Analyzing Translation of Metaphor: A Case Study

Abstract

Metaphor translation is often considered as one of the general problems of “untranslatability”. This is due to the fact that metaphors are generally associated with indirectness; therefore, it is hard to translate. It is also often influenced by the culture. Thus, the translator has to carefully consider how to translate metaphor. This paper analyzes metaphor translation in Lauren Kate’s novel entitled Fallen using a framework proposed by Peter Newmark (1988). It is revealed that there are five procedures applied to translate the metaphors namely reproducing the same image in the TL, replacing SL image with a standard TL image, translating metaphor by simile, converting the metaphor into sense, and deleting the metaphor. The possible reasons to use the particular procedures are because the SL images are universal images, the SL images have broad definition or quality, the SL images are confusing, the SL images are offensive, and the SL images are religious terms.