Translation of metaphor

with help of Yasir akram, farah yaasir, anum saeed

1. Translation of Metaphors Participants: Muhammad Zeeshan [email protected]

2. Contents What is Metaphor Difference between metaphor and Simile Types of metaphors Components of metaphors Terms important to define 1. denotation 2. connotation 3. euphemism 4. metonymy 5.neologism 6.slang Procedures of translating metaphors proposed by Peter Newmark Conclusion

3. Objectives At the end of the presentations, the participants will be able to: 1.differenciate between metaphor, simile and metonym 2.figure ot different terms related to metaphors and their usage 3.analyze five kinds of metaphors 4.identify the components of metapaphor 5.ana l yze and differentiate between different procedures of translating metaphors from the source language to the target language.

4. Definition of metaphor Metaphor is a figure of speech and an ornament of implying resemblance between one thing and another. In creating resemblance through metaphor, one thing is said to be another thus creating a direct comparison. Examples are: The light of my life Fade off to sleep Stench of failure All are expressions of metaphor, juxtaposing an actual (literal) thing and a figurative idea in order to give more meaning to the figurative concept.

5. Definition of simile Simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison showing similarities between two different things. Unlike metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”. Simile is a more cautious form of metaphor. Authors use these devices to express emotions and to make their writings more vivid and appealing. Examples are: As green as grass Quick as lightning The fabric felt light like a feather

6. Metaphor vs simile

7. Terms related to metaphor Peter Newmark proposed different terms related with this concept of metaphor. These are: Object : It is the item which is described by the metaphor. For example in the following sentence: The man is a sneaky rat. In this example ‘man’ is described by the metaphor and is an object. All the World’s a stage ‘the world’ is object.

8. Cont. Image It is the item in terms of which the object is described. In the 1 st example above mentioned the word ‘rat’ is the image. In the 2 nd example the word ‘stage’ is the image.

9. Cont. Sense Sense shows in what particular aspects the object and image are similar. It is the point of similarity between the object and the image. In the first example mentioned sneakiness of the rat is compared with craftiness of the man. So it is the point of similarity between man and rat here. In the 2 nd example, point of similarity is not mentioned in words but we perceive a sense of similarity that how both stage and world are the same for the actors and people respectively in a way that both people and stage actors perform their roles in the world and in the stage.

10. Cont. Metonym It is a one word image that replaces the object. It is the name of an object, person or idea to represent something with which it is closely associated. Example: The pen is mightier than the sword. In this example the word ‘pen’ is an object and it is representing the writing and literary works, similarly the word ‘sword’ is an object that represents fights and war.

11. Types of metaphor Following are the types of metaphors: Dead metaphors Cliché Stock metaphors Recent metaphors Original metaphors

12. Dead metaphors Dead metaphors are the type of metaphors that have so over used that they have lost their figurative effect. Examples are: The ball is in your court. Life is not a bed of roses. Don’t be such a fool.

13. cliché Cliché is an expression, idea or an element of artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect even sometimes to the point of irritating. This term stands between dead and stock metaphors. The only difference between dead and cliché is that cliché is still on the verge of loosing its figurative effect whereas dead metaphors are the ones who have lost their figurative quality. Examples are: Kill two birds with one stone Hit the nail on the head A jewel in the crown

14. cont A translator is not entitled to touch clichés in expressive texts, authorotative statements, laws, regulations and notices.

15. Stock or standard metaphors It is the type of metaphors that are not deadened by the overuse. They always convey the figurative sense. Examples are: Frailty thy name is woman. Brevity is the soul of wit. Beauty is truth, truth beauty. She is all states and all princesses.

16. Recent metaphors These are the type of metaphor that is produced through coining in the SL. Coinage refers to the invention of new words in a language. examples are: E books Blogs Cryptocurrency This is the reason of their being called as recent metaphors because they are recently coined.

17. Original metaphors It contains the core of an important writer’s message or his personality and his comment on life. The authors through these metaphors convey their ideologies and personality. Examples are: Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness; close bosom friend of the maturing sun 2 Heard melodies are sweet while those unheard are more sweerter .

18. Metaphors’ purpose: a paradox Metaphors almost truly say things that are never true. Mary is a walking encyclopedia. Franklin has a heart of gold. Less is more. The writer truly describes the comparison of Mary’s intellegence with that of an encyclopedia. At the same time how Mary can be encyclopedia???

19. Activity Her home was a prison. Looking closely at the above sentence write down in your words what the writer really meant to say …. ? You have a minute to do so.

20. Activity In order for this metaphor to be correct her home must has certain qualities similar to a prison. Does it lack windows and curtains? Does the kitchen serve really bad food? Does the person living this home live literally or figuratively in shackles? Does the home consist of a single room like a prison? Is she not allowed to leave the home as prisoners aren’t? Who knows the writer’s intended meaning??? That’s the real challenge!

21. Translation: an ice berg Peter Newmark compared translating to an iceberg where the translation itself only represents the tip. He Proposed seven procedures of translating metaphors from SL to TL. These procedures are presented in order of preference.

22. Procedures of Translating Metaphors 1.Reproducing the same image in the TL. This method refers to the translation by reproducing the same image of metaphor from SL to TL. This procedure is common for one word metaphors. For example. Ray of hope Sunny smile Heart of a lion Transfer of complex metaphors or idiom is much rarer in this procedure. It is difficult for the idioms because such phrases contain cultural overlap.

23. Cont. It is more difficult to convert a single word when the sense is an event rather than a physical entity. Example is: Elbow one’s way We cant translate until it’s literalized that is converted into meaning first. For producing the same image, a translator can identity the connotations attached to certain words.

24. Denotation vs connotation Denotation is the literal meaning of the word. For example the word “unique” has the literal meaning as something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else, or very special or unusual. But the word can has the connotations ‘strange or weird’ attached to it. Connotations might deliver positive impact or negative impact Words have positive or negative connotations. The word “skinny” is positive than “gaunt”, but the word “slender” is positive than “skinny”

25. Animal names with different connotations We can notice that different animal names possess different connotations. Why ‘you swine’ is abusive whereas ‘you son of a kangaroo’ is not??? It is because both of these animals hav different connotations and associations of feelings attached to them. Domestic animals such as dogs, cats, sheep, donkeys, goats and cows have connotations of knavery, spite, credulity, stupidity, lechery and ugliness like slaves, women, kafirs , foreigners, and servants intrinsically inferior to men and represent inferior qualities.

26. Cont. Different languages may have slightly different connotation for the same animal. For instance Horses are supposed to be strong in English , healthy and diligent in French and hardworking in Germen. Notice that all these qualities refer to positively associated connotations.all are charged with positive associations. Insects are vermin (negative association) in all languages, but bees and ants are virtuous exceptions(positive association). More examples are geese taken as stupid, peacocks proud or vain, and ducks as darling.

27. Cont. Finally animals more remote from our lives have special connotations. For instance remote animals like tigers,wolves , hyenas, lions, elephants, bear, rhinos – none of them is stupid. A lion is brave in French, centre of attraction in German and English thus arising similar association. A tiger fierce in English and German, but more sly and cunning in French.

28. conclusion In short, this method is supposed to be the most preferable procedure of translating metaphors from SL to TL because while translating, the same image and effect is REPRODUCED in the target text and that also is the quality of a good translation.

29. 2.Replacing the image in SL with a standard TL image In this procedure of translating metaphors from source language to target language, the image of the metaphor is REPLACED by a very closer image in the TL so that it does not clash with the culture of the later. An example is “when in Rome do as Romans do’’. This proverb has a background of Rome specified to it . If we say “ Wear their culture where you are living” would closely deliver the sense whereas the image is replaced with a very closer image and sense.

30. Cont. Euphemism refers to the substitution of harsh ,offensive and blunt expressions to mild and soft expressions. Eg. Passd away instead of died ’Go on and take a bow’ is a nicer way of saying something like ‘get lost’ or ‘ just leave’. While replacing , a translator can use the technique of Euphemism to soften down the effect of certain words. Where the purpose of the text is to inform the reader rather than creating the very effect in the target language, Euphemism is used to replace the image with the cultural equivalent.

31. conclusion Cutting short, this procedure is less preferable than the one discussed earlier. It is because in this method of translation, the image of the SL metaphor is not reproduced but replaced by a closer image that is accepted by the TL culture.

32. 3.Translation of metaphors through similes This procedure involves the translation of metaphors from SL to TL through similes retaining the sense. There is more deviation and the translator has the authority to translate using a simile giving the similar sense. Simile is more restrained and scientific than a metaphor . It suggests that simile creates a rather clearer picture if the image than that of a metaphor. For example: Metaphor-Burning eyes Simile – the eyes were like the burning fire Both convey the same sense but simile is more scientific thus easy to understand.

33. Cont. Other examples are: Metaphor - Sunny smile of the girl. simile - the smile of the girl was as sparkling as the sunshine. Metaphor - gold hearted person. simile - the person’s heart is as precious as gold. Through this procedure any type of word or complex metaphor is modified. In short this method refers to the translation of an ambiguous metaphor to a clearer image by modifying it into simile.

34. 4.Translation of metaphor through simile in addition to the sense This method is referred by Newmark as ‘compromise procedure’. In this procedure the metaphor is translated through simile and an additional sense is added to the simile to make the image understandable and comprehendible. The translator is given the authority to add a ‘sense component’ according to his will. The main emphasis here is on the ‘gloss’ rather than the equivalent effect.

35. Cont. Examples are: Metaphor- The soldier is a lion in the battle. Simile plus sense- the soldier is like a lion in the battle fighting bravely and fearlessly. In this example, the phrase ‘fighting bravely and fearlessly’ is an additional sense component added by the translator to facilitate the reader. 2. Metaphor- he is a cunning fox. Simile plus sense- he is as sharp as a cunning fox and plots against his boss. 3.Metaphor- The detective was a wooden face listening to the details. simile- the face of the detective was still and emotionless like a piece of wood listening to the details.

36. Cont. The main objective of this procedure is to facilitate the layman and less learned. By presenting the detail in form of sense component, the layman can easily relate it to his limited knowledge and can create an image in his mind. In short, this procedure is a step ahead in deviating from the good translation but still serves the purpose as the sense of the original metaphor is conveyed through simile and by providing an addition phrase closely attached with the original sense.

37. 5.Conversion of metaphor into sense: This procedure is recommended when TL image is too broad in sense or not appropriate to register. Preferred in case of any replacement of SL by a TL image which is too wide of the sense. When a metaphor is converted into sense, the sense must be analyzed componentially ,since the essence of an image is multi- dimentional —otherwise literal language would have been used. E.g “To circle the square” while translation of this metaphor, sense might be conveyed as problem proposed by ancient geometers.

38. 6.Deletion If the metaphor is redundant or otiose, there is a case for its deletion, together with its sense component. A decision of this nature can be made only after the translator has weighed up what he thinks more important and what less important in text. Deletion process has been apposed by C oseriu (1978),Harris(1975) and House(1977).This can be justified empirically only on the ground that the metaphor’s function is being fulfilled elsewhere in the text. Eg . Nach na Janay aangan tayra , here if translator simply deletes the rest and say, “One never admits mistakes” instead of incompetent dancer blames stage as bent.

39. 7. Same metaphor combined with sense The translator who transfers an image may wish to ensure that it will be understood by adding a gloss. Eg . “The tongue is a fire”, translator may add, “A fire ruin things; what we say also ruins things.” This suggests lack of confidence in metaphor’s power and clarity, but it may help when the metaphor is repeated, when the fire image may be retained without further explanations. Its occasionally done in order to enforce the image on reader’s mind.

40. Neologism Neologisms are «words that have appeared in a language in connection with new phenomena, new concepts, but which have not yet entered into the active vocabularies of a significant portion of the native speakers of the language». (Woodhouse dictionary, 1972, p. 225) Neologism are perhaps the non-literary and professional translator’s biggest problem.

41. Biggest problem of translator, Why?? Not registered words in dictionary, Dictionaries wait for years for these words to be set in them. On average,3000 new words are created each year . Majority of neologisms have a single meaning that’s effected by regional and cultural impacts. There is no criterion for judging how long the neologism takes to be accepted by the public. If it does, it is not the point though, because the reason why it becomes recognized is of more importance.

42. Versions of neologisms Unstable - Extremely new, being proposed, or being used only by a very small subculture . Diffused - Having reached a significant audience, but not yet having gained acceptance . Stable - Having gained recognizable and probably lasting acceptance.

43. Neologism As word building SHORTENING Shortening that consists in the reduction of a word to one of its parts, as a result the new form acquires some linguistic value of its own, blends that combine two words and include the letters or sounds they have in common as a connecting element. E.g. phone from telephone , hols – holydays , ad – advertisement , flu - influenza , demo – demonstration , frog or fridge - refrigerator ; trank - tranquilizer

44. Cont. ACRONYMY Acronymy is the process of creating new words when only initial letters are taken. These above mentioned means are frequently used in the sphere of technology and politics as well as everyday language  E.g. “girlfriend”– g.f , U.N.O . from the “United Nations Organization” ,Laser "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”

45. Cont. BLENDS, FUSIONS or PORTMENTEAU WORDS The process of formation is called telescoping, because the words seem to slide into one another like sections of a telescope. Blends may be defined as formations that combine two words and include the letters or sounds they have in common as a connecting element . E.g. medicare – medical care, telecast – television broadcast; smog – smoke and fog „a mixture of smoke and fog‟; French + English= Frenglish

46. SLANG One of the hardest aspect of a translator to learn because they are , and they shouldn’t be used in academic and professional writing. Though it may seem incorrect or inappropriate, But ..Slang is creative too!!! LET’s discuss together, HOW??

47. Social Media Slang: The advent of the internet and other technology has added internet and texting slang to English: ( Noslang.com,2010) Eg . D/L DAT OMG m2 LOL ROFL

48. Literary slang ‘ Last night was flop . I was supposed to go to a party with my friends, but they flopped on me. They are all floppers ’. In these lines from a novel, lets notice that slang is always in italic when it comes in literature . Guess , in which sense the italic is being used here…

49. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that translating metaphors from SL to TL is not an easy job. Metaphorical phrases such Idioms and proverbs are enriched with cultural overlap thus extremely difficult to translate.   Language is so contextual that maintaining a view as to how something ought to be translated in futile. One must judge each utterance separately and in proper context before making any decision. Hence ,every use of language is unique and metaphors undergo changes when transferred from one culture and language to another!!!

50. References: Newmark Peter A Textbook of Translation. — Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2008 Maalej , Z. (2002). Translating Metaphor between Unrelated Cultures: A Cognitive Perspective. [M].  http://simsim.rug.ac.be/zmaalej/transmeta . Essays, UK. (November 2013). Newmark And The Translation Of Metaphors English Language Essay. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/newmark-and-the-translation-of-metaphors-english-language-essay.php?vref=1