语言是文化的一个部分,同时又是文化的载体。“语言和文化是两个相互依存的象征系统。”(E.ANida,2001)文化离不开语言,语言也离不开文化。在将一种语言翻译成另一种语言的时候,不可能不考虑这种语言所包含的文化。谚语作为习语的一种,和格言、短语等一样,是语言和文化的结晶,它和特定的文化及语言密切相关。它是特定区域的人们对日常生产生活经验教训的总结和概括,一般精练短小,富有哲理,极其民族文化特色。所以,精确的谚语的英汉互译不仅涉及到语言的转换还涉及到文化的转换,谚语的英汉互译的成功与否在很大程度上取决于译者是否能够准确而自然地将原文的文化内涵传达给译文读者。这就要求译者要充分了解英汉谚语的文化背景及其差异。 Language is a part of culture and at the same time a carrier of culture. “Language and culture are two interdependent symbolic systems.” (E. Nida, 2001) Culture can not be separated from language, and language can not be separated from culture. When translating one language into another, it is impossible to disregard the culture that the language contains. As a idiom, proverbs, like aphorisms, phrases, etc., are the crystallization of language and culture, and are closely related to a specific culture and language. It is the summary and generalization of people’s experience and lessons in daily production and life in a particular region. It is generally short, philosophical and extremely ethnic and cultural. Therefore, the accurate translation of English and Chinese proverbs not only involves the conversion of language but also of the conversion of cultures. The success of proverbs in translating English into Chinese depends to a large extent on whether translators can accurately and naturally translate the original culture Connotation to convey to the reader. This requires the translator to fully understand the cultural backgrounds and differences between English and Chinese proverbs.