Newmark’s Procedures of Translating Metaphors

1.Reproducing the same image in the TL.

This procedure can be used when the •
image has comparable frequency in the
appropriate register. It is common for one
word metaphor . The more universal the
sense , the more likely to transfer.(The
same connotation and the same frequency
of use)
 ‫ شعاع األمل‬Ray of )one word metaphor (
hope
‫ ضوء في نهاية النفق‬Light at the end of the tunnel
•
‫ التأريخ يعيد نفسه‬History repeats itself
.
‫ الحاجة أم االختراع‬Necessity is the mother of
.invention

‫ انك تجعل الدم يغلي في عروقي‬.You make my blood boil

‫ هذه المسألة هي حجر الزاوية‬.This issue is the cornerstone

 ‫ذر الرماد في العيون‬ To throw dust in the
.eyes

‫ الغريق يتعلق في قشه‬A drowning man will

.clutch at a straw

‫إنها لفرصة تسيل اللعاب‬ This is a mouth-

.watering opportunity
 2.Replacing the image in the SL with a
standard TL image .
This procedure can be used when the SL
image cannot be reproduced and the standard
TL image does not clash with TL culture .
 ‫ إنها تمطر كأفواه القرب‬. It is raining cats and dogs

‫ ال يلدغ المؤمن من جحر مرتين‬A fox is not taken twice in

the same snare
‫ الوقت من ذهب‬.Time is money

‫ النظافة من اإليمان‬Cleanliness is next to

.godliness
3. Translation of Metaphor by
simile .
This procedure keeps the image to
modify the shock of the metaphor .
He is a lion ‫ألسد‬gg‫ا‬gg‫ ك‬g‫نه‬g‫ا‬
He is a fox‫لثعلب‬gg‫ا‬g‫ ك‬g‫نه‬g‫ا‬
 Translation of Metaphor by simile.4
plus sense.
This procedure combines
communicative and semantic translation
to address both the layman and the
expert if there is a risk that the simple
transfer of the metaphor will not be
understood by most readers
He is a lion ‫د‬ggg‫ألس‬gg‫جاع كا‬gg‫ ش‬g‫ه‬ggg‫ن‬g‫ا‬
He is a fox ‫ب‬ggg‫لثعل‬gg‫ر كا‬ggg‫ ماك‬g‫ه‬ggg‫ن‬g‫ا‬
. Conversion of Metaphor to sense.5

This procedure is used to increase

the understandability of the
metaphor yet at the expense of its
emotional effect . It is used when
the TL image is too wide of the
sense or the register.
 example

He is a lion ‫جاع‬gg‫ ش‬g‫نه‬g‫ا‬

He is a fox ‫ ماكر‬g‫نه‬g‫ا‬
6.Deletion of Metaphor

This procedure is used when the metaphor is •

redundant
and when the function of the metaphor is
being fulfilled elsewhere in the text . Deletion
of metaphor cannot be used with expressive
texts because it is part of the expression of the
.writer personality
. Same metaphor combined with sense.7

This procedure is used to ensure that the

metaphor will be understood better by less
educated readers.
Example
He is a fox ‫علبماكر‬ggg‫ ث‬g‫نه‬g‫ا‬