Abstract: This thesis focuses on the translation of Chinese idioms and chooses the English version of Fortress Besieged translated by Jeanne Kelly and Nathan K.Mao in 1979 for study. The author collects idioms from Fortress Besieged, after comparing differences of the Chinese and English idioms and analyzing their respective causes for the differences. She goes on to introduce domestication and foreignization to analyze the translations of the idioms in Fortress Besieged. There are nearly 300 idioms in Fortress Besieged embodying the Chinese culture and it is necessary to adopt the two strategies to translate them appropriately. After analysis, the author summarizes the basic principles for translation of Chinese idioms in Fortress Besieged and holds the view that in deep Chinese cultural works like Fortress Besieged domestication is more preferable. 

Key words: idiom translation; Fortress Besieged; domestication; foreignization

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Comparison between Chinese and English Idioms1

2.1 Linguistic Characteristics of Chinese and English Idioms

  2.1.1 Linguistic Characteristics of Chinese Idioms

  2.1.2 Linguistic Characteristics of English Idioms

2.2 Causes of Cultural Differences of Chinese and English Idioms

3. Translation of Idioms in Fortress Besieged5

3.1 Domestication VS Foreignization

3.2 Examples in Fortress Besieged

3.3 Principles for Translation of Chinese Idioms 

4. Conclusion11

Bibliography.12

Acknowledgements13