The semantics of phraseological expressions is a complex unity having both denotative-logical and stylistic-connotative components. The most important of them are the following:
1. Transferred or image-bearing component of a phraseologism meaning;
2. Direct or referential component of meaning forming the basis of the image;
3. Emotional/evaluative component (evaluation: positive, negative, neutral);
4. Functional-stylistic component;
5. National component.
It can be illustrated with the help of the expression . The direct meaning of the phrase (component 2) presupposes the knowledge of the fact that Tula is the center of producing samovars which forms the basis of the figurative meaning (1) to bring smth that is readily available locally. The phraseologism conveys a negative attitude (3) to the denoted situation (it is not good to act like that). It is literary-colloquial by its nature (4) and has an obvious national colouring ( and ) (5).
These components are not equal from the point of view of their rendering in the TL. The most important are components 1, 3 and partly 4. Thus the equivalent should convey the figurative meaning of a translated phraseologism, render the same emotional attitude and possess a similar functional-stylistic colouring. Preservation of the direct meaning of phraseologism is not important in itself but insofar it preserves (conveys) the image. Reproduction of the national component helps to render the national colouring of the original but it may hinder the faithfulness of translation and blear the transferred meaning of the phrase due to the Receptors ignorance of the important background information (like the connection between Tula and samovars). Besides the translator must bear in mind that nationally charged phraseological expressions can introduce alien cultural elements into the target text making, for example, an Englishman speak about such specific Russian notions as Tula and samovar which sounds unnatural and ridiculous.
There are other factors that may influence the choice of the equivalent in the TL.
Not inrequently the choice of the way of reproduction may be predetermined by the number of lexical (contextual) equivalents for the given idiom, proverb or saying in the target language.
Thus, in the example below each phraseological unit can be translated into Ukrainian either with the help of a single unit or with the help of a standardized cliche:
to make a secrifice ( );
to render an account ( );
to give one a start ( );
the weaker vessel (facet) ( ).
It goes without saying that employment of each of the variants is predetermined by the text, which can be literary, literary colloquial, low colloquial etc. Besides, the text may have a humorous, satirical, scornful or any other pragmatic toning.
Thats why the selection of a variant greatly depends upon the stylistic character of the text (i.e. speech style) in which the phraseological unit (or its equivalent) is to be used.
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When in the TL there exist two or more variants for a phraseological expression of the SL one has to select the unit which is the most fitting for the given text not only lexically but also from the point of view of the picturesqueness and expressiveness.
Taking into account the afore-mentioned factors, several ways of faithful reproduction of phraseological expressions are to be distinguished.
III. The ways of faithful reproduction of phraseological expressions.
TRANSLATION BY WAY OF EQUIVALENTS embraces several varieties.
a) translation by way of absolute equivalents
presents a kind of reproduction in which every semantic (i.e. image-bearing, referential, emotional, evaluative, functional-stylistic, national) and structural component of the SL idiom is retained in the TL.
Translation by way of absolute equivalents is resorted to when dealing with the so called international phraseologisms, i.e. the phraseological expressions that originate from the same source in both languages in question. The source may be mythological, historical, literary, etc. as can be seen from the following examples.
1. Phraseological expressions originating from Greek mythology:
Augean stables 㳺 ();
Cassandra warning ;
2. Phraseological expressions originating from ancient history or literature:
an ass in a lions skin (Aesop) ;
between Scylla and Charybdis (Homer) ;
to cross the Rubicon (Caesar) ;
3. Phraseological expressions from the Bible or based on biblical plot:
a lost sheep () ;
the massacre (slaughter) of innocents ;
the ten commandments ;
thirty pieces of silver ( ).
A great many of absolute equivalents originate from contemporary literary or historical sources relating to different languages (mainly to French, Spanish, Danish< German, Italian, Arabic):
After us the deluge ;
The game is not worth the candle ;
To pull smbs chestnuts out of the fire ;
Ones place in the sun ; from French
Blue blood ;
The fifth column ;
To tilt at (fight with) the windmills ; from Spanish
Some mots belonging to prominent English and American authors have also turned into idiomatic expressions. Due to their constant use in belles-lettres they have become known in many languages.
Especially considerable is the amount of mots from the works by Shakespeare:
Betty a witty fool than a foolish wit (Twelfth Nigt)
/ , ;
Cowards die many times before their deaths (Julius Caesar)
.
b ) A great number of phraseological expressions can be reproduced with the help of
Near (Quasi) Equivalents
Near equivalents are the phraseological expressions preserving in the TL the main component parts of the SL phraseological expressions but having some divergences (involve various lexico-grammatical transformations).
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The difference between them can manifest itself:
in the reduction of the structure of the TL phraseological expression:
E.g.: to make a long story short Vs .
in the omission of the component part in the TL:
E.g.: a lot of water had run under the bridge since then Vs .
in the or addition of the component part in the TL:
E.g.: a voice in the wilderness Vs
in the change in the order of the components (rearrangement):
E.g.: a sound mind in a sound body Vs
in the substitution of a feature (image) of the SL phraseological expression by some other (more fitting or traditionally accepted) in the TL with the preservation of other components of semantics and structure:
E.g.: as pale as paper Vs ;
in the generalization of the features of the SL phraseological expression/ idiom:
E.g.: ones own flesh and bone Vs .
in the concretization of some feature of the original:
E.g.: you cannot catch an old bird with chaff Vs
in the usage of antonymic structure:
E.g.: the proof of the pudding is in the eating ,
