Translating Conceptual Metaphors In Autobiography

Conceptual Metaphor Theory(CMT),which is regarded as one of the fundamental theories of cognitive linguistics,contends that metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon,but also a crucial cognitive tool that humans utilize to understand the world around them.Autobiographical works are abundant in conceptual metaphors,and the translation quality of these metaphors is crucial in determining the overall quality of the translated autobiographies.In this report,the translator uses an excerpt from Du Zi Shang Chang(2019)as an example and employs the CMT proposed by Lakoff and Johnson as a guide to classify and translate the examples of Conceptual Metaphor in the excerpt.The aim is to explore ways of translating different kinds of conceptual metaphors.Based on the analysis of the translation examples,the translator typically chooses from four methods: keeping the original vehicles,replacing the original vehicles,omission,or paraphrase.Each method has its own advantages and limitations,and the choice depends on various factors such as cultural differences and the availability of equivalent expressions in the target language.For structural,orientational,and ontological metaphors that are easily understood by readers in the target language,the translator usually keeps the original vehicles.However,for metaphors with significant cultural characteristics and complex explanations,the translator replaces the original vehicles with equivalent ones to provide target readers with a similar reading experience as in the source language.If there is no equivalent metaphor in the target language,the translator uses paraphrasing to avoid an unnatural and awkward translation.Additionally,the omission method is used to maintain sentence fluidity and avoid unnecessary wordiness.By exploring the translation methods of different conceptual metaphors using autobiographical materials,this report hopes to provide assistance for the translation of Conceptual Metaphor in other autobiographies,contribute to the development of crosscultural communication,and advance the research of CMT.