On Metaphor Translation in English News Headlines from a Cognitive Linguistics Approach

Abstract

As an essential part of news, English news headlines are especially important. This paper makes an analysis of metaphor translation from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. Combining cognitive metaphor theory, the author deals with cognitive features that characterized by the people’s life experience and cognitive perception. Then, the translatability of metaphor is discussed in English news headlines in order to demonstrate that metaphorical translation is complicated for the cultural differences. Sometimes a faithful translation may be at the cost of losing metaphorical meaning. Then, effective metaphor translation methods are offered. They are literal translation, free translation and the change of vehicles, all of which involves the interpretation of similarity and/or difference of two languages. By using these methods appropriately, translators will be saved out of awkward translation adversity. With all the work above done, it will be easier for English news translators to translate more appropriately and for people to have a better understanding of the English used in this field. Accurate translation will definitely promote the spread of news and strengthen its timeliness.