Dissertation > Excellent graduate degree dissertation topics show

A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom Through the Ages

Author: WuPeng
Tutor: LiuKaiFang
School: Xiamen University
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: Chinese translation have meaning Translation themselves something word translate more
CLC:
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2001
Downloads: 140
Quote: 0
Read: Download Dissertation

Abstract

Proverbs are succinct and pithy sayings of general use, expressing commonly held beliefs and ideas. Proverbs are part of every spoken language and are related to such other forms of folk literature as fables and riddles that have originated in oral tradition. Anyone interested in language will, of course, recognize the value in knowing the proverbs of another language. And in fact, nobody really masters a foreign language without being able to understand its proverbs and communicate through them. The basic thoughts and opinions of another culture are expressed in them. And only by being able to use them can one hope to gain true fluency and be accepted by native speakers.Proverbs are found in all languages, and their comparison provides insight into the effects of cultural conditions, language, and local variations on expression. Originated in oral tradition and as a form of folk literature, proverbs play an important role in reflection of a culture. Comparisons of proverbs found hi various parts of the world show that the same kernel of wisdom may be gleaned under different cultural conditions and languages. The biblical proverb, Do not throw pearls to swine, (* Matthew 7, 6)(Var. To cast pearls before swine.) for example, has an equivalent among the proverbs in Dutch: To strew roses before pigs. In Chinese, we have To play the lute to a cow (Xf^^^) and we also have the equivalent Japanese proverb, Giving gold coins to a cat (Neko ni koban). All of these refer to giving important advice to someone who is not paying attention and all of them form part of the codes of behavior and exemplify the proverb’s use for transmission of folk wisdom and rules of conducts.Therefore, this thesis mainly deals with the characteristics of English and Chinese proverbs and their translation in cross-cultural communication. Based on the great achievement hi paremiology ?a scientific discipline whose main interest is proverbs ?as well as a great number of proverbs, the author specifies and analyzes the different definitions given of a proverb, especially English and Chinese proverbs ?the difference and similarity of their origins, their stylistic attributes, their contents, and their developing processes. Meanwhile, considering the large amount of proverbsemployed in the literary works, the author suggests some strategies in dealing with the translation between English and Chinese proverbs. In the end, the author reiterates the importance of this study.The author accomplished this plan in six major chapters, of which the first Chapter is about what a proverb is and its functions, the second to the fifth chapter are devoted to the comparative and contrastive studies of English and Chinese proverbs, namely, the stylistic attributes, the various origins, contents and variants respectively and the sixth chapter deals with the translation between these two proverbs.Chapter one is divided into two sections, of which the first considers the various functions of proverbs and the second considers the definitions given from different angles. The study of proverbs is necessary because they are extensively used in many fields. Therefore, in the first section, the author specifies the functions of proverbs in the modern society. The problem of defining a proverb appears as old as people’s interest in it and hence in the second section, the author makes three points, of which the first is devoted to the folk definitions of proverbs, the second definitions given in dictionaries and encyclopedias and the third the definitions given by paremiologists.Proverbs are of course distinguished by special stylistic traits, which are the markers of proverb in some way. English and Chinese people, in their long run of literary development, have found different ways to realize the special forms of their proverbs, some of which are the same for both English and Chinese proverbs and some are not. Therefore, the second chapter is devoted to the comparative and contrastive study of the stylistic attributes of English and Chinese proverbs,

A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom Through the Ages

Abstract

Related Dissertations