PROBLEMS OF IDIOM TRANSLATION
Turan AGHAYEVA
QafqazUniversity
turanagayeva@gmail.com
Baki/AZERBAIJAN
An idiom is an expression which is a fixed unit and whose meaning can be get from all the words it contains. Therefore,
idioms cause some problems for both foreign learners of English and translators. Translators have a two- fold responsibility
laid on their shoulders while translating them. Here are the main problems encountered by translators through the process of
idiom translation:
First of all, translators should take into account that in order to render an idiom correctly, some cultural background is
required and idioms are never translated word for word which causes some difficulties. But translators can sometimes use
the literal meaning of the given idiom, at least, to guess the meaning, if it doesn’t make sense, then overall search for the
meaning of the idiom is necessary, moreover the context itself can also give the meaning. Another problematic issue is
when an expression has two meanings, one of which is literal, and the other is idiomatic. This is often found in idioms
where body parts are involved. Consider the following examples:
Dostları ilə paylaş: |