谈汉英隐喻翻译中的喻体意象转换

Transfer of the Vehicle's Image in C-E Metaphor Translation

喻体意象的恰当转换是汉英隐喻翻译的关键环节。现代隐喻理论认为隐喻是一种思维方式和认知手段的观点给我们翻译隐喻提供了创新路径。传统的汉英隐喻翻译关注理解汉语隐喻和寻找与汉语喻体内涵一致的英语隐喻表达方式这两个步骤,但缺少能够判断译文与原文喻体内涵上是否一致,文化意象转换上是否恰当的衡量标准。本文受现代隐喻研究理论的启发提出对汉英隐喻的喻体意象转换的两点思考:(1)译文与原文喻源域的映射意象一致;(2)译文与原文的"喻体共知性"一致。

Whether the image carried by the vehicle can be properly transferred holds the key to successful C-E translation of metaphor.Traditional approach to C-E metaphor translation focuses on understanding a Chinese metaphor and then finding its connotative equivalent in English,but does not provide the standards for judging whether there is a fit between the two or whether the cultural image has been properly transferred.Modern cognitive conception of metaphor offers a more promising way of dealing with the problem.Within its theoretical framework,this paper proposes two criteria for evaluating image transfer in metaphor translation:(1)consistency of the mapping image in the target text and the source text vehicle domain;and(2)identity of the'common recognition'achieved through the vehicle in the translation and that achieved in the original.