Abstract:English idioms have a close connection with western culture. They can not only reflect culture, also,they are greatly influenced by culture. When translating the English idioms into Chinese, the most ideal method is to find substitutions in Chinese, which may have identical meanings. Chinese idioms can be used to substitute for the English idioms when their meanings are identical. If there are no such Chinese idioms which have the identical meaning as the English idioms, then literal translation or liberal translation can be applied. This article is based on Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, aiming at seeking the equivalent expressions between readers in the target language and those in the source language by discussing such relevant equivalent strategies as domestication and foreignization, in order to work out acceptable translations with English and Chinese idioms. 

Key words:  Functional Equivalence; English idioms; translation strategies

Table of Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1.-Introduction-1

2.-Literature Review-2

3.-Definition of English Idioms-3

4.-Origins of English Idioms-4

4.1-Derived from Greece and Rome mythology, fable and Bible-4

4.2 Historical events-4

4.3 Customs-5

4.4 Experience of daily life-5

4.5 Works by famous writers-5

5.-Functional Equivalence Theory and Its Application-6

5.1 Definition of Functional Equivalence Theory-6

5.2 Application of Functional Equivalence Theory-6

5.2.1 Retaining the original images-6

5.2.2 Transforming the original images-6

5.2.3 Removing the original images-6

6.-Strategies for translating English idioms into Chinese-7

6.1 Domestication-7

6.1.1 Substitution-7

6.1.2 Paraphrase-8

6.1.3 Transformation-9

6.2 Foreignization-10

6.2.1 Metaphrase-10

6.2.2 Metaphrase with notes-10

7. Conclusion-12

Bibliography-13

Acknowledgements-14