本科生毕业论文
网络流行语及其英文翻译
院 系： 外国语学院 专 业： 英 语
I A Study of English Translation of Network Catchwords
摘要
随着中国国际化进程日益加快和互联网的普及，越来越多的外国友人更加密切地关注中国。与此同时，中国网民也创造了不少幽默诙谐、充满智慧的语言，一些鲜活的流行语不仅在网络上迅速传播，还渗透到社会生活中。然而通过对汉语网络流行语翻译的研究现状来看，汉语网络流行语的翻译工作还有待进一步的发展。本文首先介绍了流行语和网络流行语的背景以及它们之间的从属关系。其次，网络流行语主要来源于网络用语、影视用语和外来语。通过对其来源的分析，进一步概括出网络流行语之所以流行的原因。从广义上来说，网络流行语的形成不仅是语言继承性和创新性的有机结合，它的简洁、幽默、流行性和周期性也让众多网民对其更加追捧和使用。然而，在网络流行语不断追求个性、不断创新的洪流中，也不可避免地出现了粗俗化现象。本文根据奈达的功能对等理论，对汉语网络流行语的翻译技巧进行了分析和总结之后发现，在网络流行语的翻译中直译、直译夹注、意译、意译加注、加缀法和改译法仍是十分有效和常用的技巧。
关键词：网络流行语；来源；特征；翻译
II
Abstract
With the accelerating proce of China Internationalization and popularity of the Internet, more and more foreigners pay closer attention to China.At the same time, Chinese netizens also create many humorous and witty words some of which spread like wildfire through Internet and also deeply enter the social life.However, through the translation situations of Chinese network catchwords, the translation problem needs further development.The thesis firstly introduces the background of catchword, network catchwords and their subordinate relationship.Secondly, network catchwords mainly originate from network expreion, expreion in entertainment industry and foreign words.By analyzing its sources, the causes of popularity of network catchwords have been displayed clear for us.Broadly speaking, network catchwords are not only combination of linguistic inheritance and innovation, but also adored and used by netizens because of its concision, humor, popularity and periodicity.However, continuous pursuit for uniquene and innovation also emerge vulgar usage of it.After analyzing and concluding the translation skills of Chinese network catchwords according to Nida’s Functional Equivalence theory, it is found that the translation methods including literal translation, literal translation with interlinear notes, free translation, free translation with interlinear notes, affixation method and adapted translation are still effective and common ones.Key Words: Network Catchwords; Sources; Features; Translation
III
Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................错误！未定义书签。 摘要 ................................................................................................................................................II Abstract .......................................................................................................................................III Table of Contents ..........................................................................................................................IV Chapter 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Chapter2 Sources of Network Catchwords .....................................................................................3
2.1 From Network Expreion.................................................................................................3
2.1.1 From Current Affairs ..............................................................................................3 2.1.2 From Network Paste Bar ........................................................................................4 2.2 From Entertainment Industry ............................................................................................6
2.2.1 From Television Play ..............................................................................................6 2.2.2 From Film and Variety Show .................................................................................7 2.3 From Foreign Words..........................................................................................................7 2.4 Causes of the Popularity of Network Catchwords.............................................................8 Chapter 3 Features of Network Catchwords .................................................................................11 3.1 Combination of Linguistic Inheritance and Innovation ...................................................11 3.2 Economic effect ...............................................................................................................12 3.3 Popular and Periodic Tendencies ....................................................................................12 IV 3.4 Vulgarne Expreion ....................................................................................................13 Chapter 4 Translation Methods of Network Catchwords ..............................................................15 4.1 Literal Translation ...........................................................................................................15 4.2 Literal Translation with Interlinear Notes .......................................................................16 4.3 Free Translation ...............................................................................................................17 4.4 Free Translation with Interlinear Notes ...........................................................................18 4.5 Affixation Method ...........................................................................................................19 4.6 Adapted Translations of Sentences ..................................................................................19 Chapter 5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................21 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................23
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Chapter 1 Introduction Catchwords as a lexical phenomenon reflect people’s general concern on problems and iues of specific periods of time in one country or one district.Different period has different catchwords.In the early days of new China, the word 同志（people who hold same aspirations/comrade）originated from Soviet Union was popular among different strata; During the cultural revolution period, 阶级斗争（cla struggle）,上山下乡(going to the mountainous areas and the countryside)became catchwords of that time ;between 1980s and1990s, 脱贫致富（cast off poverty to get rich）, 奔小康（strive for a relatively comfortable life）were prevalent in those two decade years ; Since the new century, all kinds of catchwords have become popular by means of network transmiion.Furthermore, different social groups also hold distinct catchwords.Therefore, catchword as a piece of social sensitive nerves represents various changes of society and widespread responsive reflection of public attitudes.Having carried out reform and opening-up policy for thirty years, China has given birth to many new thoughts and things while so-called catchwords appropriately bear witne to these changes.Changing times arouses surge in people’s mind, which seeks innovation methods from a linguistic point of view.Therefore, based on complicated psychology and social background, catchwords mostly result form era of social changes which carry much higher cultural contents.Meanwhile, some also originate from dialects and influenced by regional cultures.In a word, the existence and prevalence of catchwords is both a cultural phenomenon and a linguistic phenomenon.From a positive aspect, catchwords are pipelines to multiply lexis and also accees to some certain social culture or emotional abreactions.Moreover, network catchwords are one type of whole catchwords.Network catchwords namely prevalent words in internet which are the expreions established by netizens through common usage.With popularization of the internet, Chinese netizens create many humorous and witty words some of which spread like wildfire through internet and also gradually enter the 1
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social life.These network catchwords as a type of special linguistic variants also hold cultural connotations besides denotations.All in all, network catchwords use vivid forms to expre special meanings, which enrich our discourse space, generalize the raw style and content for living together with build up aesthetic value through ridicule person and ridicule words.With social development, cultural diversification and flourishing ma media as well as thriving network, the popularization range of network catchwords will be expanded step by step.Thus, it is neceary to research its Chinese-English translations because they have a realistic meaning in current society.
The thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter one is an introduction to background information of catchword and network catchword.Chapter two firstly focuses on the sources of network catchwords then concludes the causes of its popularity.Chapter three introduces main features of network catchwords.By means of arduous analysis and generalization, chapter four have given priority to the English translation versions of Chinese network catchwords.Finally, the thesis comes to a conclusion.
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Chapter2 Sources of Network Catchwords The birth of internet to the production of human life brought about profound changes.Network becomes the fourth media after newspaper, radio and television and also creates new information exchanges and diemination, which has brought communication environment, communication way to update and formed a new variant of network language- network catchwords.Xie Xinzhou (2002) considered that generalized network language could be claified into three types, firstly network technical terms like online, chat room, website, internet bar and hacker and so on.Secondly, language used in chat room, BBS or other forums namely netizens’ communication language.Thirdly, language of network news, network advertisement and network literature.However, narrowly-defined network catchwords refer to the second type.On one hand, lexis is one of the most active aspects in linguistic revolution of which network catchwords are complicated one.Furthermore, the formation and development of any language are linked with social background and cultural accumulation.It is these sources that form the new linguistic style—network catchwords.2.1 From Network Expreion
With the coming of internet era, network has penetrated into people’s daily life.Though closely linked with communication activities of daily life, Language used in the virtual world is different from it.
2.1.1 From Current Affairs
CNN (Cable News Network) originally is a US cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner.Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24 hour television news coverage and the first all-news television channel in the United States (Wikipedia).In the CNN report of 2008, it appeared foreign media’s twisted coverage of Tibet happenings.Many Chinese thought it was biased.It drew more attention after CNN commentator Jack Cafferty’s rude talk of China 3
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during the Olympic torch paed in the United States.Later, network catchword做人不能太CNN (do not be too CNN) which means how to keep one’s integrity towards some falsification events becomes popular among netizens.In previous time, 打酱油 (to get some soy sauce)was a true portrayal of people’s daily life.Nowadays, it is given a new meaning it is none of my busine to imply audiences’ attitudes of drawing veil over politics and sensitive topics to protect themselves.As far as we know, Phoenix was a miraculous animal and king of birds in Chinese ancient mythology and legend.However, in Western mythology, there still has such kind of bird called fire bird or immortal bird.As Chinese saying goes golden phoenix flying from the deep hill, the new compounding catchword凤凰男 (phoenix man) is prevalent in society because it represents a kind of men who grew up poor and in the countryside, but later move to a big city and married a city girl.Are you obseed with football? If you are, you must know the source of network catchword叉腰肌 (Psoas muscle).Xie Yalong, the former head of the Chinese Football Aociation, once criticized women players, saying they have weak psoas muscles.(this is the muscle that links the trunk to the legs ,it is important for motion .) However, nobody knew where the muscle is.Altogether, about the network catchwords of this type, it is hard to find corresponding English versions in the progre of translation.As long as event-backgrounds are defined, translation versions will be better understood by foreigners.
2.1.2 From Network Paste Bar
What is paste bar? Paste bar is an online community bound tightly with searching service in which people expre what they think about a specific topic, like a big group.In this big group, there are so many smaller groups, each group has its own keywords which is the common interest of every members.Generally, users search or create a bar by keyword.They type the keyword and enter the bar.If the bar has not been created before, it will be created at the time you search it (Wikipedia).
Due to the convenience of senting pictures into internet, sometimes, many netizens are struck 4
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dumb with astonishments even without uttering any words to depict them when faced with these weird, peculiar pictures.So the word雷 (stun)becomes an replacement to expre netizens’
embarraing feelings of that specific moment.After that, these new lexis 雷人 (stunning),雷倒(stunned) and 雷文 (stunning words)came out but not briefly translated as surprise or astonishing just with literal meanings.From internet forum mop hodgepodge in March,2009, a netizen named don’t be infatuated with me have a spoof on some pictures and then others quickly transmit the catchword不要迷恋哥，哥只是一个传说 (Don’t be obseed with me, I’m only a legend.) in internet.Later, in September, someone posts a photograph of an non-mainstream man eating noodle adding a sentence哥吃的不是面，是寂寞 (What I’m eating is not noodles, but solitude) in Baidu paste bar.After that, this catchword turns out to be the greatest love of people.With fertile imaginations of new generations about new social fashion, they create different kinds of network catchwords to generalize some kinds of people.Nowadays, many job-seeking youngsters including college students devote their time and energy to preparing exams that award an array of certificates in order to prove their language and computer skills in the hope of securing an edge over other applicants in the job market.Because of this phenomenon, the network catchword哈证族 (Certificate maniac) emerges as the times require.On the contrary, a graduate student once iued a post to claim that he was employed without knowing.Behind the scenes, we could imagine what the true employment percentage of university graduates is.Additionally, the word 被就业 (falsification of graduates employment status) comes into people’s view.In other cases, some traditional words change or completely change its original semantic meanings to some degree in current society.Some small factories started by small workshops imitate famous brands to create low-price, civilian products.Owing to their cheapne and popularity, the catchwords 山寨 (copycatting) becomes a top hit because it reflects common phenomenon in Chinese manufacturing industry.Therefore,山寨 (copycatting) originally means a mountain fortre but later transforms into new meaning duplicates of world cla brands criticized by foreigners on this phenomenon.Moreover, Google gives a suitable 5
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translation version copycatting which has been included to network dictionary.2.2 From Entertainment Industry
The entertainment industry (also informally known as show busine or show biz) consists of a large number of sub-industries devoted to entertainment.However, the term is often used in the ma media to describe the ma media companies that control the distribution and manufacture of ma media entertainment.In the popular parlance, the term show biz in particular connotes the commercially popular performing arts, especially musical theatre, vaudeville, comedy, film, television play and variety shows etc.Broadly speaking, as a type of tertiary industry, the bloom of entertainment not only brings about mental and psychological pleasure in people, but also makes us have an opportunity to taste new-appeared network catchwords.
2.2.1 From Television Play
A television sketch不差钱 (Money is not a problem)of Spring Festival Evening Party in 2009 becomes popular all over the country after the claic performance of Zhao Benshan,Xiao Shenyang.Nowadays, some guests always use this catchword when having meals in restaurants.Along with audiences’ high concern on house slave of television play蜗居 (dwelling narrowne),two catchwords 蚁族 (the ant tribe) and 房奴 (house slave)of this type are becoming hit catchwords during the two meetings(National People\'s Congre and Chinese People\'s Political Consultative Conference) of 2010.Meanwhile,the claical lines人情债，我肉偿了 (My debts of gratitude have been repaid with my body!) also receives an unexpected reaction in the recees of people’s heart.As far as I am concern, the reason why these words of dwelling narrowne are conspicuous in current society is that this teleplay deeply touches white-collar employees to the sweets and bitters of battling strenuously for a house.While at the early time of previous year, Topics in Focus of CCTV broadcasts a programme suspicious toll which immediately causes public concern on it.When questioned how large amounts of Tianjin annual road construction loan, Liu Bo, deputy director of Tianjin municipal highway
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administration fees said that it can not be explained in detail (这事不能细说) which turns into a conspicuous network catchwords implying the dirty trick among some governmental or regional departments.Are you familiar with Lecture Room of CCTV 10? If you are, you may be a fan of Yi Zhongtian.In a programme of Lecture Room, profeor Yi Zhongtian once sighed such a sentence,悲剧啊 (tragedy,ah).Later, netizens copy this exclamatory sentence into internet filled with allegorical illustration.Thus, netizens has given birth to the usage of such catchwords人生就像茶几，上面摆满了茶具 (Tableware is to the table what tragedy is to life) in internet.Besides the above-mentioned catchwords, dialects of some teleplay also arouse audiences’ interest and then popularize over the whole country.For example, dialect catchwords 得瑟(arrogant/rampant) and妥了 (something is done) become beloved ones in people’s mouths.2.2.2 From Film and Variety Show
In view of 2008 Chinese network catchwords iued by Google at the beginning of 2009 year, monosyllabic catchwords become eye-catching objects among people.With the hit broadcast of film Lost on Journey, 囧 (sunken) originated from ancient Chinese character literally means light shining through a window while refers embarraing or confused under the circumstance of variety shows.However, official translation iued by Google (2009) is being sunk in accordance with foreign culture because Google considers that embarraing generally means awkward in Chinese people’s minds.With the popularity of the hit show If You Are the One, a series of catchwords闪婚 (shotgun marriage) ,做秀 (make a show) and 拜金主义 (money warship) represent new hit topics on personal values towards contemporary society, family relations and individuals.For instance, Ma Nuo, a player of the hit shows If You Are the One once said ‘I would rather cry in the BMW, than smile in the bicycle’.Thought this material girl was well-known by us, how many other worldly girls are there in current society?
2.3 From Foreign Words
Foreign words play a vital role in the formation of network catchwords to some extent of
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which English accounts for large part.In internet, we frequently see the new catchword 酷毙了(ultra cool ) and 晒 (share) appeared in entertainment programmes.In fact, both two words are originated from transliteration of English words ultra cool and share.The first word is used to expre astonishing, exciting feelings about performance.While the latter word is a self-released life style to share personal resources with others including innovation, life condition, pets etc.In summation, whether from network expreion, expreion in industry or foreign words, the whole sources reflect the complicated and dynamic features of network catchwords.It is its unique and popular sources that attract many people’s close attention to the starting and ending of each social event.
2.4 Causes of the Popularity of Network Catchwords
American scholar J.B.Pride (1971) once put forward the theory Covariation between Language and Social Structure in his book The Social Meaning of Language.When social life has gradual or sudden changes, language as a social phenomenon will necearily change in accordance with the tempo of social life progre.Nowadays, being in a transitional period, China has corresponding and intense changes in social structure and life.By the end of 2010, the number of Chinese netizens reaches 457.3 million which leaps to the first place in the world.With the fast development of the Internet, social resources like speech privilege, acquisition right and sensibility towards social events are being redistributed.Under the strict regulation of traditional media in domestic China, the Internet is regarded as a platform on behalf of freedom of speech and graroots culture which has a dominant role in public opinions.Moreover, Linguists hold that language exprees not only contents but also closely relates to life style, economic level and current affairs.During the period of reform and opening-up, advertisement language was being the greatest love of all among citizens.While in recent years, network catchwords become the top topic in streets and lanes.Innovation of any social behavior always motivates linguistic changes.In other words, linguistic changes are the external representation of 8
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people’s social behavior.For instance, the development of network makes people actively participate into social life to expre their thoughts and reach affirmative praise from other people towards their talents and innovations.In this participation society, each person has the right to give free rein to his imagination, unique thoughts.According to the table of 27th Statistical Report on Internet Development in China by China Internet Network Information Center in 19 January, 2011, the age span of Chinese netizens from 10 to 39 takes up 81.9 percent in 2009; 80.5% in 2010 compared with the whole ages.Concerning academic degree and educational background of the netizen group, there are large numbers of student netizens holding a college or equivalent degree in China.Filled with agile minds and special pursuits for fashion and innovation, these youngsters spare free time in virtual world without bearing heavy burden on realistic life.Undoubtedly, they provide themselves with private spaces for exerting talents and abilities.Once social events appear in all kinds of media, netizen groups will actively expre their personal judgment in the first time in order to amuse themselves or audiences.From the viewpoint of our country, public opinions play a good supervisory role in public affairs; as for audiences themselves, their reflections on social events seem to be like a flavoring of releasing stre of work and life, family friction and interpersonal relationship.Nowadays, network catchwords become fashionable for a time of which each one has an affair happened behind the scene.As for the network catchwords 范跑跑 (Running Fan), it emerged in response to Fan Meizhong’s escape from claroom regardle of any student when Wenchuan earthquake happened in May,12,2008.Later, he iued a post named the moment the earth was moving and said ‘at the moment between life and death, I may care sacrificing myself only for my daughter.Other people even like my mother; I would ignore them in that case.’ His escape behavior and outrage speech cause hot topic among netizens and then they give him a nickname running Fan.On one hand, this popular catchword wakens Chinese people the lo of teachers’ virtue in current society.On the other hand, it also reflects collective concern and fierce
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response of Chinese netizens towards this event.Another network catchword 我爸是李刚(My father is Li Gang ) refers to the event a 22-year-old student of HeBei University named Li Qiming, who was intoxicated, tried to speed away after a Volkswagen sedan he drove raced down a narrow lane and struck two students named Chen Xiaofeng and Zhang Jingjing head-on.Security guards intercepted him, but he was undeterred.He warned them, my father is Li Gang (the deputy police chief in the Beishi district of Baoding).Thus, the transparence of social events not only motivates people’s communication enthusiasms for thoughts, beliefs and participation but also make more netizens actively expre their attitudes and judgments towards society events.
Accordingly, network catchwords as recorder of social history are closely connected with realistic society in which netizens reveal their genuine attitudes towards thinking, grievances or enjoyment in society.Though being different from rigorous and complete language of traditional ma media, network catchwords always simply arouse public concentrated feelings through netizens’ opinions on top iues.Consequently, in current multicultural society, the appearance of network media provides audiences golden opportunities with new things, rich minds and fashionable life style.At the same time, the transparency of social events and people’s great concern on current affairs both motivate the popularity of network catchwords.
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Chapter 3 Features of Network Catchwords
Network is just like an open square towards people while anonymity breaks the bound of authority and reverse relations between center and edge.In the network stage, graroots netizens attain unprecedented freedom of expreion, which leads to depreed netizens roaring out special language to audiences.Network catchwords are just special language to some extent.Thus, most netizens regard the popularity of network catchwords as succe of common people.On all accounts, network catchwords are the conventional product of social collective thoughts while containing love-hate sentiments and value judgments on social events.Why do so many people like such kind of language style? For many netizens, using network catchwords not only show their close concern on social events but also save their time to reach economic effects due to its popularity and periodic features.Of network catchwords itself, it perfectly combines advantages between linguistic inheritance and linguistic innovation to form this unique language style.
3.1 Combination of Linguistic Inheritance and Innovation
The advancement and development of any language firstly can not depart from linguistic transmiion and inheritance.Undoubtedly, network catchwords originate from realistic society.Thus, formations of network catchwords like monosyllable, compounding of lexis and sentence are similar to spoken language or written language in ordinary life.
Moreover, innovation includes three features new, unusual and queer.New mostly refers to spoken expreions based on distinctive feature and condition of current life.For instance,富二代 (second rich generation ) originally appeared from an entertainment programme refers to these rich children who were born in the 1980s and might inherit property of hundred million.Unusual is not a special or rebelling but reflections of minds and dispositions which displays special thoughts of linguistic users.Like Chinese characters 槑 (nuts) pronounced mei,the word is a variant of the word for 梅 .but it also looks like a double version of the character 呆
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which means stupid .So netizens have borrowed it to mean 槑 nuts .Queer partly means going against even destroying linguistic convention on the basis of arbitrarine and dynamics.Some catchwords surpa lexical collocation standard like被就业 (falsification of graduates employment status)and abuse usage of linguistic arbitrarine as 歇菜 (finished，dead, napoo).However, just these unconventional usages of network catchwords bring about netizen unique feelings.
3.2 Economic effect
Economic principle is a fundamental one to conduct human behaviors.Usage of language as one of human behaviors also accords with the influence of economic principle.In other words, the smallest cognitive expense exchanges the biggest communication profits.American pragmatic scholar Laurence Horn (2002) holds that people are apt to choose the least words to satisfy both speakers and hearers.Formation and pragmatic aspects of network catchwords reflect both concision and condensation trait.Such as Chinese-English abbreviative words Happy(开心)一下,今天太high(兴奋)了 (it is so exciting today !),你真out(落伍)了(you are behind the times).
3.3 Popular and Periodic Tendencies
The eential feature of network catchwords is its popularity.Unlike these steady traditional words, some catchwords will be gradually gone out of use until accepted and recognized by citizens to become ordinary lexis.For this reason, network catchwords are dynamic phenomenon and go through the proce of appearance-popular- disappearance with exception of turning into ordinary words.In view of late network catchwords found in television programme, and hot social iues by netizens, the catchword打酱油 (get some soy sauce )gradually fade away with the end of influence and then is replaced by newly-appeared event magic horses are floating clouds (神马都是浮云).When netizens type Chinese characters 什么啊 by means of Sogou pinyin input method, without remembering the usage of delimiter ′, so pinyin s′m′a always turns
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into s′ma (神马).Thus, magic horses (神马) become a top hit in current internet due to its humorous effect.Whereas, the word floating clouds (浮云) namely illusory or fleeting meaning nothing is worthy of being mentioned.During the national day of 2010, a post named thank you a perfect friend for bringing me a sentimental national day reminds us of these weird and thunderous words spoken by xiaoyueyue.Hence, netizen connect magic horses with floating clouds to describe her because other words are le insipid than these two words.These two catchwords give us desperate but detached feelings which represent certain mental features of social people.Of course, other catchwords also keep its consistent popularity like English abbreviation PK concerned by people in 2005.Though some local government definitely prohibiting its usage in textbooks or media, this word is still prevalent in spoken language, ma media, and advertisement.Another example Gelivable (给力) originally comes from Japanese humorous animation Journey to the West- the destination of Pilgrimage.When the four people reach tianzhu (Just have a flag marked two words tianzhu) through trials and tribulations, meanwhile, Wukong complains ungelivable, master.During the period of 2010 world cup, the word gelivable (给力) becomes all the rage for football fans and netizen.Thereby, popular and periodic features of network catchwords become a general trait accepted by netizens and linguists.3.4 Vulgarne Expreion
Network as a virtual space in which netizens hide their ages, genders, identifications and social status in order to gro over their natural countenances.Without concerning about actual condition, they always speak their minds without reservation to show off so-called self-righteous attitudes.Owing to the platform in revealing gloomy sentiments, someone unscrupulously create language rubbishes to get rid of their grievances or satisfy vulgar tastes such as appearances of TMD (他妈的) / NND (奶奶的) / SB (傻逼).These vulgar words may penetrate into traditional media step by step even some become new favorite of mainstream pre.Therefore, it is neceary for us to draw
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the eence and discard the dregs from current network catchwords.Although network catchwords are prevalent among people because of its weird, special formation, some of which directly form rude even obscene linguistic phenomenon.Thus, it is neceary for us to have right judgments from the scurrilous network catchwords.Certainly, besides above-mentioned four main aspects, there are also other features of network catchwords like background trait, holding strong cultural color, usage of irony and metaphor as well as analogical devices duplicated into network.
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Chapter 4 Translation Methods of Network Catchwords In the informal verbal communication, network catchwords cater to popular tastes and also bring about translators a lot of troubles.In the thesis, it mainly refers to Eugene Nida’s Functional Equivalence and Formal Equivalence theory as a whole.Functional Equivalence and Formal Equivalence are two approaches to translation, of which the former attempts to convey the thought expreed in a source text (if neceary, at the expense of word order, the source text’s grammatical voice, etc.) while the latter means to render the text word-for-word(if neceary, at the expense of natural expreion in the target language).The two approaches respectively represent emphasis on readability and literal fidelity to the source text.There is no sharp boundary between Functional and Formal equivalence.Broadly, the two represent a spectrum of translation approaches.Furthermore, the terms Functional Equivalence and Formal Equivalence are aociated with the translator Eugene Nida, and were originally coined to describe ways of translating the Bible, but nowadays the two approaches are applicable to any translation (Wikipedia).Therefore, Nida acclaims that there are no such things as identical equivalence in translating, what one must in translating seek to do is find the closest poible equivalent.Here he identifies two basic orientations in translating based on two different types of equivalence, Functional Equivalence and Formal Equivalence theory.In specific translation skills, the thesis will contain literal translation, literal translation with interlinear notes, free translation, free translation with interlinear notes and adapted translation etc.the following translation references all originate from China Daily Website (2009/2010) and Google (2009).4.1 Literal Translation
Literal translation or direct translation is the rendering of text from one language to another word for word rather than conveying the sense of the original (Wikipedia).Spoken network catchwords always refer to new words that appeared in casual or informal circumstance used by netizens.Literal translations of catchwords always appeared in the forum and entertainment
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news like狗仔队 (paparazzi/ dog packs),做秀 (make a show),拜金主义 (money warship).For example, the network catchword狗仔队 translated as paparazzi or dog packs has a vivid which seems to be like a pack of dogs chase something at top speed.Some popular sentences are still used by netizens as follows.
哥吃的不是面，是寂寞.(What I’m eating is not noodles, but solitude.) 不要迷恋哥，哥只是一个传说.(Don’t be obseed with me, I’m only a legend.)
4.2 Literal Translation with Interlinear Notes While faced with some social events on the basis of backgrounds, when translate it directly, the additional explanations of events are neceary to make foreigners understood clearly and concisely as follows.When a person in Guangzhou was asked to give his opinion of the sex scandal involving Hong Kong star Edison Chen (Chen Guanxi), the man answered, it is none of my busine and I am just out to get some soy sauce.Later, this catchword implies audience’s attitudes of being worldly-wise and playing safe.Thus, the network catchword 打酱油 Get some soy sauce (it implies the meaning it is none of my busine) become popular in different strata.
凤凰男 Phoenix man (a man who grew up poor and in the countryside, but later moved to a big city and married a city girl.) Another case like this, Xie Yalong, the former head of the Chinese Football Aociation, once criticized women players, saying they have weak psoas muscles.(This is the muscle that links the trunk to the legs; it is important for motion.) However, nobody, including the players, knew where the muscle is.So the catchword叉腰肌Psoas muscle (having nothing definite in mind) takes on overnight.At the same time, one night in late October of 2010 in Baoding, China.A college student named Chen Xiaofeng was in-line skating with a friend on the grounds of Hebei University in
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central China.They were gliding past the campus grocery when a Volkswagen sedan raced down a narrow lane and struck them head-on.The impact sent Ms Chen flying and broke the other woman’s leg.The 22-year-old driver named Li Qiming, who was intoxicated, tried to speed away.Security guards intercepted him, but he was undeterred.He warned them, ‘My father is Li Gang!’ Later, the network catchword我爸是李刚 My father is Li Gang (it implies morbid psychology of the second officer generation) represents us the genuine psychology of some contemporary adolescents.
4.3 Free Translation
Free translation is applied when there is conflict between the source language meaning and the form of target language expreion, that is to say, when the language form in the target language can not faithfully convey the meaning that is expreed in the corresponding target language form.In this case, meaning is the first choice.The translator has to give up the original language form and try to keep the meaning instead.Free translation does not mean that the translator can ignore the source text; it only means that the surface structure of the source text is not completely rendered while the deep structure is faithfully reproduced.Free translations always apply to these words when netizens conclude specialized name after reading representative articles such as 闪婚 (shotgun marriage),山寨 (copycatting),哈证族 (certificate maniac).For instance, the word 闪婚 literally gives us a shock feeling of quick marriage as startled as a clap of thunder.So the translation version shotgun marriage just conforms to the charm of source language.Other spoken catchwords originally come from dialect language then become popular in society.For example, Northeastern catchwords 得瑟 was also prevalent along with television play Country love meaning rampant, aggreive or arrogant.妥了(something is ok / done)from television named Happine of the eldest among siblings is also frequently quoted by netizens.
In order to save time and improve efficiency, many monosyllabic catchwords appear to suit 17
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audience tastes as follows.在这里碰到他，雷！(It is embarraing to meet him here!) 可真够雷人的！(It is so stunning!) 你女友的身材简直酷毙了！(How slim your girlfriend’s figure is!) 人在囧途 (Lost on journey) 囧事 (Embarraing things) Some network popular sentences have vivid meanings and regional differences.Due to the cultural differences, there might be existing semantic vacancies, namely, Chinese cultural connotations have not corresponding elements in English language.Under this circumstance, translation materials should satisfy foreign culture and psychology.Such as, (R represents right, W represents wrong) 不差钱！R: Money is not a big deal / problem! W: there is no lack of money! 人情债，我肉偿了！R: I have paid the debt of gratitude by selling my self!
W: I have paid the debt of gratitude with my flesh!
晒工资 R:
Wages online exposure
W:
Shine one’s wages
4.4 Free Translation with Interlinear Notes
During a CCTV interview about a new Internet censorship regulation, a girl said that an uncensored web page once popped up on her computer.She called it ‘very pornographic, very violent’.Some believe the girl was told to say it by CCTV, so it is now used to mock the way the network covers news.So the word很黄很暴力 very pornographic, very violent (it implies some
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websites’ unrestricted regulations on many pornographic pictures) reflect the falsification coverage of some websites on unhealthy web pages.
做人不能太CNN do not be too CNN (It emerged in response to foreign media’s falsification of Tibet happenings even the commentator Jack Cafferty’s rude talk of china to expre how to keep one’s integrity towards some falsification events ).In this translation version, 做人 could not be given priority to the translation of to conduct yourself, to behave.In western countries, people stre on done or undone in the influence of democracy and freedom.For this reason, do not be too CNN is much better for foreigners’ psychology.
4.5 Affixation Method
Nominal catchwords always add to an affixation to state its meaning by use of suffix and prefix.
××族 (adding a suffix –ers）
刷卡族 (card-users), 工薪族 (wage-earners) ×奴 (adding a suffix word slave) 房奴 (mortgage slave), 婚奴 (wedding slave) While 巨搞 (spoof), 卧槽族 (job-hugging clan) is exception without adding to affixation mega- and –ers.
4.6 Adapted Translations of Sentences
Some network catchwords are formed in the way of imitation, analogy, pun or conferring traditional words to new meanings, unconventional word-making to receive humorous and ridicule effect.In order to reach this effect, adapted translation skills are good for keeping functional equivalence.人生就像茶几，上面摆满了杯具 (Tableware is to the table what tragedy is to life).In
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Chinese character, 悲剧 (tragedy) is the homonym of 杯具 (tableware).So, corresponding translation is fit for delicate touch of pun usage
被就业 (Bei jiuye, which is impoible to translate.Literally, is be hired, but it really means be hired without one’s knowing).This is a paive structure and also an unconventional phrase.The word 被 implies a black humor to expre unavoidable obseion upon some social phenomenon.
Due to the complicated and dynamic features of network catchwords, it is difficulty for many translators to have identically accurate English translation versions of Chinese network catchwords.As for the translations of network catchwords of this type, acquainting with foreign cultures and target language expreions plays a key role in the translation equivalence between the source text and the target language.
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Chapter 5 Conclusion After previous discu on the thesis, it will have a conclusion of the whole paper.The thesis starts with an introduction to background information of catchword and network catchword, of which their relationship and difference have been displayed clear for us.The second part firstly introduces the sources of network catchwords mainly from network expreion, expreion in industry and foreign words.With the appearance of network, people gradually indulge in their opinions on social events.It is the concerned thoughts of netizens from transparency of social events that stimulate the popularity of network catchwords.After the detailed analysis of its sources and causes, people begin to pay more attention to features of network catchwords.Thus, on one hand, the formation of network catchwords is a combination of linguistic inheritance and innovation to some extent.On the other hand, because of its concision, humor, popularity and periodicity features, the usage of network catchwords save most time for audiences but abuse formations also bring about vulgar linguistic phenomenon.By way of detailed and vivid introductions of three previous chapters, the English translations versions of Chinese network catchwords will be represented under the guidance of Nida’s Functional Equivalence theory.In specific conditions, the thesis will contain literal translation, literal translation with interlinear notes, free translation, free translation with interlinear notes and adapted translation etc.The famous translator Eugene Nida sets forth the differences in translation, as he accounts for it, within three basic factors.(1) The nature of the meage.In some meages, the content is of primary consideration and in others the form must be given a higher priority.(2) The purpose of the author and of the translator.To give information on both form and content; to aim at full intelligibility of the reader so he/she may understand the full implications of the meage; for imperative purposes that aim at not just understanding the translation but also at ensuring no misunderstanding of the translation.(3) The type of audiences.Prospective audiences differ both in decoding ability and in potential interest (Wikipedia).As far as I am concerned, based on its 21
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detail causes, sources and features, the English translations of Chinese network catchwords should not only take cultural differences between natives and foreigners into account, but also need finding corresponding or appropriate target-language versions with the accurate grasp of foreign cultures.As long as conforming to reflections of target-people, it might be appearing much better translation versions.Due to its complicated and dynamic features, there are all kinds of network catchwords in different category.What is more, for current linguists, they mainly have given priority to the research on the definition, formation of network catchwords .In view of academic blank in this aspect, the thesis will have a brief discu on translation methods to find corresponding English versions of Chinese network catchwords according to the four previous aspects.Owing to the lack of relating translation materials, please oblige me with your valuable comments and criticism.At last, I thank all of you for giving me your generous helps and enormous enthusiasms to motivate me complete the thesis.
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