methods while the units of the third group pose certain additional problems in the process of translation. These problems are connected with preservation of their national colouring. The translator should follow some rules dealing with these units:

a) word-for-word translation can be used only when the English/

Ukrainian/ Russian realia in the phraseological word-combination are well-

known to our readers/listeners and the image in translation will be absolutely clear to them;

b) translate English/ Ukrainian/ Russian nationally coloured word-com-

binations using neutral phrases: to fight like Kilkenny cats – боротися не на життя, а на смерть; He will not put the Thames on fire. – Він пороху не винайде. He is a real Sir Galahad. – Він справжній лицар.

c) never use in translation of English nationally coloured word-combi-

nations Ukrainian/ Russian one`s or vice versa because the translation will not be understood and will sound at least strange in the context: to carry coals to Newcastle – їздити до Тули із своїм самоваром – возити горщики до Опішні, What will Mrs. Grundy say – що казатиме княгиня Марья Олексіївна.

The translator should always bear in mind that his aim is to create an adequate translation.

 

Exercise1. Find the Ukrainian correspondences of the following phraseological word-combinations:

a) to mark time; to play second fiddle; to hide behind smb's back; to be in the same boat; to be cut of the same cloth; to sit on the fence; to draw in one's horns; to spread like wildfire; to win with a small margin; to make no bones about smt; to play into smb's hands; to show one's true colours; to twist the lion's tail; to send smb to Coventry; to have some strings attached; to turn back the clock; to throw cards on the table; to put one's weight behind smt; (to sell smt) lock, stock and barrel; (to swallow smt) hook, line and sinker; to run the gauntlet; to strike a bargain; to take a bee-line; to stroke smb against the hair; to turn King's evidence; to touch wood; to shoot the cat; to die a dog`s death; to dine with Duke Humphrey; to cut off with a shilling; to beat about the bush; to wear sackcloth and ashes; to beat someone fair and square; to be a big fish in a little pond; between the devil and the deep blue sea; to breathe fire and brimstone;

b) Tommy Atkins; tin Lizzie; tough customer; wild-goose chase; within the framework of smt; yellow dog contract; with the tongue in one's cheek; with a vengeance; a smart Alec(k); shadow boxing; half seas over; red tape; the tables were turned; Croesus; Yankee; Jack Ketch; Hobson`s choice; odd/queer fish; Canterbury tale; blue bonnet; a grass widow; Uncle Sam; Uncle Tom; bright-eyed and bushy-tailed;

c) by George; by and by; for the sake of; to cut short; to make believe; topsy-turvy; higgledy-piggledy; high and dry; cut and run; touch and go; Tom, Dick and Harry; fifty-fifty; O.K.; to make sure; to give a start;

d) to lead smb by the nose; to stretch one`s legs; to pull the devil by the tail; Jack of all trades; can the leopard change his spots.

 

Exercise2. Explain the meaning of the following word-combinations:

 

Alasham's Mirror; Alexandrian Library, Ancient Mariner; Aunt Sally; Auto da Fe; Knights of the Bath; Big Gooseberry Season; Black Fri­day; Blind men’s Dinner; Buridan’s Ass; Caligula's Horse; Celestial Empire; Colin Tampon; Corinthian War; Damon and Pythias; Dance of Death; Fabian Tactics; Fool's Paradise; Frankenstein's Monster; Gilt-edge Investments; Hoity-toity; Iron Duke; Jack the Giant-killer; Knights of the Round Table; John Bull; Mumbo Jumbo; Pilgrim Fathers; The Poets' Corner; South-Sea Bubble; Wooden Horse of Troy; Augean stables; Cassandra warnings; Pandora box; the sword of Damocles; the Emerald Isle; the Land of White Elephants; the Land of the Shamrock; the Land of the Thousand Lakes; from John O'Groat's to Land's End; the Mother State; the Golden State; the Evergreen State; the City of Brotherly Love; the City of Seven Hills; the vale of misery; John Barleycorn; the Man of Destiny; the Wise Men of the East; a white elephant; a white slave; a white crow, the Union Jack; the Stars and Stripes; the Bars and Stripes; John Doe; Jane Doe; land of milk and honey.

 

Exercise3. Suggest Ukrainian near equivalents/analogies for the English phraseological expressions below. Use part b) of the exercise for the purpose.

 

a) 1. To kill two birds with a stone. 2. A good beginn­ing makes a good ending (A good beginning is half the battle). 3. To kiss the post. 4. To know as one knows one's ten fingers. 5. To laugh at the wrong side of one's mouth. 6. To save something for a rainy day. 7. He that diggeth a pit for another should look that he falls not into it himself. 8. To lick one's boots. 9. Lies have short legs. 10. Life is not a bed of roses. 11. To make one's blood run cold. 12. Measure twice and cut once. 13. More royalist than the king. 14. As naked as a worm. 15. Nobody home. 16. No sooner said than done. 17. Not to lift a finger. 18. An old dog will learn no new tricks. 19. Old foxes need no tutors. 20. To buy a pig in a poke. 21. To play one's game. 22. To pour water (into, through) a sieve. 23. To praise smb beyond the skies/the moon. 24. As pretty as a picture. 25. As handsome as a paint. 26. Not to have a penny/a sixpence/a dime to bless oneself. 27. Not to have a shirt (rag) to one's back. 28. Not to know A from B. 29. To put spokes in one's wheel. 30. Pride goes (comes) before a fall/destruction. 31. To promise mountains and marvels. 32. One fool makes many. 33. The voice of one is the voice of none. 34. One step above the sublime makes the ridiculous. 35. On Monday morning do not be looking for Saturday night. 36. As pale as a corpse (as ashes, death). 37. Let George do it.

 

b) 1. Одним ударом (махом) двох зайців убити. 2. Добре розпочати – півділа зробитию 3. Поцілувати замок. 4. Знати, як свої п'ять пальців. 5. На кутні сміятися. 6. Відкладати щось на чорний день. 7. Хто іншому яму копає, той сам у неї потрапляє. 8. Лизати п'яти (комусь). 9. Брехнею далеко не заїдеш (весь світ пройдеш, та назад не вернешся). 10. Життя прожити – не поле

перейти (на віку як на довгій ниві, всього буває). 11. Кров у жилах холоне. 12. Тричі відміряй (одмір), а раз відріж (утни). 13. Більший католик, ніж папа римський. 14. Голий як бубон. 15. Не всі дома (однієї клепки не вистачає). 16. Сказав як зав'язав (сказано – зроблено). 17. Пальцем не поворухне. 18. Старого не перевчиш (вченого вчити — тільки час марнувати). 19. Не вчи вченого. 20. Купити (купувати) кота в мішку. 21. Танцювати під чиюсь дудку. 22. Носити воду в решеті. 23. Підносити когось до небес. 24. Гарна як квітка (як яблучко). 25. Гарний як червінець. 26. Не мати копійки за душею. 27. Сорочки на плечах не мати. 28. Ні бе, ні ме, ні кукуріку. 29. Вставляти палиці комусь в колеса. 30. Гордість (пиха) до добра не доводить. 31.Обіцяти золоті гори. 32. Дурість заразлива. 33. Один у полі не воїн. 34. Від великого до смішного – один крок. 35. Шукати вчорашнього дня. 36. Білий як стіна (як крейда, як полотно). 37. Іван киває на Петра.

 

Exercise4. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian. Define the ways to convey the meaning of phraseologisms.

1. Thus, we shall have from the Prime Minister even more demagogy and pie-in-

the-sky promises than usual. (M. Star.) 2. The sole object of their lives is to be always playing with fire. (0. Wilde) 4. Joe felt he wanted putting himself into George's shoes. (J. Brian) 5. Don't talk rot. (D.Cusak) 6. “Don't think I am trying to pry into your affairs”, –went on the politician, (T. Dreiser). 7. “The other chap, Profond, is a queer fish. I think he's hanging round Soames' wife, if you ask me.” (J. Galsworthy) 8. Little Jolyon was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. (Ibid.) 9. Keep your eye upon him in the meanwhile, and don't talk about it. He is as mad as a March hare. (Ch. Dickens) 10. The proof of the pudding is in its eating. (S. Maugham) 11. A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. (Ibid.) 12. Waiter knew which side his bread was buttered. (Ibid.) 13. Why not cure Unem­ployment by a National Slum Clearance effort, and kill the two birds with one stone. (J. Galsworthy) 14. However I must bear my cross as best as I may: least said is soonest mended. (B. Shaw) 15. Oh, well, it's no good crying over spilt milk. (S. Maugham) 16. Her absence had been a relief. Out of sight was out of mind! (J. Galsworthy) 17.”He'll never set the Thames on fire,— said Soames. (Ibid.) 18. “Silly little thing to try to put a spoke into my wheel. ” (S. Maugham) 19. The apple of discord had, indeed, been dropped into the house of Millbornes. (T. Hardy) 20. The poor man's alarm was pitiful. His bread and butter was at stake. (J. London) 21. “I shall let sleeping dogs lie my child”. (J. Galsworthy) 22. The boy is very dear and the apple of her eye. (Ibid.) 23. You have landed yourself in a helpless mess. And I wash my hands of you. (A. Cronin) 24. You know the expression: “ She has made her bed, she must lie on it. ”(Ibid.)

 

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CHAPTER4.

UNITS OF SPECIFIC NATIONAL LEXICON/REALIA.

 

Each language in the course of its historical development] acquires a bulk of words and phrases, ways of saying, idio­matic expressions, etc. standing for various specific national phenomena/realia. These include designations for different notions of material and spiritual life, administrative and political] forms of government, jurisdiction, public bodies as well as the way of life, conduct, habits, different national customs and traditions. National features also find their graphic manifestation in some articles of clothing, in meals and beve­rages, even in meal times established as a result of the peo­ple's natural environment and geographical position or due to the traditions of national economy and employment of the population. Nationally specific as a rule are many official terms and titles of address, the monetary systems and the systems of weights and measures, etc., e. g.: English: county, borough, butterscotch, custard, muffin, toffee, bushel, chain, furlong, inch, mile, pint, penny, shilling, pound, lady, mister, sir, lobby, speaker, teller, Lord Chancellor, Number 10 Downing Street, Whitehall, etc.; Ukrainian: кобзар, веснянка, коломийка, козак, запорожець, кептар, січ, свитка, хата, лежанка, весільний батько, троїсті музики, вечорниці, борщ, вареники, галушки, кутя, медок, ряжанка, опришок, плахта; Russian: тройка, квас, окрошка, щи, самовар, сарафан, колхоз, комсомол, луноход, совет (советский), спутник.

Nation's specific notions or realia are words or word-combinations that are used to designate things characteristic of the life (mode of life, culture, social and historical development) of one nation and are alien to other nations. They convey national and/or historical colouring and do not have full equivalents in other languages. These units can be geographic, ethnographic, socio-political, etc. They can also be classified according to the place and time of usage.

The penetration of a nation's specific notions into other national languages is realized in different historical periods through various channels and in most different conditions. The latter include first of all trade contacts in the process of which many notions are borrowed as designators for the things which they signify. The designators may be regular labels (or trade marks) like bacon, champagne, jam, jeans, coca-cola, corn-flakes, macaroni, samovar, vodka, spaghetti, sweater, tweed, whisky, etc.

Some other specific national notions can penetrate into the target language in the process of traditional bilateral economic and cultural contacts which may be maintained at different levels. The contacts in their turn may as well be multilateral which fact often facilitates an international] spreading of some specific national notions of a certain language (or some languages). That was the way in which many a specific national term has become widely known: balalaika, bandoure/pandore, hopak, polka, waltz, beefsteak, pudding, lunch, etc.

Still other specific national notions become world-wide known through the literary/historical works, through the press or by way of other mass media like the radio or television: oasis, boycott, Labourist, pagoda, picket, taboo, Tory, ricks - haw, sauna, Soviet, etc.

These and other specific national terms (and notions) found their way to different languages and in the course of some historical time they have become internationalisms. The more important the specific notion is for a certain nation, the more often it is used in the everyday life of the community, the greater is the possibility of its becoming international.

But the overwhelming majo­rity of other specific national notions in all languages remain within the boundaries of the language of its origin. Moreover they may sometimes be unknown even to a greater part of the natio­nal community. These may be archaic notions like the Uk­rainian бунчук, виборний, осаул, тулумбас, сіряк or loca­lisms like кулеша, плачипда, бакуш, etc. Besides, many other rather wide-spread and well-known specific notions in a national community may often be of minor importance for the target language communities which live under dif­ferent economic, social, cultural or geographical conditions. An ordinary reader, say, would pay little if any attention to the highly specific and unique for every Englishman notions like kedgerel (meals), proctor, whip (in Parliament), the Eton and Harrow match, Charing Cross, the East End or Bloomsbury. These specific names are often ment­ioned in English prose, especially in the works by the British authors like Galsworthy, Cronin and others. So the names have to be explained to our readers in the footnotes or in commentaries to the novels, e. g.:

They were off immedia­tely, without interference, swinging out of the East End in the direction of Bloomsbury. (A. Cronin)

Автомобіль зразу ж pушив, і вони без перешкод поїхали з Icm-Енду в напрямку до центрального району – Блумсбері.

The East End was and remains the poorest part of London, whereas Bloomsbury as the central part of it was known during the late 19th – the beginning оf the 20th century for its group of poets critical of bourgeois morals and aesthetics. So an additional explanation of the proper names in the target language becomes necessary. Many other specific English and Ukrainian national notions are also to be explained in this way, e. g.: bingo бінго (азартна гра типу лото – попу­лярна серед пристаркуватих і одиноких людей, особливо жінок); gin джин (ялівцева горілка: використовується для коктейлів), mackintosh макінтош (одяг,водонепроник­на тканина), Merseyside Мерсісайд (Ліверпуль з навколишніми містами й поселеннями обабіч гирла р. Мерсі), muesli мюзлі (страва на сніданок з подрібнених пшеничних зерен з су­хими фруктами, горіхами тощо); пуд pood (measure of weight equal to 16,38 kg), рушник rushnyk (embroidered towel used in every folk rite in Ukraine), суботник subotnу k (voluntary unpaid work in the USSR on days off for the public good (on Saturday).

The meaning of the above-given English and Ukrainian specific national words has not been conveyed by way of translation proper. They have simply been explained in the target language. Sometimes each or some of the components, making up the unit of specific national lexicon, can also be directly translated. And yet it may turn insufficient for thefaithful conveying of their sense. Then an explanation of the specific national notion is added: alphabet soup азбучний cуп з макаронів, що мають форму літер абетки, піонерська лінійка young pioneers parade/line up, учнівські правила school regulations and rules of pupils' behaviour; класний журнал register/form register and record book.

It is difficult for the foreign student to guess the real meaning of the specific national unit even from the seemingly transparent, lexical meaning of its component parts. To avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity further explication becomes inevitable: Athens of the North (поет.) Північні Афіни (Единбург); сubbing полювання на лисиць (у якому беруть участь початкуючі мисливці й молоді собаки-гончаки); question time день запитань (у палаті громад від 14.45 до 15.30 з понеділка по четвер; відповіді дають прем'єр-міністр і міністри); privy purse приватний гаманець (асигнування державного бюджету на утримання монарха Великобританії).

This is not so with many other notions which only at first sight seem to be different in English and Ukrainian hut in reality are quite similar and can usually be substituted for each other: box (Christmas box) різдвяний подарунок (сf. новорічний подарунок); Department of Education and Science міністерство освіти і науки; Department of Industries міністерство промисловості; Department of Energy міністерство енергетики; extramural education заочне і вечірнє навчання.

As may have been noticed the units of specific national lexicon are rarely similar by their nature and meaning in either of the two languages. That is why there exist various approaches to conveying their meanings in the target language which can hardly be called translation proper.

 



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