TRANSLATION OF METAPHORS

Prepared by: Shahad Ihsan

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that aims at achieving a kind of resemblance

between two objects without stating clearly the similarity or using the articles,
‘like’ or ’as.’
What are the components of metaphors?
The metaphor is consisted of the following components:
A. Image (.‫ه‬...‫ ب‬.‫لمشبه‬..‫)ا‬: the source of the metaphor.
B. Object (.‫لمشبه‬..‫)ا‬: the idea, thing, or person described.
C. Sense (.‫لشبه‬..‫ ا‬.‫)وجه‬: the direct meaning of the metaphor.
D. Metaphor(‫ارة‬.‫الستع‬..‫)ا‬: the figurative word used in the expression.
E.g. sunny smile
Image= the sun
Object= smile
Sense= brightness and brilliance
Metaphor= sunny
Problem and solution of translating
metaphors

Problem: the literal translation of metaphors regardless of their types.

Solution: trying to find an equivalent metaphor in the target language.
Types of metaphors
1. Dead metaphors (‫ميتة‬/‫ورية‬.‫ع‬..‫ ش‬.‫تال‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
A dead metaphor is a metaphor that is not felt by language users, that is why it
is called dead.
Examples:
‫ عقارب الساعة‬Hands of clock
‫ يقتل الوقت‬To kill time
‫ ذيل الصفحة‬Foot of page
‫ سلسلة جبال‬Chain of mountains
‫ استقبال حار‬Warm welcome
2. Cliché metaphors (‫تمبتذلة‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
Cliché metaphor is a metaphor that is popular, well-known, and used daily and
frequently.
Examples:

‫في نهاية المطاف‬ At the end of the day

‫انه على شفا حفرة من الموت‬ He is one foot in the grave
‫يمسح االرض بفالن‬ To wipe the floor with someone
‫اقبضوا على اللص حيا او ميتا‬ Catch the thief by hook or by crook
‫انا دائما اتحمل المسؤولية‬ I always carry the can
3. Standard metaphors (‫تمعيارية‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
Standard metaphors, the most established metaphors in language, are formal,
respected, and frequently used in standard language in particular.
Examples:

‫بصيص امل‬Ray of hope

‫ضوء على‬.‫يسلط ال‬
Throw light on
‫اننا في حلقة مفرغة‬
We are in a vicious circle
‫يوسع الهوة بينهما‬
Widen the gulf between them
‫ابق على الحديد حاميا‬
Keep the pot boiling
ِ
Note: these metaphors are a mixture of proverbs, formal metaphors, informal metaphors,
sayings, and collocations.
4. Adapted metaphors (‫تمقتبسة‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
An adapted metaphor is a metaphor that is taken originally from English into
Arabic.
They don’t pose a problem in translation because they are retained exactly as
they are in the source language.
Examples:
‫الكرة في ملعبهم االن‬ The ball is in their court
‫يزرع الشقاق بينهم‬ To sow division between them
‫مجزرة اهداف‬ A massacre of goals
‫يمسك باالوراق كلها‬ He holds all the cards
‫تخفيضات هائلة‬ Massive sale
5. Cultural metaphors (‫قافية‬...‫تث‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
The Metaphors which belong to the English specific Culture are called cultural
metaphors.
Examples:

‫يعالج مسألة‬ To field a question

‫ك طريقا شريفا‬.‫يسل‬ To keep a straight bat
‫يبهر‬ To knock for six
‫هذا ليس عدال‬ This is not fair play
‫يجري الدم في عروقه‬ He stirs his stumps
6. Recent metaphors (‫ديثة‬.‫تح‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
These metaphors are newly coined in both languages.
Examples:

‫لغة الشعارات الجوفاء‬ Wooden talk

‫تصفية الخصوم السياسيين‬ Head-hunting
‫انه على الحديدة‬ He is skint
‫زير نساء‬ A womanizer
7. Original metaphor (‫صلية‬.‫ت‬
‫ ا‬.‫ارا‬.‫ستع‬.‫)ا‬:
They are the best type and the easiest to translate. They can be translated
directly, so they seem surprising in Arabic as they are in English.
Examples:

‫فرصة العمر‬ A window of opportunity

‫عروض شحيحة ومحادثات بالقطارة‬ Dribbling offers, and tricking talks
‫نار خضراء كالعشب‬ The fire green as grass
‫في ايام الوداع البيضاء‬ In the lamb white days
‫تحت النجوم الساذجة‬ Under the simple stars