This document discusses translation analysis through the study of proverbs and metaphors. It examines how proverbs reveal conceptual thinking and contain linguistic metaphors. The analysis of a proverb treats it as a sign with meaning as the signifier and concept as the signified. Translating a proverb highlights the comparison between two languages and involves mapping meanings, attributes, and concepts from the source language to the target language. The translation process is cognitive and involves problem-solving and decision making.

1. Translation Studies
Lecture 5
16/3/2015

2. • Proverbs reveal conceptual/cultural thinking
• and linguistically contain metaphors
• Through a study of metaphors we may draw a
model for translation analysis
• It is studied through the main components of
a sign: message ,meanings ,sign , connotations
, linguistic structure and mapping behaviour.

3. Analysis of a proverb
• A proverb is neither an indivisible whole nor
A set of components rather it is both.
Proverbs in this approach are treated as signs
and the meaning is the signifier and the concept
carried is the signified
Beggars can not be choosers (linguistic
structure and meaning)

4. • People who beg cannot choose…meaning
• Nouns , pronouns ,verb… linguistic
components
• A translator must attend to both the meanings
i.e the linguistic meaning and the linguistic
structure.
* Connotation and context also affect the
meaning

5. e.g.
• You can not be at two places at once.
Meanings evident include:
You have to make a choice
You want both options
(context and connotation)

6. Connotations are kind of
representatives of context
• Greed would map someone greedy(negative)
in the TT Language too.
• A context is mainly cognitive expectations
…foregrounding of an idea.
• Context and connotation affect the translation
of proverbs from SS to TT.
• Role of translation is to map components as
meaning ,structure ,connotation…from one
language to another.

7. Translation process (cognitive value)
• It mainly involves cognitive functions as
problem-solving and decision making.
• Concepts involving translation are action,
behavior, problem solving, decision-making,
creativity, intuition, and the strategies,
methods, techniques, and routines of
translation. (Wilss 1990:21)

8. Translating a proverb brings into light
the comparison between two
languages
e.g. French proveb:
Proverb: L'honneur fleurit sur la fosse.
Literal translation: Honor flowers [flourishes] on
the grave.
Message: True recognition occurs only after
death.

9. Translation process entails
• Relational mapping: [flourish (honor, grave)]
• Attribute mapping: honor, grave
• Conceptual mapping: PEOPLE ARE PLANTS—
flower/flourish; CONTAINER—the grave is a
container; GOOD IS UP—honor is above (higher
than) the person; GESTALT—whole part structure:
honor isn't separate from the person, as it resides
at the gravesite with the person.

10. • Analysis reveals that the source proverb's
multiple meanings can be represented in the
English translation "honor flowers on the grave."
• honor flourishes on the grave (literal meaning)
• recognition comes after death
• flowers flourish in soil
• flowers are put on graves
• honorable behavior does not demand immediate
recognition
• honoris born on the grave (a flower is a birth)

11. The possible literal and connotative
meanings(structural changes are
secondary)
• It's on the grave that honor blossoms. The
English prevalence of it-transposition of the
subject
• Honor only blossoms on the grave. English
preference to be more specific, indicating that
honor cannot occur before the grave exists.