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Descriptive Translating of Idiomatic and Set Expressions
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- TRANSFORMATION OF SOME IDIOMS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATING
- SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR SELF-TESTING AND CLASS DISCUSSION
- EXERCISES FOR CLASS AND HOMEWORK Exercise I. Define the nature of each idiom below depending on the way it is to be translated into Ukrainian
- Exercise II. Suggest Ukrainian near equivalents for the idiomatic expressions below. Use part b) of the exercise for the purpose
- Exercise III. Suggest Ukrainian single word equivalents for the following English phraseological and set expressions
- Exercise IV. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian. Define the ways in which the idioms in them are to be translated.
- Exercise V. Compare each English idiom with its corresponding Ukrainian equivalent below. Offer all possible ways in which they can be translated.
- Exercise VI. Translate in viva voce the following phraseological/idiomatic expressions, proverbs and saying into English. Define the ways in which their meaning can be faithfully conveyed
5. Descriptive Translating of Idiomatic and Set Expressions The meaning of a considerable number of idiomatic as well as stable/set expressions can be rendered through explication only, i.e., in a descriptive way. Depending on the complexity of meaning contained in the source-language idiom, it can be expressed in the target language in some ways:
загинути; зовсім розоритися; to go wesW/est пропасти, зникнути, ми і и зі сцени (переносно); 3) when the lexical meaning of an original idiomatic expression la condensed or when it is based on a nationally specific notion/structural form alien to the target language, the idiomatic expression may be conveyed by a sentence or a longer explanation: a wet blanket і иодина або обставина, що розхолоджує; well day (well-day) день, коїіиу хворого не погіршувався стан здоров'я (час між приступами гарячки, малярії тощо); wise behind млявий, що погано міркує; white elephantподарунок, якого важко позбутися (те, що приносить більше турбот, ніж користі); yes man (yes-man) людина, що з усіма згоджується, тільки підтакує (підтакувач); to cut off with a shilling ІіЛишити без спадщини; fight like Kilkenny cats битися до І «ємного знищення; to accept (the Stewardship) of the Chiltern Hundreds (Parliament) скласти з себе обов'язки члена британського парламенту. It must be added in conclusion that some English idiomatic/set expressions have a rather transparent lexical meaning and are easy for our students to translate into Ukrainian: to treat one like a lord щедро частувати (як лорда) когось, цяцькатися з кимось; with all one's steam/with all speed щодуху, дуже швидко; with a founded air ображено, з виглядом ображеного; with flags flying/with flying colours іріумфально, переможно; with a good reason не без підстав, не даремно; to be ла/f way between something посередені (бути на середині між чимсь), іти назустріч комусь/чомусь; not bom yesterday досвідчений (ужитті). Depending on the speech style of the passage/work, in which the idiomatic/phraseological expressions are used, and taking into account the nature of them (literary, colloquial, historical) some modifications of the above-given methods of translations and even new variants of translation may be suggested by the translator. Nevertheless, the aim of translation will always remain the same, viz. to fully render in the target language the lexical meaning and where possible also the structural peculiarities, the picturesqueness, the expressiveness, and the connotative meaning (if any) of the source language idiomatic or stable expressions and this is far from always easy or oven possible. How and with what means it can be achieved will be shown on some examples of rendering the meaning of several national idioms. 194 195
 TRANSFORMATION OF SOME IDIOMS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATING
As has already been pointed out, some phraseological expressions singled out by Acad. V. Vinogradov as unities and having mostly a transparent meaning may reflect various national features of the source language. The latter may be either of lingual or extralingual nature, involving the national images, their peculiar picturesqueness or means of expression with clear reference to traditions, customs or historical events, geographical position of the source language nation. Such phraseological expressions are often of a simple or composite sentence structure. Being nationally distinct, they can not have in the target language traditionally established equivalents or loan variants. As a result, most of them may have more than one translator's version in the target language. It may be either a regular sense-to-sense variant (an interlinear-type translation) or an artistic literary version rendering in which alongside the lexical meaning is also the aphoristic nature, the expressiveness, the picturesqueness, the vividness, etc. of the source language phraseologism/idiom. Taking into account the aims pursued and the contextual environment of the idiom, there must be acknowledged at least two main levels of translating the national idioms:
Faithful translation of national idioms/phraseologisms is mostly achieved via deliberate transformations of all kinds performed by the translator. The transformations are aimed at making the national images, the sense and structure of these phraseologic expressions easier for the target language readers/listeners to comprehend. Such transformations, therefore, adjust in many a case the source language idiom as a sense unit to the requirements of the target language bearers. Here are some examples of translation with the help of transformations of particularly English phraseologisms performed first (1) at the interlinear level which may sometimes be close to artistic level and then (2) at the literary artistic level: the wind cannot be prevented from blowing 1. вітрові не перешкодиш віяти; 2. вітрові не скажеш не 196
віяти/дути; вітру не затулиш; he that doesn't respect, isn't respected
No need to emphasize that some successful literary artistic translations/variants of specifically national idioms may in the end become regular translation loans of the target language.1 Transformations become absolutely inevitable when the English phraseologisms or mots contain a passive voice structure, the introductory it/there, or some other analytical constructions, as for instance, those with the auxiliary verbs (do, does, etc.). Cf.: there is no love lost between them вони недолюблюють одне одного/глек розбили; Does your mother know you are out? Молоко на губах ще не висохло/ще не доріс. Can the leopard change his spots? Горбатого могила виправить. Though sometimes transformations may become necessary to make the denotative and connotative meaning of idioms/phraseologisms easier for the target language bearers to comprehend. Thus, neither the sense-to-sense nor the literary variant of the proverb the moon is not seen when the sun shines (місяця не видно, коли світить сонце/сяє сонце - місяця не видно) can fully express its connotative (and denotative) meaning when the proverb stands for somebody or something eclipsing with his or its importance (fame, size, etc.) somebody or something meant by the «moon». All in all, however, there are few such sentence-type phraseological expressions which need some additional explication in Ukrainian. More often the content of the kind of phraseologisms/ idioms is clear already at language level, i.e., out of context, which enables their literary translation. This can be observed from a few more examples below: what matters to a blind man that his father could see що з того сліпому, що його батько був зрячим; it is too late to shut the stable door when the horse is stolen пізно зачиняти 1 See more about translation loans in: Зорівчак Р.П. Фразеологічна одиниця як перекладацька категорія. -Львів: «Вища шк.» Вид-во при Львівському ун-ті, 1983. 197
 конюшню, коли коня вкрали; when two ride on one horse one must sit behind коли двоє їдуть на одному коні, комусь/одному з них сидіти/їхати ззаду/двоє не можуть сидіти спереду.
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR SELF-TESTING AND CLASS DISCUSSION
EXERCISES FOR CLASS AND HOMEWORK Exercise I. Define the nature of each idiom below depending on the way it is to be translated into Ukrainian: 1. an eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth; 2. custom (habit, use) is a second nature; 3. he laughs best who laughs last; 4. let bygones be bygones; 5. like two drops of water; 6. look before you leap; 7. my little finger told me that; 8. a new broom sweeps clean; 9. no bees, no honey; no work, no money; 10. (one) can't see before one's nose; 11. (one) can't say boo to the goose; 12. to pick one's chestnuts out of the fire; 13. a prodigal son; 14. (as) proud as a peacock; 15. to return like for like; 16. to see smth. with the corner of one's eye; 17. there is no smoke without fire; 18. a tree of knowledge; 19. a voice in the wilderness; 20. to wipe off the disgrace; 21. to wipe one/smth. off the face/surface of the earth; 22. with open arms; 23. with a rope round one's neck; 24. whom God would ruin, he first deprives of reason; 25. it is a bold mouse that nestles in the cat's ear; 26. fire and water are good servants but bad masters; 27. he who is born a fool is never cured; 28. beauty is a fading flower; 29. a bad beginning makes a bad ending (Greek); 30. a full belly makes a dull brain; 31. the belly is not filled with fair words; 32. bread and circus; 33. fair words fat few; 34. between the devil and the deep; 35. like water off the feathers of a duck; 36. what is writ is writ; 37. no sweet without sweat; 38. first come, first served; 39. eyes are bigger than the stomach; 40. not blink an eye; 41. work like a dog; 42. walk on air; 43. work one's fingers to the bone; 44. Alpha and Omega; 45. physician, heal thyself; 46. the salt of the earth. Exercise II. Suggest Ukrainian near equivalents for the idiomatic 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/to have something at one's finger tips. 5. To laugh the wrong side of one's mouth. 6. To lay something for a rainy day. 7. He that diggeth a pit for another should look that he fall 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 in (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
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b) 1. Одним ударом (махом) двох зайців убити. 2. Добре розпочати - півділа зробити. 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). 11. Кров у жилах холоне. 12. Сім раз відміряй (одмір), а раз відріж (утни). 13. Більший католик, ніж папа римський. 14. Голий, як бубон. 15. Не всі вдома (однієї клепки не вистачає). 16. Сказав, як зав'язав (сказано - зроблено). 27. 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. 22. Підносити когось до небес. 24. Гарна, як квітка (як яблучко). 25. Гарний, як червінець. 26. Не мати шеляга/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. Exercise III. Suggest Ukrainian single word equivalents for the following English phraseological and set expressions: 1. all for naught; 2. a shot in the blue; 3. a simple innocent; 4. to sink to destitution; 5. the small of the night (the small hours of the night); 6. soft in the brain (head); 7. Before you can say Jack Robinson; 8. mother's strawberry/mark; 9. breathe one's last; 10. by word of mouth; 11. tender years; 12. to the end of time; 13. to the purpose; 14. white liver; 15. will and testament; 16. with a bold front; 17. with a faint heart; 18. with a good grace; 19. with one's tongue in one's cheek; 20. a young Tartar; 21. you try us; 22. as the crow flies. Exercise IV. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian. Define the ways in which the idioms in them are to be translated. 1. «I feel on the top of the world. I feel like a million dollars.» (Maugham) 2. The sole object of their lives is to be always playing with fire. (O. 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. Walter 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 dropt 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've 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 /f.«(Ibid.) 25. There is no accounting for taste and actions speak louder than words. 26. «Yes, I couldn't make head or tail of it.» 27. «You can twist her round your little finger.» 28. «Oh, I don't care a hang about that.» 29. «He says you just eat out of his hand.» 30. «By God, if you had, that old hag would have had you out of the play, you're in now before you could say knife.» 31. «She almost wished he wasn't going tomorrow so that she could have the pleasure of turning him out bag and baggage.» 32. And to dare to treat her like that, a twopenny halfpenny little man in the city. 33. «Poor lamb, he must be as poor as a church mouse». 34. «Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound.» 31. «I never slept a winkaW night for thinking of you,» he said. 35. «It's quite obvious that you don't care twostraws for me.» 36. «That was quite another pair of shoes.» 37. «After all she must be tolerant, he was only a boy, and if you must cross your t's, she was old enough to be his mother.» 38. «Wish me luck», he whispered, as he turned from her to enter the lift. «It's almost too good to be true.» 39. «She had never seen him in evening clothes before. He shone like a new pin.»
Exercise V. Compare each English idiom with its corresponding Ukrainian equivalent below. Offer all possible ways in which they can be translated. 1. like teacher, like pupil; 2. let the dead bury the dead; 3. he 200 201
who keeps company with the wolves, will learn to howl; 4. the morning sun never lasts a day; 5. to keep a body and soul together; 6. murder will out; 7. of all birds give me mutton; 8. one could have heard a pin drop; 9. one today is worth two tomorrows; 10. one rotten apple decays the bushel; 11. people who are too sharp cut their own fingers; 12. pie in the sky; 13. pigs grunt about everything and noth ing; 14. pitch darkness; 15. to play a dirty (mean, nasty) trick on one; 16. to point out a mote in one's eye; 17. to poison the fountains of trust; 18. a pretty penny; 19. a pretty little pig makes an ugly sow; 20. to keep one's tongue between one's teeth; 21. to make it hot for one; 22. to make mince meat/to make meat of smth.; 23. more power to your elbow; 24. to pull one's leg; 25. every dog has his day; 26. this is too thin; 27. to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds; 28. a saint's words and cat's claws; 29. one's sands are running out; 30. never bray at an ass; 31. to find a mare's nest; 32. sounding brass; 33. to talk through one's hat; 34. to talk a dog's (horse's) hind leg off; 35. to touch bottom; 36. company in distress makes sorrow less; 37. tit for tat; 38. tomorrow come never; 39. weeds want no sowing; 40. we got the coach up the hill; 41. what's Hecuba to me/to you; 42. when bees are old they yield no honey; 43. the wind in a man's face makes him wise; 44. scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. 45. To kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Exercise VI. Translate in viva voce the following phraseological/idiomatic expressions, proverbs and saying into English. Define the ways in which their meaning can be faithfully conveyed: 1. який Сава, така й слава; 2. що було, то загуло; 3. з ким поведешся, того й наберешся; 4. на світі нема нічого вічного; 5. ледве зводити кінці з кінцями; 6. шила в мішку не сховаєш; 7. найкраща риба - ковбаса /гарна птиця ковбаса; 8. тихо, як у
19. всі дівчата, мов квітки, а звідки погані баби беруться; 20. тримати язик за зубами/ ні пари з уст; 21. дати прочухана /
ще загляне сонце; 26. білими нитками шито; 27. служити і вашим, і нашим; 28. м'яко стеле, та твердо спати; 29. недовго (комусь) ряст топтати; ЗО. не водись з дурнем; 31. попасти пальцем у небо; 32. пусті слова/балачки; 33. верзти нісенітницю; 34. наговорити сім мішків/кіп гречаної вовни; 35. узнати/спізнати, почім ківш лиха; 36. в гурті і смерть не страшна /поділене горе - півгоря; 37. око за око/зуб за зуб; 38. обіцянка-цяцянка, а дурному радість; 39. дурнів не орють, не сіють (а вони самі родяться); 40. знайте нас: ми кислиці - то з нас квас; 41. а яке мені діло/ моя хата з краю; 42. був кінь, та з'їздився; 43. біда вимучить, біда й навчить; 44. рука руку миє. 45. зарізати курку, що несла золоті яйця. жүктеу/скачать 2.59 Mb. Достарыңызбен бөлісу:
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