Tamara I Leontieva Lectures on Translation Theory Department

Tamara I. Leontieva Lectures on Translation Theory Department of Cross-cultural Communication and Translation Study Foreign Languages Center Vladivostok State University of Economics 2008

RENDERING STYLISTIC DEVICES IN TRANSLATION OF: a) metaphor, b) metonymy, c) irony.

Translation of Metaphors Metaphor is a transference of some quality from one object to another. It is an implicit comparison of two unlike objects (Galperin) Animals in different cultures: a) gender, b) image (horse). Translation: addition or morphological substitution or both.

Translation of a Prolonged Metaphor Her body swayed, while she danced, as a plant sways in the water. The curves of her throat were the curves of a white lily. Her hands seemed to be made of cool ivory. Когда она танцевала, стан ее покачивался, как тростник над водой. Шея изгибом напоминала белоснежную лилию, а руки были словно выточены из слоновой кости.

Some difficulties in translation 1. Metaphoric epithet: gossip mills – мельница пересудов и кривотолков. 2. Difference in traditional associations: black day but black sheep (паршивая), black frost (трескучий). 3. Folklore metaphors: красная девица, добрый молодец – fair maiden, a brave man.

Techniques of Translating Metaphors 1. Reproducing the same image 2. Replacing the image in the ST with a standard TL image 3. Translating metaphor with a simile 4. Explicatory translation 5. Deletion or reduction 6. Calque translation supported by explanation

Define the method of translation • • • First catch the hare, then cook him. The world is a small place. Truth lies at the bottom of a well. When pigs fly. Girls are flowers. They walked along, two continents of experience and feeling, unable to communicate.

Translation of Metonymy is a SD based on some kind of association connecting the two concepts these meanings represent (Galperin). Metonymy is not based on comparison, but 1) on the association between the object and its properties (epithet) 2) between the whole and its part (synechdoche) 3) between the proper and common name (antonomasia)

Three ways (continued) 3. ANTONOMASIA: The guards now change at Buckingham Palace to a Lennon and Mc. Cartney: a) expansion - … под музыку Леннона и Маккартни; b) no restructuring - … балдеют под Леннона и Маккартни.

Define the association 1. Four legs good, two legs bad (G. Orwell. Animal Farm). 2. She wanted to have a lot of children, and she was glad that things were that way, that the Church approved. Then the little girl died. Nancy broke with Rome the day her baby died. It was a secret break, but no Catholic breaks with Rome casually (J. O’Hara). 3. Спасайтесь! Где вода? Это горит Елисеев!! (М. Булгаков. Театральный роман).

Techniques of translating metonymies 1. Equivalent translation (complete coinincidence of linguistic and cultural tradition) 2. Structural substitution (different grammar forms which cannot be reproduced) 3. Semantic restructuring (expansion, euphemistic paraphrase, omission, etc. ) 4. Functional restructuring (stylistic changes) 5. Complete restructuring (compensation of the metonymy with TL means)

Offer your translation of metonymies • • • I’m all ears, mother. Paris sang. He was followed by a pair of heavy boots. The world might guess it. “What do you think has happened to Basil? ” asked Dorian, holding up his Burgundy against the light… • My love! Prince Charming! Prince of life! • These wheels will drive you at your pleasure.

Translation of Irony is the usage of words, word collocations or sentences in the meaning opposite to what they express for characterizing an object or person critically. E. g. : What a noble illustration of the tender laws of this favored country! – they let the paupers go to sleep! (Ch. Dickens)

Translation of Irony (analog) When I left my public school I had an extensive knowledge of Latin and Greek literature, knew a certain amount of Greek and Latin history and French grammar, and had «done» a little mathematics. Окончив частную гимназию, я неплохо знал античную литературу, имел представление об античной истории и французском языке, а также «прошел» азы математики.

Translation of Irony (literal translation or expansion) После этого случая After that, Colonel полковник Кэткарт не Cathcart did not trust any верил ни одному other colonel in the полковнику во всем squadron. The only good дивизионе. Хороший colonel, he decided, was полковник, это a dead colonel, except мертвый полковник, for himself. разумеется, за исключением его самого.

Translation of Irony (antonymic) Dick Stroeve flattered himself on his skill in cooking Italian dishes, and I confess that his spaghetti were very much better than his pictures. … и, должен признаться, его картины были далеко не так хороши, как спагетти.

Techniques of Translating Irony 1. Direct translation without any changes 2. Expansion (participial or other verbal structures, attributive constructions, etc. ) 3. Antonymic translation 4. Explicatory translation (of quotations requiring explanation) 5. Cultural-situational substitution (necessary for preserving the ironical impact: «Your father is not a gentleman!» )