The English Translation Of The Names Of Metaphorical Prescriptions

Objectives:A systematic study of 21 traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)metaphorical formula titles from six English and Chinese-English textbooks of formulas was conducted in the light of Conceptual Integration Theory by means of close reading and comparative analysis,aiming to put forward the translation principles and practical translation methods of metaphorical TCM formula titles,contribute to the standardization of TCM formula title translation and translation study of TCM formula titles and provide reference for translation of other TCM metaphorical terms as well as for bilingual or English teaching of TCM formulas and TCM English education.Methods:1.Determining the image of TCM metaphorical formula titles:the images of metaphorical formula titles were confirmed by means of referring to medical books and clarifying the reasons for naming.2.Restoring the process of integration:Chinese connotation of images and their relationship with metaphorical formulas were clarified by referring to relevant research literature,dictionaries,etc.Conceptual Integration Theory was used to restore the process of integration of metaphorical formula titles so as to illustrate the cognitive relationship between the images and formulas in the form of diagrams.3.Determining the extent to which the images in the source language correspond to the images in the target language:the correspondence degree of the images in the target language were determined at both language and cognitive levels,which was categorized into complete correspondence,partial correspondence or absence of correspondence,providing theoretical basis for the next step of comparative analysis.4.Analyzing the existent English versions of metaphorical formula titles in a comparative manner:Available English versions of metaphorical formula titles were analyzed comparatively.5.Summarizing the translation principles and methods of metaphorical formula titles:the translation principles and methods of metaphorical formula titles were summarized under the guidance of Conceptual Integration Theory according to analysis results.Results:It was found that among 21 metaphorical formula titles:1)in terms of classification of metaphorical images,images in natural world accounted for 29%(6);images in society and daily life,33%(7),images in Sixiang and Eight Diagrams,24%(5),and mythological and legendary images,14%(3);2)as far as the formulas' content that the images map are concerned,a large majority(81%,17)maps the efficacy,medication or herbs' properties of formulas;9.5%(2)maps the diseases treated by the formulas,and 4.75%(1)respectively maps the viscera and the appearance of the herb in the formula;3)in terms of correspondence degree of images in the target language,above one third(9,42%)were classified into absence of correspondence,and 29%(6)respectively for partial correspondence and absence of correspondence.A total of 14 out of 21 metaphorical formula titles' English versions received revision,accounting for 67%.The problems in existent English versions mainly involved:1)mistranslation as a result of failing to discern the actual connotation of formula titles and the underlying meaning of formula titles;2)mistranslation resulting from using literal translation before disclosing the cognitive and logical relationship between the images and formulas;3)over-reliance on transliteration that resulted in poor readability of the translated text;4)low accuracy of English expressions due to cultural difference between Chinese and English;5)failure of achieving back-translation.This study proposes that different translation methods be used according to different integration ways upon determining the correspondence degrees of images in target language by exploring Chinese connotation based on Conceptual Integration Theory.Firstly,in terms of metaphorical formula titles with complete correspondence images,mirror integration should be preferred,i.e.translating the source text by means of literal translation to achieve cognitive equivalence.Secondly,as for metaphorical formula titles with absence of correspondence of images,mirror integration is also preferred because equivalence of source image is hard to find in the target language,i.e.retaining the source image by means of transliteration to avoid prolix translation and taking care of back-translation whenever possible or using single-scope integration or single-scope integration combined with double-scope integration(substitution or literal translation plus addition of words).Finally,following integration ways and translation methods are adopted for the translation of metaphorical formula titles with partial correspondence of images:1)mirror integration,i.e.transliteration to retain the image;2)mirror integration combined with single-scope integration,i.e.literal translation plus addition of words;3)single-scope integration,i.e.using substitution to mirror cognition;4)double-scope integration,i.e.identifying a new image from the target' language to substitute the source image.Conclusion:Based on Conceptual Integration Theory,this study summarizes that the principle of translation of metaphorical formula titles is as follows:the translation text should trigger the same cognitive schema on the part of target readers as that of the source readers',complying with the principle of brevity and taking care of back-translation whenever possible.Translation methods such as literal translation,transliteration,substitution and addition of words can be adopted.On the one hand,this study strengthens the explanatory power of Conceptual Integration Theory;on the other hand it proves that this theory can be the guiding theory of metaphor translation which provides theoretical support for research on metaphor translation.In addition,this study can promote the standardization of English translation of TCM formula titles,enrich research perspective of TCM formula titles' translation,and provide refreshing ideas and methods for the translation study of other metaphorical TCM terms.The final English versions that this study has proposed could help bilingual teaching material construction of TCM formulas.Besides,the research process including exploration of Chinese connotation can enrich the teaching content and provide a reference for the teaching of TCM formulas in English.