Department of Translation, College of Arts, University of Tikrit
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to highlight metaphor in both Arabic and English languages as well as to explore the main problems encountered in translating Arabic metaphor into English. The present paper tries to underline the strategies followed by translators from different cultures as they tackle this culture-bound subject and how failing to notice this rhetorical device may produce fallacious translation. The paper hypothesizes that perfect translation of Arabic metaphor necessitates a good knowledge of Arabic and English cultures. The correct choice of translation strategy adopted would make the TL receptor experience the same effect experienced by the SL receptor. The paper hypothesizes that, by the virtue of the cultural breach that lies between Arabic and English, the inexpert translators would produce literal translation in their attempt to translate Arabic metaphor. Consequently, they would adhere to the form at the expense of the meaning. To attain the aims of the paper and examine the cogency of the hypotheses, metaphor has been studied well in both languages in this paper, then five metaphors are selected with their translations of six well-known translators to be the data of the study.
