Figurative Language in Malay to English Translation: An Analysis of the 2015 UniMAP VC's Keynote Speech

A Sharmini,Khairul Hisham Jamalludin,Mohamad Zaki Abdul Halim,Muhammad Bazli Mahmood,Ahmad Hifzurrahaman Ridzuan,Siti Nurul Jannah Fital,S.A Aljunid,C.B.M Rashidi,K.N.F Ku Azir,P.J Soh,M.A.A Mohd Salleh

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201815005028

Abstract

Translating figurative language involves more than just replacing the figurative language with its equivalent in the target language. Therefore, it is not surprising for the translation of figurative language to have its own set of challenges. Problems the translator faces in translating the Malay Figurative Language into English include complexities in understanding, interpreting and recreating the Figurative language that are unique in the Source Language (SL) culture; which have to be explained and described in Target Language (TL) where such practices and customs are non - existent. Secondly, the Source Text (ST) figurative language may appear in a variety of types and have a distinct denotative and connotative meaning and reference; most often, it is difficult to find an equivalent which totally matches the original meaning or concept. This particular paper analyses the translation of figurative language extracted from UniMAP's Vice Chancellor Keynote Speech in 2015. Findings reveal that the three categories of figurative language identified were namely idioms, metaphors and similes. Translation strategies used are either not translated, paraphrased or translated with a similar meaning but in different form.

Highlights

Figurative Language according to Montgomery et al (2007) refers to the state of words or phrases that implies a non-literal meaning which does make sense or that could [] be true
The main challenge of translating figurative language lies in grasping the Source text (ST) author’s cultural meaning and transmitting that cultural meaning which is expressed via a figurative word into another language as accurately as possible in the way in which the Source Language (SL) author would most probably have expressed the content himself or herself, had he or she been a native speaker of the target language (Abdullah, 2014)
The number and presence of different types of figurative words in the ST as presented in Table 1 above indicate that the academic context of the UniMAP 2015 VC‟s Keynote Speech is certainly characterized by the use of figurative language – in this case idioms, metaphors and similes to describe, explain or express something implicitly or to create a far more effective impact on the readers

Summary

Introduction

Figurative Language according to Montgomery et al (2007) refers to the state of words or phrases that implies a non-literal meaning which does make sense or that could [] be true. This notion is strongly supported by Nida (1975) who explains figurative word as a word which is used in place of another meaning or expression which is not its synonym but with which it has an association of ideas often mediated through a supplementary component such as idioms, simile and metaphors ».

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion