Abstract:
Every language has its peculiar turns of expression. The peculiar uses of
particular words and phrases which have become stereotyped by usage are
known as the idioms of a language. It is generally agreed that idiomatic phrases
cannot be translated literally from one language to another without altering the
meaning, if not making the expression completely meaningless. Hence many of
the translators tend to omit idiomatic expressions while translating. This study is
an examination on the translation of idioms from English to Sinhalese. In the
course, publications on idioms were evaluated as the primary source. The
knowledge garnered have been further analysed by questionnaires given to
students reading Translation Studies at the University of Kelaniya. After
analysing the data gathered, it could be perceived that idioms could be classified
in to several groups. Immense is the influence of environment and culture of a
palticular linguistic race or nation in the above classification of idioms. Hence
this phenomenon can be attributed to intercultural and inter-linguistic
relationship in human activity. Accordingly idioms could be classified in to three
prominent categories. The first category of idioms could be translated directly
while retaining the sense of the original whereas the second category of idioms
could be translated with a parallel idiom; most telling equivalents. Absence of a
parallel idiom was identified as the third category where the only possible
solution is to explain the general idea conveyed by the original expression. Thus,
if the idioms are inapplicable to first and second categories, advancing ahead
with paraphrasing, slanguage, simplified words and phrases is rather befitting in
translation and is regarded as the most comprehensive strategy.
