Metaphor in Metamorphosis: Towards Comprehensive Translation of Chinese Figurative Language
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Date
2012
Authors
Thompson, Katherine
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Focusing on the unique challenges of Chinese-to-English translation, this thesis attempts to bridge the gap between practical concerns related to readability and the cognitive structure and functions of metaphor. It explores the possibility of a compromise between the interest of the reader, the culturally-bound expressiveness of original texts, and translator interpretation.
The metaphorical difficulties that arise in the translation of two Chinese novellas, "Paper Dreams" by Lu Min and "One Hundred Birds Saluting the Phoenix" by Xiao Jianghong, are analyzed to demonstrate how compromise can begin to take shape through the combined application of reader accessibility guidelines and cognitive theories of metaphor. Ultimately, this process reveals how each metaphor requires customized solutions and suggests that voices from various fields should be taken into consideration when transforming the literature of one tongue into an imitative product in another.
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Keywords
Chinese, Figurative language, Metaphor, Translation