任何语言都是文化的反映,有其深刻的文化内涵。美国语言学家萨丕尔指出:“ 语言不能脱离文化而存在”。语言是社会文化不可分割的一部分。动物词在社会文化的交流过程中,熏染上了民族文化的个性色彩, 有不同或相同或相似的联想意义，在英汉翻译时有不同的处理方法。
1
直译:保留形象
如果英汉动物词汇的表达形式和文化内涵都是相同的,也就是说,当英语和汉语用动物词汇表示事物性质或者人物品质并且在意义形象、风格上是相同的或者具有相似之处时,就可以“对号入座”,保留原文的动物形象进行直译。
to play the lute to a cow对牛弹琴
as faithful as a dog像狗一样忠诚
barking dogs do not bite吠犬不咬人
as sly as a fox像狐狸一样狡猾
to stir up the grass and alert the snake打草惊蛇
to be like a frog at the bottom of a well井底之蛙
to drain to catch all the fish竭泽而渔
feel just like fish in water如鱼得水
the great fish eat small fish大鱼吃小鱼
Don't make yourself a mouse, or the cat will eat you.
不要把自己当老鼠,否则肯定被猫吃。
2
意译:含弃形象
当无法保留动物形象进行直译,并且无法改变动物形象进行套译时,我们可以舍弃原文中的动物形象进行意译。
big fish大亨
top dog最重要的人物
be like a bear with a sore head脾气暴躁
Dog does not eat dog.
同类不相残
It rains cats and dogs.
下着倾盆大雨。
My father will have a cow when I tell him.
我爸爸听说后一定会发怒的。
Last night, I heard him driving his pigs to market.
昨夜,我听见他鼾声如雷。
3
套译:改换形象
在翻译动物词语时,将其在源语中的象征意义传达到目标语中或者用目标语中具有相同象征意义的词来替代,这就是套译。
a lion in the way拦路虎
as happy as a cow快乐得像只鸟
teach a pig to play on a flute赶鸭子上架
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
宁做鸡头,不做凤尾。
Don’t believe him, he often talks horse.
不要信他,他常吹牛。
It had been raining all day and I came home like a drowned rat.
终日下雨,我到家时浑身湿得像一只落汤鸡。
