1、Culture of Numbers and Translation数字文化与翻译数字文化与翻译1.General introduction of culture of numbers:nDifferent cultural connotations-In general,odd numbers（奇数）（奇数）are considered to be lucky in English-related culture,while in Chinese culture even numbers(偶数偶数)are thought to bring good luck.nIdioms with num
2、bers are the central core and cream of languages,reflecting the wisdom of human being.As rhetorical devices of hyperbole and analogy,idioms with numbers make language more concise,vivid,colorful and comprehensible.nSome idioms with numbers in Chinese:一荣俱荣，一损俱损（Injure one and you injure them all;hono
3、r one and you honor them all）；一箭双雕;二一添作五（平分，均摊,go fifty-fifty);略知一二;三句话不离本行；四海之内，皆兄弟也；五光十色;六神无主；十五个吊桶打水,七上八下；八字还没一撇；八九不离十；九牛二虎之力；十年树木，百年树人；不管三七二十一;三十六计，走为上策；五十步笑百步（The pot calls the kettle black）；千里姻缘一线牵；万般皆下品，惟有读书高（To be a scholar is to be the top of society/Only the learned rank high,all other tra
4、des are low),etc.nSome idioms with numbers in English culture:one-horse town（乡村小镇）;in twos and threes(in small numbers 三三两两，稀稀拉拉)；in two twos(转瞬,转眼间)；put two and two together(根据所见所闻推断);three-score and ten（古稀之年）;four-letter word(粗俗下流词)；four leaf(幸运草);to be flung to the four winds（被抛到九霄云外）;five finger
5、s(三只手，扒手);fifth wheel（累赘）；take the fifth（以美国宪法修正案第五条作庇护拒绝回答，避而不答）；at sixes and sevens（乱七八糟）;one over the eight(醉得疯疯癫癫);have nine lives(命大,九死一生)；nine days wonder(轰动一时的人或事)；take five/ten(小憩);ten to one（十之八九，很可能）；the upper ten/the upper ten thousand(上层社会，贵族阶级)；the eleventh hour(最后时刻，危急关头);strike twelve
6、(表现出全部才能）；run/go/talk nineteen to the dozen(喋喋不休)；go fifty-fifty（平分，均摊）；like sixty(快速地，猛烈地，急剧地)；one in a thousand(百里挑一);one hundred and one thanks(十分感谢，万分感谢，千恩万谢);have one thousand and one things to do(日理万机)；a thousand and one ways(许许多多的方法);a thousand miles away(千里之遥),etc.nIn Chinese,fuzzy numbers（模
7、糊数字）十十，千千，万万 are frequently used.nIn English“ten”,“hundred”,“thousand”,“million”are very common.2.The cultural connotation of numbers in Chinese and EnglishnCultural connotations of numbers are not only related with psychology,but also with myths and religion etc.In both eastern and western cultures
8、,there has been fetishism that influences the peoples sub-consciousness.They believe that certain numbers have mysterious or magic power that may bring them luck or evil.So in peoples daily life,lucky numbers are favored and unlucky numbers are disliked.n2.1 nIn Chinese culture,certain numbers are b
9、elieved to be auspicious（吉利的）or inauspicious based on the Chinese word that the number name sounds similar to though these beliefs may be regarded as superstitions.-Chinese people have strong psychology of symmetry,double thing(成双成对),association,analogy,pursuing the good and avoiding the bad.Even nu
10、mbers are naturally lucky ones。6,8 and 10 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings.-Another interesting association is that in 三（3）,the top stroke stands for heaven,the middle for people,and the bottom for earth,so the whole numb
11、er symbolizes the relationship between the three（天、地、人），which seem to blend(合一).nThe cultural development and cultural connotations of numbers is also strongly influenced by myths/mythology.In ancient mythology,there is a supernatural being Ne Zha,with three heads and six hands,who is in charge of j
12、ustice.It was said that he can transform himself into three at will and possesses unusual power.Accordingly,3 has taken on the meaning of“powerful”and“magic”.nBesides,Confucianism,Taoism and Buddhism,intertwined so tightly in China,had been dominating for years.Each of them is very important with it
13、s exertions on the cultural connotations of the Chinese numbers.-In Taoism,everything had two opposite sides:good and bad,right and wrong,long and short,bright and dark,motion and motionlessness.This causes the notion that even numbers were considered to be good luck and that the two opposite sides
14、of everything correspond to the Chinese traditional aesthetics,and that in social and cultural activities,even numbers were consummate/perfect and lucky.nHowever,the number 4,though an even number,is regarded unlucky since it sounds like the word 死（death）.n2.2 In contrast,in English-related culture,
15、people believe that odd numbers(except for 13)are associated with good luck.nThe English-speaking people use the numbers“hundred,thousand and million”plus the number“one”to form odd numbers to seek good fortunes or to express“further more”.nThe lucky and mysterious number 3 has deep effect on social
16、 lives in the English culture.-as the symbol of God and as the most perfect of all numbers;-the Christian Trinity(Father,Son and Holy Spirit)-The world is three-folded(earth,sea,and air);-Man is believed to have body,soul and spirit.n Westerners also have special preference to,even worship the numbe
17、r 7 -the ancient related the number 7 with Celestial Bodies(the sun,the moon and Venus金星,Jupiter木星,Mercury水星,Mars火星 and Saturn土星)to the Gods -In Christian culture,God created the world in 7 days;-God and the angels are supposed to be living in the 7th heaven;-and there are Seven Sages of Greece(希腊七大
18、圣贤)and Seven Bishops（七大主教）.-Consequently,7 is used to express happy implications originating from Christianity and thereby is used to regulate peoples morality and behaviors.-They also believed that people have 7 virtues(七大美德):Faith/Trust（信任）,Hope（希望）,Charity/Mercy（仁慈）,Justice（公正）,Fortitude(毅力),Prud
19、ence(谨慎)and Temperance(节制).-And whats more,there are many idiomatic usages with“seven”in English culture:the Seven Heavens(七重天),the Seven Deadly Sins(七大罪),the Seven Sacraments（七大圣礼），the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy(七大精神善事)，the Seven Gifts of the Spirit(神的七大礼物)，the Seven Senses(七种官能),the Seven Virt
20、ues(七大美德)etc.nBut in western countries,13 is regarded as an unlucky number,even a taboo number.The 13th of a month is likewise ominous,particularly when it falls on a Friday in some English-speaking countries(黑色星期五).nReligious culture,more than psychology and myths,is an important part of culture of
21、 human society.Religious theories on the positive and negative connotations of numbers certainly influence a persons spiritual world from generation to generation.3.Translation of the numeral wordsnOn the basis of the principles of achieving idiomaticity and vividness（民族性，通俗性/习惯性，形象性）,here we mainly
22、 have three methods.3.1 Literal translation/Preservation of original numbers 保留数字直译保留数字直译nEnglish and Chinese share a lot in common in their use of numbers.When there is one-to-one correspondence,literal translation is a normal strategy.n1)Two is company,three is none.两人两人成伴，三人三人不欢。n2)This PC is ine
23、xpensive;I bought it second-hand.这是个二手二手电脑，便宜。n3)新婚乍别，不免有一日三秋一日三秋之感。To the newly-weds,one day of separation is as long as three years./One day apart seems three autumns.n4)一个一个篱笆三个三个桩,一个一个好汉三个三个帮。A fence needs the support of three stakes,and an able fellow needs the help of three other people/One ma
24、n needs the help of three others to succeed.n5）一一年之计，莫如树谷；十十年之计，莫如树木；百百年之计,莫如树人。To grow grain,you need a years work;to plant a tree,ten years work,but to nurture a man of talent,a hundred years work.n6)一个一个和尚跳水吃，两个两个和尚抬水吃，三个三个和尚没水吃。One boy is a boy,two boys half a boy,three boys no boy.3.2 Borrowing
25、/Replacement套译套译/变动数变动数 字改译字改译nIn many cases,however,the same idea is often expressed by different numbers in English and Chinese.Therefore,there must be a change in the form for the sake of idiomatic expression.n1)Even if I fail seventy times seven,I will try again.即使我失败千百次千百次，我也要继续下去。n2)It used to
26、 be a well-run business,but then disagreements arose between the partners,and now things are at sixes and sevens.原来本是个管理得好好的企业,后来合股人内部发生分歧,现在搞得乱七八糟乱七八糟/七颠八倒七颠八倒。n3)Heres a man,an army officer,in such rotten shape that if I sent a good horse after him now its ten to one he couldnt get on him.此处有位军官，可
27、他身体是如此虚弱，以至于即使我们用一匹马送他，十之八九十之八九他也上不去。n4)In the contemporary literary world his name is simply a nine days wonder.当代文坛中，他仅是昙花一现昙花一现的作家。n5)他有有一说一，有二说二一说一，有二说二，值得信赖。He is trustworthy,for he is one who calls a spade a spade.n6)冰冻三尺非一日之寒冰冻三尺非一日之寒，他这身功夫可是一生心血的结晶啊！As Rome was not built in a day,his wonderf
28、ul skill was the crystallization of a lifetimes hard work and dedication.n7)方案一公布，大家就七嘴八舌七嘴八舌，议论开了。Publication of the draft plan touched off a lively discussion with everybody eager to put in a word.3.3 Accession or omission of numbers 添加或舍弃数字意译添加或舍弃数字意译nThere are still some cases in which the idea
29、expressed by numbers in a language has to be realized by some other lexical item than a number in another language.n1)Mary was in the seventh heaven/on cloud nine with the piano which she has been given as a birthday present.当收到作为生日礼物的钢琴时，玛丽高高兴极了兴极了。n2)Listen to John singing!He must be one over the
30、eight。听,约翰在唱歌呢!他准又醉得疯疯癫癫醉得疯疯癫癫的。n3)When the patients condition was critical,the doctor stayed with her for days and had only forty winks in the daytime.她病情危急时,那位大夫几天一直守护着她,只有在白天打个盹儿打个盹儿。n4)Across the street on the side of a house was painted a giant woman with a five-foot smile and long blond hair,h
31、olding out a giant bottle.街对面房子的墙上有一副大型广告画-一位肩披金色长发的女郎，笑容满面笑容满面/绽放绽放,手里举着一个大瓶子。n5)“还有一位中国留学生更怪诞,”沈老说，“大学毕业后没找到职业，就在巴黎下层社会瞎混，三教九流三教九流都认识，连下等妓院的情况也了如指掌。”“The story of another Chinese student is more fantastic,”Mr.Shen continued,“He failed to find a job upon graduation from university,then he muddled a
32、mong the lower strata in Paris all day where he got quite familiar with people in various trades.He even knew everything about the brothels of the lowest rank,like he knew the back of his hand.”n6)Seven hours sleep will make a clown forget his design.(proverb)丑角贪睡贪睡，会忘记滑稽设计。n7)Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it.(proverb)东西放着放着，总会派上用场。Conclusionn当数字词语的意义更贴近“数”的特性时,汉英两种语言的数字词语有其相似之处;而当数字被赋予更多的联想意义时,两种语言的差异之处就明显了。这种差异背后体现了文化对于语言的影响。模糊数字的翻译不能拘泥于数字本身的数值，而必须依托具体语境，细心推敲原文的修辞特色，着重从文采上考虑，精心选择适当词语，译出其形象，译出其语势，再现其风格。Thanks!Wish you a fruitful semester!
