1-тема Translation Theory as a Science

5-тема. Translation and the Problems of Style
Metaphors and similes are found in many languages. They are comparison

He ran like the wind. The moon is like blood. Benjamin is like a wolf.

In English a simile has the words “like” and “as”. Metaphors don’t have the word “like” or “as”. The comparison is always that of some likeness. We find the similarity of two objects in metaphors.

the child is a greedy little pig

he is an ox

he is a rock

These could just as well be said as similes:

that child is like a greedy little pig

he is like an ox

he is like a rock

Metaphors and similes represent two propositions in the semantic structure. A proposition consists of a topic and the comment about that topic.

“John is tall” consists of the topic “John” and the comment “is tall.”

The comparison comes in the comment part of the propositions.

John is as tall as a bean pole.

The topic of the first proposition is compared to the topic of the second.

1. John is tall 2. a bean pole is tall.

The sentence “that animal is a tiger” is not metaphorical, but the sentence “John is a tiger” is a metaphor. John is being compared to a “tiger” because of some point of similarity.

Metaphors are divided into “dead metaphors” and “live metaphors”.

“dead metaphors” are those which are a part of the idiomatic constructions of the lexicon of the language. An idiom is a dead metaphor.

Run into debt; foot of the stairs; the head of the state.

They are dead metaphors because native speakers who use them do not think about comparison. But think directly of the meaning of the idiom. They are understood directly without giving attention to the primary sense of each of the words.

Live metaphors are constructed on the spot by the author or speaker to teach or illustrate. A live metaphor is understood only after paying special attention to the comparison which is being made. It is easy for a native speaker to recognize the difference between “live” and “dead” metaphors in his language.

For one who is translating it is important to make distinction since idioms will be translated directly without any attempt to keep the metaphorical content of the idiom. However, live metaphors are treated differently in the translation process.

Not all metaphors and similes are easily understood. If they are translated literally, word-for-word into a second language they often will be misunderstood. There are a number of reasons why metaphors are hard to understand and cannot be translated literally. First of all, the image used in the metaphor or simile maybe unknown in the receptor language.