Scribd
Upload
30 views

Workshop 4

The document discusses translating proverbs and sayings between cultures and languages. It provides examples of proverbs in Russian and their English equivalents, and tasks the reader with classifying proverbs based on how easily they can be translated and providing suitable proverbs for different contexts.

Uploaded by

Анна К.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views

Workshop 4

The document discusses translating proverbs and sayings between cultures and languages. It provides examples of proverbs in Russian and their English equivalents, and tasks the reader with classifying proverbs based on how easily they can be translated and providing suitable proverbs for different contexts.

Uploaded by

Анна К.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Workshop 4.

Culture-bound units and the challenges they present for a translator:


translation of proverbs and sayings

1. A proverb is a short traditional saying that expresses some obvious truth or familiar
experience. It often appeals to imagery, though sometimes it states its message directly. In
this latter case expressiveness can be gained by rhyme, rhythm, exaggeration etc. Match
the proverbs and their Russian equivalents.
Много будешь знать – скоро a. New lords – new laws.
состаришься.
Сам живи и другим не мешай. b. Break a leg (good luck).
Мягко стелет, да жестко спать. c. Self comes first.
Ложка дегтя в бочке меда. d. Let well alone.
У семи нянек дитя без глаза. e. Best defense is offence.
Не сразу Москва строилась. f. When pigs fly.
Делу время – потехе час. g. Actions speak louder than words.
Новая метла по-новому метет. h. Too much knowledge makes the head bald.
На ловца и зверь бежит. i. Out of the frying-pan into the fire.
От добра добра не ищут. j. A fly in the ointment.
Из огня да в полымя. k. Seek and you shall find.
Не по словам судят, а по делам. l. Business before pleasure.
После дождичка в четверг. m. Rome was not built in a day.
Своя рубашка ближе к телу. n. Cats hide their claws.
Лучшая защита – нападение. o. Everybody’s business is nobody’s business.
Ни пуха, ни пера. p. Live and let live.

2. Classify the following proverbs into 3 groups: a) those that can be translated almost word
for word; b) those for which it is easy to find an equivalent, though the image is different;
c) those that require an explanation, for want of an adequate proverb or saying. How will
you deal with the latter kind in translation?
Better late than never. Better safe than sorry. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Don’t
cut the bough you are standing on. Don’t halloo till you are out of the wood. Don’t change
horses in mid-stream. Charity begins at home. Don’t make a rod for your back. It’s an ill
wind that blows nobody any good. It’s a long lane that has no turning. It never rains but
pours. It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Man proposes, God disposes. Marriages are made
in heaven.

Word-for word Different images Explanation


translation
3. Find a proverb among those given in the previous task to suit each of the following
contexts.
▪ Isn’t it too early to announce that the experiment is successful? What if the device
suddenly fails to function? ……..
▪ Are you really going to forbid smoking on the premises? If I were you, I’d think
twice before placing a ban on smoking. I don’t believe you’ll be able to give it up
yourself. It’ll be a torture to you. …………..
▪ Failing an exam is not exactly the end of the world, you know. Better luck next
time! Just get properly prepared instead of moping about and complaining of your
misfortune. ……………..

4. Read the following contexts and then choose one of the proverbs given to suit each
of them. This time the proverbs are rooted in imagery different from that of the SL.
Explain what each proverb means.
A watched pot never boils. Why keep a dog and bark yourself? Like father, like son. There
are wheels within wheels. Once bitten, twice shy. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
a) Похоже, наш юный друг Майкл весьма рискует, открывая собственное дело. Это
значит напрашиваться на неприятности, правда? – Пока трудно сказать. У него не
меньше шансов преуспеть, нежели потерпеть неудачу. В конце концов,…..
(пословица)
b) Это ужасно! Джек обещал, что позвонит вечером, а телефон упорно молчит! Сил нет
больше ждать. – На твоём месте я бы занялась чем-нибудь еще. Как говаривала
бабушка, …..=
c) -М-р Сондерс, сказала директор школы, -в следующую субботу мы вывозим
очередную группу школьников в Лондон на экскурсию. Вы не хотели бы опять
помочь нам, как вы любезно сделали это в прошлый раз? – Простите, Мисс Осборн,
мне бы не хотелось. Я чуть не рехнулся от этой чёртовой ребятни. Теперь мой девиз
– ……
d) У м-с Дэвис достаточно помучилась со своим муженьком, пока он не бросил её. Но
беда в том, что и старший сын уже пьет, как сапожник. ……
e) -Гарри, не пора ли тебе подстричь живую изгородь в палисаднике? — Это дело
садовника. ……
f) Ну почему от этого человека никогда не дождешься прямого ответа? Он ведь владелец
предприятия, решать должен он, так почему он не может сразу и окончательно
ответить да или нет? – Потому что он просто ширма (=подставное лицо). Настоящий
босс за кулисами. Это как …………

5. Think of your own example of a self-clarifying context. Give it in Russian and let
your group-mates supply a suitable proverb in the end.

You might also like