-
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
< br>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
process 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
expression,
expression
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
uniqueness 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 ......................................
..................................................
..................................
I
V
Chapter 1
Introduction .....................................
..................................................
.............................
1
Chapter2
Sources of Network Catchwords ....................
..................................................
...............
3
2.1 From Network Expression............
..................................................
...................................
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
.
...........................................
..................................................
.................
1
2
3.3 Popular and Periodic Tendencies ...
..................................................
...............................
1
2
IV
3.4 Vulgarness Expression .............
..................................................
.....................................
1
3
Chapter 4
Translation Methods of Network Catchwords
< br>.
...................................
..........................
1
5
4.1 Literal
Translation
...........................
..................................................
..............................
1
5
4.2 Literal
Translation with Interlinear Notes ...............
..................................................
......
1
6
4.3
Free Translation
.
..........
..................................................
..................................................
1
7
4.4 Free
Translation with Interlinear Notes
.
..........................................
................................
1
8
4.5 Affixation
Method ...........................................
..................................................
..............
1
9
4.6 Adapted Translations of Sentences <
/p>
.
............................
..................................................
...
1
9
Chapter 5
Conclusion
............................
..................................................
......................................
2
1
Bibliography <
/p>
.
............................
..................................................
..................................................
.
2
3
V
本科毕业论文
Chapter 1
Introduction
Catchwords as a lexical
phenomenon reflect people’s general concern on
problems and issues
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
（
class strugg
le
）
,
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
transmission.
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 witness to these changes.
Changing times
arouses surge in
people’s mind, which seeks innovation methods
f
rom 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
accesses
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
expressions
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
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本科毕业论文
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
express
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
mass
media
as
well
as
thriving
network, the popularization range of
network catchwords will be expanded step by step.
Thus, it
is necessary 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.
2
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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
dissemination,
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
classified
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
styl
e
—
network
catchwords.
2.1 From Network Expression
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
本科毕业论文
during
the
Olympic
torch
passed
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
business
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 obsessed 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
Association,
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 progress 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 express 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
本科毕业论文
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
express
netizens
’
embarrassing 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
obsessed 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 issued 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
cheapness
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 fortress but later transforms
into new meaning duplicates of world
class
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 business or show
biz) consists of
a large number of sub-
industries devoted to entertainment. However, the
term is often used in the
mass media to
describe the mass media companies that control the
distribution and manufacture
of mass
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 classic 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
narrowness),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
Congress
and
Chinese
People's Political
Consultative Conference) of ile,the classical
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
recesses of people
’
s heart.
As far as I am concern, the reason why these words
of
dwelling
narrowness
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
6
本科毕业论文
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,
professor
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 catc
hwords
人生
就像茶几，上面摆满了茶具
< br>
(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 issued 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 embarrassing or confused
under the circumstance of
variety
shows. However, official translation issued by
Google (2009) is
being sunk
in accordance
with
foreign
culture
because
Google
considers
that
embarrassing
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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本科毕业论文
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
express 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
expression, expression 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
necessarily
change
in
accordance
with
the
tempo
of
social
life
progress.
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
grassroots
culture
which
has
a
dominant
role
in
public
opinions.
Moreover,
Linguists
hold
that
language
expresses
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
本科毕业论文
people
’
s
social
behavior.
For
instance,
the
development
of
network
makes
people
actively
participate
into
social
life
to
express
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 express 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 stress 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
classroom regardless of any student when
Wenchuan earthquake happened in
May,12,, he issued 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 loss
of
teachers
’
virtue in current society. On the other hand, it
also reflects collective concern and fierce
9