The Translation of Metaphorical Expressions in English Medical Texts into Arabic
Nasir M. Abid Al-Hassoony
University of Mosul
Laith N. Muhammed
University of Mosul
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.8.11.17
Keywords: Metaphor, Metaphorical expressions, Medical metaphor, Toury's strategies, Mandelblit's hypothesis, Medical terminology, Cultural differences
Abstract
Metaphor is a prevalent figure of speech found in many languages. Because medical language and terminologies in general are so intricate and complex, translating medical metaphors may be a challenging task. The fundamental problem with medical metaphors is that they frequently refer to different cultural and linguistic settings, which makes it difficult to find comparable terminology in another language that expresses the same meanings and subtleties. The study aims to translate medical metaphors into Arabic and since medical metaphors, like any other metaphors, can be linguistic and conceptual, the study adopts an eclectic analytical framework, namely, Toury's linguistic strategies, and Mandelblit's Cognitive Translation Hypothesis. The data were taken from different internet authentic medical websites translated into Arabic by M.A. students in a questionnaire conducted in the Department of Translation/College of Arts. It is hypothesized that the main challenge that student translators encounter in the translating process is producing translations that are appropriate and understandable. Medical terminology and cultural diversity constitute another obstacle in the way of conducting translation. Further, Toury's linguistic strategies and Mandelblit’s cognitive methods can be used in analyzing and comparing the translators' renderings. The study revealed that literal translation leads to loss of meaning or, rather, no meaning. The analyses also showed that similar metaphors are rarely found in two different cultures. Hence, the study recommends translators to be familiar with terminology, culture, and strategies that enable them to produce and convey the intended meaning appropriately.
References
Abdulrahman, R. K. (2023). Translating English Metaphorical Expressions into Arabic. Journal of Language Studies, 6(3, 1), 156–168. https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.6.3.1.11
Al-Jubori, G. M. H. (2022). Investigating Translation Challenges of English Affixations in Medical Leaflets into Arabic. Journal of Language Studies, 6(1), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.6.1.24
Benzoukh, H. (2010). Metaphor : Prominent Views and Critical Assessments. Al-Ather, 9(9), 13–19.
Black, M. (1962). Models and Metaphors: Studies in Language and Philosophy. Cornell University Press. https://doi.org/doi:10.7591/9781501741326
Bolinska et al. (2003). Metaphors and Metaphysics. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12237162
Casarett, D., Pickard, A., Fishman, J. M., Alexander, S. C., Arnold, R. M., Pollak, K. I., & Tulsky, J. A. (2010). Can metaphors and analogies improve communication with seriously ill patients? Journal of Palliative Medicine, 13(3), 255–260. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2009.0221
Catford, J. (1965). A Linguistic Theory of Translation: an Essay in Applied Linguistics. Oxford University Press.
Coulehan, J. (2003). Metaphor and medicine: narrative in clinical practice. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 76(2), 87–95.
Dzuganova, B. (2019). Medical Language: A Unique Linguistic Phenomenon. Jahr: European Journal of Bioethics, 10(19), 131.
Etymonline - Online Etymology Dictionary. (n.d.). https://www.etymonline.com.
Gibbs, R. W. (1994). The poetics of mind: Figurative thought, language, and understanding. Cambridge University Press.
Hamdan, M. I. (2019). Translating Quranic Metaphor into English. Journal Of Language Studies, 2(3), 79–97.
Hodgkin, P. (1985). Medicine is war : and other medical metaphors. British Medical Journal, 291(21–28), 1820–1821.
Holme, R. (2004). Mind, Metaphor and Language Teaching. Palgrave Macmillan.
Khullar, D. (2014). The Trouble with Medicine’s Metaphors. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/ the-trouble-with-medicines-metaphors/374982/.
Knowles, M., & Moon, R. (2005). Introducing Metaphor. Routledge.
Kovecses, Z. (2002). Metaphor: A Practical Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Kovecses, Z. (2021). Standard and Extended Conceptual Metaphor Theory. In The Routledge Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics. Routledge.
Lakoff, & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. The University of Chicago Press.
Larson, B. (2011). Metaphors for environmental sustainability: redefining our relationship with nature. US: Yale University Press.
Mandelblit, N. (1995). The cognitive view of metaphor and its implications for translation theory. In Translation and Meaning (Vol. 3, pp. 483–495). Maastricht: Universitaire Press.
Montalt, & Davies. (2014). Medical Translation step by step: learning by drafting.
Nida, E. (2000). Principles of Correspondence. In L. Venuti (Ed.), The Translation Studies Reader. Routledge.
Nida, E., & Taber, C. (2004). The Theory and Practice of Translation. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Panther, K., & Thornburg, L. (2017). Metaphor and Metonymy in Language and Thought: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach. Synthesis Philosophica, 64(2), 271–294.
Pearce, J. (2021). A note on Medical Metaphors. https://hekint.org/2021/02/18/a-note-on-medical-metaphors.
Popova, Y. (2003). The fool sees with his nose: Metaphoric mappings in the sense of smell in Patrick Suskind’s perfume. Language and Literature, 12(2), 135–151.
Punter, D. (2007). Metaphor. Routledge.
Rosendo, L. (2008). English and Spanish medical languages: A comparative study from a translation point of view. Trans. Revista de Traductología, 12, 231–246.
Sommer, E., & Weiss, D. (2001). Metaphor Dictionary. Detroit.
Thomas, C. (2013). She’s a Fighter!” and Other Metaphors in Medicine. https://myheartsisters.org/2013/02/12/metaphors-in-medicine.
Toury, G. (2000). The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation. In L. Venuti (Ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (pp. 198–211). Routledge.
Toury, G. (2012). Descriptive Translation Studies and beyond.
Vu, N. (2015). Structural, Orientational, Ontological Conceptual Metaphors and Implications for Language Teaching. Journal of Science Ho Chi Minh City Open University, 3(15), 67–71.
Warambo, J., & Odero, E. (2015). Medical Translation: A Linguistic Form Slavery or Cultural Labyrinth? Research on Humanities and Social, 5(2), 35–46.
Youguo, D. (2013). Study on the Essence of Metaphor. International Academic Workshop on Social Science. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266644917_Study_on_The_Essence_of_Metaphor.
Zibin, A. (2016). The Comprehension of Metaphorical Expressions by Jordanian EFL Learners. Sage Open, 6(2), 1–15.
