Abstract
Metaphors have become the focus of a wide variety of discussions in the field of translation theory and practice. They are important rhetorical devices with cognitive function that have been thoroughly studied and considered important by various scholars. Taking into consideration the difficulties implied with identifying and translating such devices, this article aims to identify the procedures employed in translating some of the metaphors present in “A Tale of a Tub” and “Gulliver’s Travels”, two of the most prominent satires of Jonathan Swift. In this context, based on the translation procedures suggested by Raymond van den Broeck, special attention is given to the formal characteristics and efficiency of the relevant devices in the target language and the degree to which the originality of the message intended by the author in the source language is conserved and conveyed in the target language, with focus on the culture compatibility between both target and source languages. Finally, the high level of naturalness and presence of various translation procedures employed in the conveyance of metaphors in both works is stated, emphasizing the use of an additional approach, not mentioned in either the procedures suggested by van den Broeck or those suggested by Newmark.
Highlights
Metaphors, defined as words that shift from normal usage to another form, apart from aesthetical values, are acquired by the superposition of cultural features on referential ones and provide a useful cognitive meaning of our world
Their study is considered of high interest, based on their cognitive features and the frequency of which they are encountered in language
In the example in question, the additional information stands between the verb ‘to beg’ and the phrase ‘his patience’, and judging from the context within which it is used, we can conclude that the writer aims to express gratitude towards the king, by making use of the connotations derived by the verb ‘to beg’
Summary
Metaphors, defined as words that shift from normal usage to another form, apart from aesthetical values, are acquired by the superposition of cultural features on referential ones and provide a useful cognitive meaning of our world. Kokona (2003) considered the process of translation as an opportunity for people to obtain awareness of each other, and that metaphors, frequently employed in every language, are one means through which this process is carried out In this context, we note that their conveyance carries various difficulties among which the intercultural and inter-lingual discrepancies are notable, similar to the effort required in trying to understand their original message. Encountering metaphors or metaphorical expressions, which pose difficulty in understanding, may be due to newly created metaphors that absent from dictionaries because they have not been fully lexicalized In this respect, Dagut (1976) lists two influential factors in the translation process: cultural elements (and their semantic relations), and intercultural relationships between the source and target languages. Considering metaphors were a cultural phenomenon and combining cultural elements with semantic ones was important, a thorough evaluation of the degree in which the metaphor could be adapted to the culture of the TL was advocated before its conveyance. Van den Broeck (1981), likewise, considered the translation of a metaphor as an empirical phenomenon, based on defining useful rules and strategies for the translator, while underscoring the important influence of linguistic and extra-linguistic factors in determining the metaphor’s translation procedure
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
