The translation of metaphors

In Newmark 1988 metaphors are grouped under two main heads: 1. Lexicalized metaphors 2. Non-lexicalixed metaphors Lexicalized metaphors can be dead, stock or recent metaphors. Dead metaphors are the ones whose origins have been completely forgotten on account of heavy use. You don’t even realized they are metaphors. Sparkling eyes, for instance, is a dead metaphor: no one would think of a metaphoric use of sparkle in collocation with eye. The expression seems quite obvious, matter of fact because of its repeated use. The same is with “the arm of a chair”, this too is a dead metaphor. On account of their frequency, these metaphors are not difficult to translate, since their figurative sense can be ignored in both the SL and the TL.

A stock metaphor is widely used as an idiom, e.g. throw a new light on, gettare nuova luce su qualcosa.

A recent metaphor is a metaphorical neologism, e.g. headhunter for recruiter.

Non-lexicalized metaphors are basically of two types:

- conventionalized metaphors

- original metaphors

Conventionalized metaphors are not lexicalized and, in fact, they usually draw on either cultural or linguistic conventions. e.g. bombard with questions/pester with questions/drill with questions in English, but tempestare di domande in Italian, acosar de preguntas in Spanish, assaillir de questions in French, mit Fragen bombardieren in German.

Original metaphors cannot be related to existing linguistic or cultural conventions, and consequently they can be difficult to interpret. The context of use can be of some help, but ambiguity can be difficult to solve.

Translation strategies

Adaptation can be used as regards lexicalized metaphors. e.g.

She’s as fresh as a daisy

E’ fresca come una rosa

I smelled a rat, so I didn’t sign

Puzzava d’imbroglio, e così non ho firmato

I’m sorry, but a rock concert is not my cup of tea

In this case, you can either keep the metaphor or eliminate it:

Mi dispiace, ma non vado matto per i concerti rock

Mi dispiace, ma un concerto rock non fa per me

As regards the translation of metaphors, the SL expression should be checked against the TL, to see whether there is some equivalent expression.

Possible options are:

1. Preserve the metaphoric expression by using a TL metaphor that has the same identical image:

e.g. He’s a lion E’ un leone

2. Preserve the metaphor by using the corresponding metaphoric expression in the TL (not necessarily the same image of the SL)

I know my onions Conosco i miei polli

To get up with the lark Alzarsi con il gallo

To raise a storm in a teacup Scatenare una tempesta in un bicchier d’acqua

He’s drenched to the skin E’ zuppo fino al midollo

3. Explain the metaphor, which is particularly useful in communicative translation

e.g. He’s a lion E’ coraggioso come un leone

4. Translate meaning but not form, thus eliminating the metaphor

He’s drenched to the skin E’ completamente bagnato

To get up with the lark Alzarsi all’alba

Should you have good reasons to eliminate the metaphor, it could be useful and correct to add a metaphoric expression somewhere else in the text, to counterbalance your elimination. For instance, if it is not possible to translate a pun or wordplay at the phonological level, that is to say a pun based on sounds in the SL, you can exploit the options offered by the TL at the lexical level.

However, such forms of compensation are mostly used in literary translation.