Semantic Problems ofIidioms Translation
In order to correctly make Russian translation of a book, newspaper article or any type of creating writing one shall know how to translate correctly from English to Russian idiomatic expressions.
Wewill now take a close look at some features ofidioms. An important fact that must be stressed is that idioms are not only colloquial phrases, as a lot of people believe. They can emerge in formal style and in colloquial speech. They can emerge in poetry or in the masterpieces of Dickens and business letters.
Idioms are used widely, that is why an experienced Russian translator is simply obliged to master certain techniques for translation of idioms from English to Russian, and for their translation from Russian to English.
What, then, is an idiom? One may say that an idiom is a collocation of phrases which, taken together, mean something unlike from the separate expressions of the idiom when they are placed separately. The way in which the expressions are combined is often odd, illogical or in some cases grammatically incorrect. These are the special peculiarities of some idiomatic expressions. Other idiomatic expression are totally ordinary and reasonable in their grammar and vocabulary. Because of the individual properties of certains idioms, we have to learn the idiomatic expressions in general and we often fail to change any part of it (except maybe, only the tense of the verb).
English language is very rich in idioms. In fact, it is hard to speak or write English without using idioms. An English native speaker is sometomes not aware that he is using an idiom; perhaps he does not even understand that an idiom which he uses is grammatically wrong. A non-native learner makes the correct use of idiomatic English one of his main aims, and the fact that some idioms are illogical or grammatically incorrect causes him difficulty. Only careful study and exact learning will help.
It is impossible to be explained why a particular idiom has developed an unusual arrangement or choice of words. The idiom has been fixed by long usage as is sometimes seen from the vocabulary.
Now, when you know what is an idiom you are ready to learn about methods for English-Russian Translation. English Russian translation is a skill hard to master but with due diligence anyone can do it.