UNIT 12: THE TRANSLATION OF
METAPHORS AND SIMILES
In discussing the translation of metaphors, the seven main procedures for
translating metaphor suggested by Peter Newmark are given. Obviously, many
stock metaphors are clichés, but the translator is attempting to render them as
accurately as possible, not to pare them down. “She wears the trousers, and he
plays second fiddle” may be absurd, but both metaphors still seem to do a good
job. Stock metaphors, thus, may have cultural (cultural distance or cultural
overlap), universal (or at least widely spread) and subjective aspects.
The following are considered the procedures for translating metaphor, in order
of preference:
1. Reproducing the same image in the TL, provided the image has
comparable frequency and currency in the appropriate register. This
procedure is common for one-word metaphors: “ray of hope” as “tia hy vọng”;
whilst in many cases (for “field”, “province”, “area”, “side”, for instance) the
metaphor is hardly perceptible. Transfer of complex metaphors or idioms is
much rarer, and depends on cultural overlap, e.g. “His life hangs on a thread”,
or on a universal experience, e.g., “cast a shadow over”.
2. Replacing the image in the SL with a standard TL. Image which does not
clash with the TL culture, but which, like most stocks, metaphors, proverbs,
etc., is presumably coined by one person and diffused through popular
speech, writing and later media. Obvious examples for one-word metaphors
are: “table”, “pillar”.
3. Translation of metaphor by simile or retaining the image. This is the
obvious way of modifying the shock of a metaphor, particularly if the TL text
is not emotive in character. This procedure can be used to modify any type of
word, as well as original complex metaphors.
4. Translation of metaphor (or simile) by simile plus sense (or
occasionally a metaphor plus sense). While this is always a compromise
procedure, it has the advantage of combining communicative and semantic
translation in addressing itself both to the layman and the expert if there is a
risk that the simple transfer of the metaphor will not be understood by most
readers. Paradoxically, only the informed reader has a chance of experiencing
equivalent effect through a semantic translation.
5. Conversion of metaphor to sense. Depending on the type of text, this
procedure is common, and is to be preferred to any replacement of an SL by
a TL image which is too wide of the sense.
6. Deletion. If the metaphor is redundant, there is a case for its deletion,
together with its sense component provided the SL text is not authoritative
on “expressive” (that is, primarily an expression of the writer’s personality? A
decision of this nature can be made only after the translator has weighed up
what he thinks more important and what less important in the text in relation
to its intention. Such criteria can only be set up specifically for each
translation and to determine a hierarchy of requirements. A deletion of
metaphor can be justified empirically only on the ground that the metaphor’s
function is being fulfilled elsewhere in the text.
7. Same metaphor combined with sense. Occasionally, the translators who
transfers an image may wish to ensure that it will be understood by adding a
gloss.
(Adapted from Approaches to Translation by Peter Newmark)
LOOKING BACK
Translate the following metaphors and similes into English and then
put them under the right heading.
chậm như rùa hiền như bụt nhanh như chớp
nặng như chì xưa như trái đất mềm như bún
trắng như tuyết tối như mực lạnh như tiền
đen như cột nhà cháy vui như hội xanh như tàu lá
ngủ như chết nghèo rớt mồng tơi giàu nứt đố đổ vách
Retaining similar image Replacing the image Turning the image into sense
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