A Study on Translation of Metaphors in Fortress Besieged

-- A Case Study of Jeanne Kelly and Nathan K Mao’s English Version

Abstract

Fortress Besieged is the representative work of Ch’ien Chung-Shu, which is unique in style and rich in cultural connotation. A variety of rhetorical and linguistic devices are employed in the novel, such as simile, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, which made a great contribution to the satirical and humorous style of the novel. The extensive use of metaphor adds distinct characters to the text, meanwhile, poses a greater challenge to the translation of the original work and spread of the traditional Chinese language and culture. In the 1970s, Jenny Kelly and Nathan K Mao worked together to translate the book into English, which caused a great sensation at home and abroad. This paper, centered on the novel Fortress Besieged, aims to make a simple analysis of the translation strategies of metaphors commonly used in Jenny Kelly and Nathan K Mao’s English version, It was found that the translator mainly adopted four strategies to deal with the metaphors in the original text, namely, turning the metaphor into a simile, retention of the metaphorical images, removal and conversion of the vehicle images, this not only vividly recreates the charm of the source language, but also helps to reduce the difficulties of the target language readers and promote Chinese modern and contemporary novels go global.