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Article published In: Babel
Vol. 68:6 (2022) ► pp.860–889

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Arabic-English metaphor translation from a cognitive linguistic perspective

Evidence from Naguib Mahfuz Midaq Alley and its translated version

 | University of Jordan
 | University of Jordan
Published online: 25 November 2022
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00296.kha
Abstract
This article aims to analyze the translation of Arabic metaphors into English in Naguib Mahfuz’s novel Zuqaq Al-Midaq (1966), which Trevor Le Gassick translated as Midaq Alley. With conceptual metaphor theory based on the notion of main meaning focus (. 2017. “Conceptual Metaphor Theory.” In The Routledge Handbook of Metaphor and Language, edited by Elena Semino and Zsófia Demjén, 13–27. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) and the cogno-cultural approach (Al-Zoubi, Mohammad Q., Mohammad N. Al-Ali, and Ali R. Al-Hasnawi. 2007. “Cogno-cultural Issues in Translating Metaphors.” Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 14 (3): 230–239. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) as its theoretical framework, it uses metaphor identification procedure (MIP) proposed by Pragglejaz Group. 2007. “MIP: A Method for Identifying Metaphorically Used Words in Discourse.” Metaphor and Symbol 22 (1): 1–39. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar to identify the metaphorical expressions and Steen’s steps (Steen, Gerard. 2007. “Finding Metaphor in Discourse: Pragglejaz and Beyond.” Cultura, Lenguaje y Representación/Culture, Language and Representation 51: 9–25.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) to extract the conceptual metaphors from linguistic expressions. This study explores how metaphors reflect cultural aspects and how the same conceptual mappings can be realized differently according to the cultural context. The results reveal that metaphors of similar mapping conditions realized similarly constitute the most frequent category, followed by metaphors of similar mapping conditions realized differently, and then by metaphors of different mapping conditions. The study concludes with remarks on the strategies used in translating each category.
Résumé
Cet article vise à analyser la traduction des métaphores arabes en anglais dans le roman de Naguib Mahfuz, Zuqaq Al-Midaq (1966), que Trevor Le Gassick a traduit par Midaq Alley. Avec comme cadre théorique la théorie de la métaphore conceptuelle basée sur la notion de foyer de sens principal (. 2017. “Conceptual Metaphor Theory.” In The Routledge Handbook of Metaphor and Language, edited by Elena Semino and Zsófia Demjén, 13–27. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) et l’approche cognitivo-culturelle (Al-Zoubi, Mohammad Q., Mohammad N. Al-Ali, and Ali R. Al-Hasnawi. 2007. “Cogno-cultural Issues in Translating Metaphors.” Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 14 (3): 230–239. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar), l’article utilise la procédure d’identification des métaphores (MIP) proposée par le groupe Pragglejaz Group. 2007. “MIP: A Method for Identifying Metaphorically Used Words in Discourse.” Metaphor and Symbol 22 (1): 1–39. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar pour identifier les expressions métaphoriques et les étapes de Steen, Gerard. 2007. “Finding Metaphor in Discourse: Pragglejaz and Beyond.” Cultura, Lenguaje y Representación/Culture, Language and Representation 51: 9–25.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar pour extraire les métaphores conceptuelles des expressions linguistiques. Cette étude explore l’a manière dont les métaphores reflètent les aspects culturels et comment les mêmes cartes conceptuelles peuvent être réalisées différemment selon le contexte culturel. Les résultats révèlent que les métaphores réalisées de manière similaires et issue de cartographies similaires constituent la catégorie la plus fréquente, suivie par les métaphores issues de cartographies similaires mais réalisées de manière différente, puis par les métaphores issues de cartographies différentes. L’étude se termine par des remarques sur les stratégies utilisées pour traduire chaque catégorie.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Overview of the novel
    • 2.2Strategies of metaphor translation
    • 2.3Previous studies
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Data collection
    • 3.2Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP)
    • 3.3Steen’s steps
    • 3.4The cogno-cultural approach
  • 4.Data analysis
    • 4.1Quantitative data analysis
    • 4.2Qualitative data analysis
      • 4.2.1Metaphors of similar mapping conditions realized similarly
      • 4.2.2Metaphors of similar mapping conditions realized differently
      • 4.2.3Metaphors of different mapping conditions
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
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