谈跨文化背景下商业广告翻译赏析
【论文关键词】跨文化 广告翻译
【论文摘要】在经济发展日趋一体化的当今社会，广告作为一种传播信息的方式，加强了东西方文化的交流。本文通过剖析那些跨文化背景下具有典型性的广告翻译个案，对其进行了赏析，从而加深英语学习者对商业广告翻译的认识和了解。
引言
“跨文化交际”即“cross-cultural communication（或inter-cultural communication）”。它指本族语者与非本族语者之间的交际，也指任何在语言和文化背景方面有差异的人们之间的交际。在世界经济日益发达的今天，广告作为一种传播信息的方式，既是两种语言间的交流，又是两种文化间的交流。因此，英语广告翻译的准确性、优美性，对于增强广告的效力十分重要。广告英语翻译实质上是一种跨文化交际活动，广告英语翻译是融语言翻译和文化翻译为一体的。因此在广告翻译中应对译入语的不同民族语言文化、心理文化、文化观念及文化审美予以足够的重视，从而使译文保持原广告的宣传效果。本文拟通过剖析那些跨文化背景下具有典型性的翻译广告个案，对其进行赏析，从而加深英语学习者对商业广告翻译的认识和了解。
一、英语双关语在广告翻译中的应用
双关语最早是在民间流传的趣味性文字游戏，在《朗文当代英语词典》和《韦氏新世界词典》当中对双关语的释文都不约而同的用到了“play on word”的字眼，即“文字游戏”.英语双关语是一种表现力极强的修辞手段，因而在广告中得到了广泛的应用。
例如：
1.The“in”idea in business travel-Hilton Inns.
译文：宾至如归-希尔顿旅馆。
这是希尔顿旅馆的广告，“in”表示“最时尚，最潮流的”与“inn”谐音，告诉消费者来希尔顿旅馆是最时尚的选择，另外其隐含的意思“宾至如归”表达出假如你身在旅馆的话，一定会让你感受到旅馆贴心的服务，让你感觉到舒适就像在自己家里一样。同时又点出了希尔顿旅馆的名字，达到广告宣传的作用。
2.Start ahead.
译文：成功之路，从头开始。
宝洁公司飘柔洗发水经典广告语，双关语的使用增强了广告的说服力和感染力，从而给消费者留下深刻的印象。译文洗练而内涵丰富，完美的诠释了原文。
3.Intel inside.（Intel Pentium）
译文：给电脑一颗奔腾的“芯”。（英特尔，奔腾）
Apple thinks different.
译文：苹果电脑，不同凡“想”。（苹果电脑）
以上两则广告均与计算机有关，而且原文中均无双关语。译者巧妙地利用了汉语的双关，“芯”与“心”，“想”与“响”谐音双关，两则广告语言机智，富于文字情趣，使商品连同广告词一起印在读者了的记忆里。
二、典故在广告翻译中的应用
1.希腊罗马神话那种“神人同形同性”的特征，深深地影响着西方人的.文化生活。许多希腊神话故事经过千百年的流传，早已融入人们的日常生活和词汇中，成为人们普遍使用的具有特殊意义的语言。在英语的广告中，就常可见到利用希腊、罗马神话典故中的人名或喻意，以满足英美人崇尚神话中英雄和神灵的文化心态的实例。
例如：美国的耐克（Nike），就是借用希腊神话中胜利女神的名字Nike，达芙妮（Daphne）品牌的鞋借用希腊神话中风姿绰约、艳丽非凡的月桂女神的形象。
2.《圣经》中包含着丰富的文化典故、警世喻理，不了解《圣经》，就很难实现英文广告的商业价值。，《圣经》的语言在英语形成过程中也占有一席重要之地，今日英语中使用的词汇，有许多来自《圣经》，至于说《圣经》中的典故变成习语进入英语语汇的例子，更是比比皆是。
例如：州农场保险公司所做的广告Like a good neighbor，State Farm is there（State Farm Insurance），便是借用《圣经·马太福音》第22章37-40节中“Love thy neighbor as thyself”（爱邻如己）的训导，于是可译为：州农场保险公司，亲如近邻。这样就把州农场保险公司可以随时为客户服务的宗旨表现得一览无遗，亲切之情，溢于言表。
三、仿拟修辞格在广告翻译中的运用
仿拟是根据交际需要，模仿人们耳熟能详的词语、句子、篇章等而临时创造出新的词语、句子和篇章等一种常见的修辞手段。许多外国广告商，在向我国进行广告宣传时，挖空心思地调查研究中国消费者的心理特征和文化内涵，创造出既能塑造产品形象，又能为中国消费群喜闻乐见的广告词来打动人心。其中很多广告仿拟中国古往今来的名诗佳句，在中国消费者心中产生共鸣。例如：
1.We know Eggsactly how to sell eggs.
这是一则售蛋广告。“Eggsactly”乃“exactly”的谐音拼写变异，与后边的“egg”遥相呼应，在语义上也相互映衬。这种别出心裁的构词游戏给消费者留下深刻的印象。
2.He who lasts last laughs best.
这是英国一则轮胎广告，意思是“谁跑在最后，谁笑得最好”。英语中有一句谚语诫其汉语译文是“谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好”。该广告就是仿拟这句谚语而得，将”laughs”改为“lasts”。动词last的意思是to remain of use，of good condition，与同音同形的副词一道使用，突出了该轮胎坚固耐磨的上乘品质。
四、文化背景知识在广告翻译中的应用
1.汉语中，“雅”、“柔”、“娇”、“碧”、“丝”、“娜”、“莲”、“露”和“梦等词都暗含有“温柔”、“舒适”、“美丽”等语用意义，常与女性相联系，因而一些女性化妆品牌汉译名就利用这些词内含的语用意义，取得广告效应。如“Avon”译为“雅芳”，“Arche”译为“雅倩”，“Hazelive”译为“夏士莲”等。虽然这些化妆品的译名偏离了原文语义意义，但在中国广受女士们的欢迎，取得了很好的广告效果。
2.龙，在汉民族文化中不仅是美的，而是一种图腾，成为中华民族的象征，历来被视为权利、力量、吉祥的象征。然而在英 语文 化中，龙却是恐怖的怪物，不具任何美感，谈“龙”色变。“亚洲四小龙”在英美报刊上因此被变通译为“亚洲四小虎”，东风“雪铁龙”被译为Citron。
五、结语
文化的不同会造成价值观念、象征意义上的差异，反应在广告语的翻译实践活动中时，就是要求译文以符合目的地的话 语文 化为基础，以富有想象力和创造力的表现手法使商品在新市场上更具竞争力，而文字翻译与文化翻译正是实现该目标的有用策略。中西方的文化差异是客观存在的，我们应着力于在中西方文化中找到一个契合点，两种文化相互交融，从而促进商标和广告语的翻译语言深入消费者人心，激发其美好想象和购买欲望，更好地步入中西商务交流和文化交流的亮丽路径。
参考文献
[1]刘海瑛.广告翻译中应注意不同的文化因素[J].成都信息工程学院学报,2004,19.
[2]陈宏薇.新实用汉译英教程[M].武汉:湖北教育出版社,1996.
[3]崔刚.广告英语[M].北京:北京理工大学出版社,1993.
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从语义 比如一些单词在不同文化中多种含义。
句式 格式 一些倒装啦 定语后置什么的 翻译出来的意思会不一样
发音 广告用语中某些发音和另一些相同 刚好对当地文化有忌讳。
还有一些颜色什么的。广告中的背景， 人物角色这些也可以写写。
原文太长，我给你的是节选，你需要全文的话，文后我给你附上网址。
Abstract
At present, with the rapid pace of economy’s development, advertising tends to be a main way to, so it is natural that international Ads translation becomes decisive for the products’ successful launching to the world market.
Advertisements’ translation is a cross-cultural communication. Cultural differences determine that it would be far from easy for Ad to reach its function for the world market. The cultural connotation reflected in translation must win receptors’ acceptance. Just like the idiom says “when in Rome do as Romans do”. Advertising language should be kept in corresponding with cultural background of the target language, whenever this is done, it becomes possible for advertisements to exert its function to attract the receptors.
Combining with translation practices this paper will analyze how the cultural differences influence Ad function in six aspects, including cultural habits, social political constitution, courteous principle, reasoning, aesthetic thought and language structure, Ad translation will not reach its function if such cultural differences are neglected, and how much importance should be attached to the cultural identity, which plays a positive role in Ad translation
Key Words: Ad Translation, Cultural Differences,
摘要: 广告语言作为一种特殊的实用文体,有其独有的特点,并蕴含一定的文化内涵。广告语言的翻译,是跨文化的交流活动,它不仅仅是将一种语言文字转换成另一种语言文字,而且使读者自然而然地认同广告的深层文化内涵,通过被吸引而产生广告的效应。
广告翻译必须注重目的语的文化背景,高质量的翻译不仅可以准确传达信息,还能引发读者的文化联想和审美想象,产生良好的广告效应,同时也宣传了本民族的文化,起到了对外交流的作用。为能灵活、有效和得体地表达出原语中的文化内涵以及广告信息,这就要求译者必须了解原语言和译语言的文化,确保信息准确传递。
本文结合广告翻译成功和失败的案例,从风俗习惯、社会政治制度、礼貌原则、推理模式、审美思想、语言结构六个方面文化差异对广告翻译的影响，忽视文化的差异，必将一定程度上影响广告信息的传递，产生误解，使广告翻译难以实现信息的等效交流，而进一步探讨应如何注重文化认同,分析其对广告功能、目的产生的影响。
关键词：广告翻译、文化差异
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1:Introduction of Cultural Differences
Chapter 2: Misunderstandings Caused by Cultural Differences
2.1 Different Cultural Habits Cause Misunderstanding
2.2 Different Social Political Constitution May Hinder the Convey of Information
2.3 Different Courteous Principle May Lead to Communication Failure
2.4 Different Reasoning May Cause Misunderstanding
2.5 Different Aesthetic Thought Result in Different Appreciation View
2.6 Different Language Structure May Make Information Depart from the Original Meaning
Chapter 3: Role of Cultural Identity
Conclusion
References
Introduction
Advertisement should express a certain expectation. It is a special pragmatic type of writing with a unique feature, and it also contains a certain cultural connotation. It should not as easy as a word-to-word exchange, but much of a flexible work.
Cultural background of the target language is significant to Ad translation; much impotence should be attached. A good translated version will not only convey the information in accuracy, reaching a good advertising effect, but also stimulate receptor’s cultural and appreciating association, which will be of much help to the cultrural communication, thus it also is a impulse in cultural diffusion.
Cultural differences as the main factor give much hindrance to the translation work. Misunderstandings will come about if it is ignored, the advertisement may consequently fail to meet its goal.
How the cultural differences influence the advertisement’s function and target and how to make the cultural differences optimized when translating? What kind of role does culture identity play in this course? All these questions are the main discussions in this paper.
Chapter 1 Cultural Differences
As the product of culture, advertisement can show the close relationship between language and culture.
Advertisement is a comprehensive art with commercial identity, which persuades people for a certain publicity goal. On some extent, it is a special pragmatic type of writing with unique feature, which contains a certain cultural connotation; only when put into the same or a similar social culture can its function and efficiency be completely explored. However, Ad translation is an across-cultural communication, which determines that it is not as easy as word-to-word exchange. It must win the receptor’s acceptance on the cultural connotation reflected in the Ads, then receptors are attracted and be willing to follow the Ad’s guide.
Thus only by knowing the grammar, lexical and relating capabilities of listening, writing and speaking about the two languages is far from enough to ensure cultural connotation of the source language is properly and effectively expressed. The translator is required to know both cultures of the source language and target language to guarantee the best convey of the original information. For instance, “延年益寿”, “宫廷秘方”, “百年陈酿”,etc. These advertising language always turn up in domestic Ads, which are difficult to be translated, even though translated, target receptors would not understand the original cultural connotation, and a doubt to the quality of the product may arises in their minds.
Different culture leads to different cultural identity. Domestic receptors are deeply influenced by the traditional culture. They like following the public, showing great awe to the authoritative people, this psychological phenomenon results in the existence of much advertising language with Chinese specialty, like “……,用了都说好”, “我们都喝……,今天你喝了没有”, “……时尚内衣”, “部优”, “省优”, “中国消费者协会推荐产品”, etc. While in western countries, people pursue independence. Everyone tends to be independent. Everyone is unique (why should I do the same as others? They always think in this way). So Advertisements there never advocate people to follow the public, rather to arise admiration to the so-called authoritative people. What reflects in the advertisement are “individuality”, “independence” and “privacy”.
Different cultures determine that the product’s promotion will turn out failure if the Ad succeed inland is translated literally. Severe research must be done on the cultural differences, or a bad impression of irresponsible or muddling through might arise, a certain doubt about the quality might strike the consumer. Ad’s natural duty will end up with a failure. Thus, when conducting international propagation it is very important to study the differences between Chinese culture and western culture, and make sure not too much exaggeration is contained in the Ad.
Cultural differences make their existence in many aspects, political, language, religion, custom, habits, etc. They have much importance to Ad translation. Once they were neglected, misunderstandings must turns up.
Chapter 2 Misunderstandings Caused by Cultural Differences
Advertising language is a special art form, which has profound cultural background and can be influenced by the tendency of the day. Ad translation is a motion of cultural communication. To avoid misunderstanding, comprehensibility of different cultural background should be strengthened in the translation.
When translating, not only the exact meaning of the advertisement should be clear, but also the extended meaning namely the cultural connotation involved should be agreed on. Due to the differences in language, culture, politic, and custom, different understanding and cognition will form; the translation must go in line with the target cultural habits by which the communication shall reach an ideal effect. Mr. Wang zuoliang have said, “what translators deal with are some particular words, but what they face are two completely different cultures.” Another famous translation theorist Eugene A. Nida (1993) said, “Translating means communicating, what important is the extent to which receptors correctly understand and appreciate the translated text.”
2.1 Different Cultural Habits Cause Misunderstanding
Cultural differences and conflicts make their existence wherever and whenever, they influence people’s perspectives and their ways of generalization. Although people of different cultural backgrounds may have different tastes, their psychological inclination has much in common, that is to say, all human should pursue elegance and luck, but avoiding cynic and ominous, thereby translator should respect the cultural customs and be cautious in choosing words to avoid misunderstanding.
For example, a pen product of Shanghai named “白翎”, the trade mark is translated as white feather. Unfortunately there is a saying in English, to show the white feather, which means escaping from the forefront. White feather is the symbol of cowardness in English. As a result, this pen got a bad selling in western countries. Another example, “金鸡鞋油，颜色有黑、棕、白、红、黄、蓝等.” It is translated into Golden Cock shoe-polish comes in black, brown, white, red, yellow and blue. In China, Golden has a meaning of valuable and of high quality, as well as “Cock” always leads to a positive association, then the translation of “金鸡” naturally comes to Golden Cock, which seriously mislead receptor’s association, because in English cock is a usual indication of male genital.
Some words containing good cultural connotation in Chinese would mean the opposite in western world. Take Fang Fang a lip-stick as an example , “芳芳” in Chinese is a very nice word , usually it is used to describe beautiful things with flowerlike smell. It might make people imagine a pretty girl with fragrant smell. There is no doubt it is an excellent originality for Chinese consumers, but in English Fang Fang may arise a horror feeling because fang in English means poison fang that causing danger. Another instance Bees scented soap is literal translated from “蜜蜂”, Bee in China history is a very lovely insect as a symbol of diligence, its cultural association should be a flowerlike smell that appealing to bees, certainly this soap may attract a large number of Chinese consumers. On the contrary, westerners would not follow suit, the association of bee gives them an uncomfortable feeling caused by the thinking of fuzz on bee’s body.
2.2 Different Social and Political Constitution May Hinder the Convey of Information
Due to the differences on social politics, words reflecting social specialties may hinder people know little about the reality from understanding. For instance, “某公司自1981年成立以来,在改革开放,加快企业转换机制方针指引下,以强烈的竞争意识,勇于开拓,积极进取,出口额逐年上升与世界80多个国家和地区的120多家厂商建立了良好的业务关系。” “ABC Corporation has built up excellent business relations with more than 120 companies and manufacturers in over 80 countries and regions since it was founded in 1981. We make progress actively with a strong sense of competition. Our exports have been increasing year after year.” Compare the two versions, “在改革开放,加快企业转换机制方针指引下”was neglected, since it will be difficult for foreigners to know about Chinese enterprise’s historical and moral background of management mechanisms shifting, it is not necessary to add some information that should not be helpful to foreigners understanding. In some circumstances, the information about political or that cause difficulty to understanding can be omitted, this omission is reasonable and it makes no influence for the company promotion.
Another example, a pencil sharpener with “大鹏” as its trade mark, and it is translated as “ROC hardeners”. Hardener is the biggest bird in Han’s national myth, having a positive meaning of ambitious and prosperous. While in westerners’ minds, “ROC” stands for “Republic of China”, certainly this will lead to a misunderstanding and unnecessary association, consequently this trademark will be neither helpful to create good impression of the products nor to defend national dignity.
2.3 Different Courteous Principle May Lead to Communication Failure
Courtesy is the common conducting norm followed by people when they get to communicate. A mild tone is publicly welcome. Improper wording or harsh tone might result in failure for communication.
Here is an example, in china, public good Ads always get “禁止……”, public take this natural, no one think it is amiss, but as you weigh about its commanding tone, a slight domineering must be felt. “禁止” in English should be “Do not”, which is not mild but a word of harsh, e.g. “Do not pick the flower!” “Do not make noise!”……, since such a stiff tone will unavoidably raise a sense of distance, it won’t help to create a happy and sweet public atmosphere, foreign friends might feel uncomfortable; they think their personalities are not fully respected. Changing into a much milder tone the translation should be “keep away from the flower!” “Take care of the flower, please!” which will certainly inspire people love flowers and take care of flowers.
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