Translation of Phraseological Units

Phraseological units may be classified into three big groups:

phraseological fusions, phraseological unities and phraseological collocations.

Phraseological fusions are usually rendered by interpreting translation: to show the white feather - быть трусом; to dine with Duke Humphry - остаться без обеда. Sometimes they have word-equivalents: red tape - волокита, to pull one's leg - одурачивать, мистифицировать.

The meaning of a phraseological fusion may often be rendered by a series of alternative phrases, e.g. to go the whole hog -делать что-либо основательно, доводить до конца, не останавливаться на полумерах, идти на всё (словарь А.Кунина).

According to the principles of their translation phraseological unities can be divided into four groups;

1) Phraseological unities having Russian counterparts with the same meaning and simailar images. They can often be traced to the same prototype: biblical, mythological, etc.

All that glitters is not gold. - He всё золото, что блестит.

As a man sows, so he shall reap. - Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь.

2) Phraseological unities having the same meaning but expressing it through a_-different- image.

То buy a pig in a poke. - Купить кота в мешке.

Phraseological units of the source-language sometimes have synonymous equivalents in the target-language. The choice is open to the translator and is often determined by the context.

Between the devil and the deep sea - между двух огней, между молотом и наковальней; в безвыходном положении.

In the absence of a correlated phraseological unity the translator resorts to interpreting translation.

A skeleton in the closet (cupboard) - Семейная тайна, неприятность, скрываемая от посторонних.

Target-language equivalents having a local colour should be avoided. "To carry coals to Newcastle" should not be translated by the Russian - ездить в Тулу со своим самоваром. In this case two solutions are possible: a) to preserve the image of the English phraseological unity - ездить в Ньюкасл со своим углём, b) to resort to interpreting translation - заниматься бесполезным делом.

3) Phraseological unities having no equivalents in Russian are rendered by interpreting translation. Little pitches have long ears. - Дети лобят слушать разговоры взрослых.

4)Phraseological unities having word equivalents: shake a leg - отплясывать, hang fire-мешкать,медлить,задерживаться.
Translation of Phraseological Collocations

Phraseological collocations are motivated but they are made up of words possessing specific lexical valency which accounts for a certain degree of stability in such word groups.

They may be translated by corresponding phraseological collocations of the target-language: to take part - принимать участие, to throw a glance - бросить взгляд. They may be also translated by a word (to take part - участвовать) or a free word group (to take one's temperature - измерить температуру).