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Article published In: Babel
Vol. 67:3 (2021) ► pp.332–354

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Translation of metaphorical idioms

A case study of two English versions of Hongloumeng

 | Charles University
Published online: 16 July 2021
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https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00222.su
Abstract
Idioms are one of the most problematic areas of translation. The difficulties in translating them largely come from their semantic opacity due to “the metaphorical use of the words they encompass” ( 2017. “Impact of Mother Culture on the Process of Translating Culture-specific Idioms.” Babel 63 (4): 486–505. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, 489). This study investigates the strategies used in the translation of metaphorical idioms, specifically idioms with stock metaphors, which have greater metaphorical force and more salient images than dead metaphors. The translation strategies were surveyed in the two English translations of the classic Chinese novel, Hongloumeng (Dream of the red chamber). The results show that the choice of strategies is influenced by the relationship between the source language and the target language, the source text’s status, and the translators’ specific approaches. The images in translated metaphorical idioms received special attention in terms of their removal, retention, and replacement. An analysis of the functions of strategies is also presented. The varied combinations of these strategies further attest to the difficulty in translating metaphorical idioms. Moreover, they also have a role in translators’ style and the effect of the target text.
Résumé
Les idiomes sont l’un des domaines de traduction les plus problématiques. Les difficultés à les traduire proviennent en grande partie de leur opacité sémantique due à « l’utilisation métaphorique des mots qu’ils englobent » ( 2017. “Impact of Mother Culture on the Process of Translating Culture-specific Idioms.” Babel 63 (4): 486–505. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, 489). Cette étude tente d’étudier les stratégies utilisées dans la traduction d’idiomes métaphoriques, en particulier les idiomes avec des métaphores standards, qui ont une plus grande force métaphorique et des images plus saillantes que les métaphores mortes. La distribution des stratégies de traduction a été étudiée dans les deux traductions anglaises du roman chinois classique Hongloumeng. Les résultats montrent que le choix des stratégies est influencé par la relation entre la langue source et la langue cible, le statut du texte source et les approches spécifiques des traducteurs. Les images dans les idiomes métaphoriques traduits ont reçu une attention particulière, en termes de leur suppression, rétention et modification. Une analyse des fonctions des stratégies est également présentée. Les combinaisons variées de ces stratégies attestent encore de la difficulté de traduire des idiomes métaphoriques. En outre, ils peuvent avoir un rôle dans le style des traducteurs et l’effet du texte cible.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.English and Chinese idioms
  • 3.Idiom and metaphor
  • 4.Translation strategies for metaphorical idioms
  • 5.The survey
  • 6.Results and discussion
    • 6.1Paraphrase
    • 6.2Literal translation
    • 6.3Translation by simile
    • 6.4Equivalence and substitution
    • 6.5Omission
    • 6.6Combination of strategies
    • 6.7Functions of translation strategies and comparison of the two translations
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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