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翻译中的文化冲击(1)

  You are going to the United States to live? How wonderful? You are really lucky!" Perhaps your family and friends said similar things to you when you left home. But does it seem true all the time? Is your life in the new country always wonderful and exciting?
  It is not easy to adjust to life in new culture. They call the feelings which people experience when they come to a new enviroment culture shock.
  so just try to translate the following sentence:
  Bright red costumes, with hats, shoes, and stockings to match,are to be all the craze in the Spring. Smart women will have to be careful not to yawn in the streets in case some shortsighted person is on his way to post a letter.
  你能理解其中的幽默吗? 如果你了解一点英国文化……
  
  译文:
  鲜红的时装,再配上与之相配的帽子,鞋子和袜子,是春日的时髦打扮。可是聪明的女子得小心一点,别在街头打哈欠,以防目光近视者正在去寄信的路上。
  (为什么这么说呢,这属于市容街景文化范畴,英国街头的邮筒不是绿色的,而是红色的,知道这个背景,我们才能理解其中英国式的幽默!) 整理