2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬

College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
Applying Newmark's Translational procedures in translating
Original metaphor in Shakespearean play: Macbeth
May Mokarram. Nada Bashar
(Received in 30/9/2021 Accepted in 31/10/2021)
Abstract
Original metaphor is one of the fascinating and main types of metaphor. This
type of metaphor is concerned with conveying the sense of a particular word or
phrase in an inaccurate literary way. Since, the original metaphor is the most used
in this play the study will exclude the other types of metaphor except the original
metaphor.

This study aims at investigating, the translation procedures employed in

rendering the original metaphor that exists in Macbeth. Also to remark whether the
selected translators have succeeded in translating the original metaphor properly
into Arabic or not.

The study hypothesizes that applying Newmark's Translation

procedures(1988) can fulfill an appropriate rendering and assist to notice some
problems that the translators may face.

The study concludes that the selected translators give different translations
according to their comprehension of the original metaphor examples included in
Macbeth. Furthermore, the procedure of representing the same form in the TL is
the most frequently employed since it offers the best rendering possible to transfer
the message from the ST while keeping the SL's context.

Keywords: Metaphor, The original metaphor, Newmark's Translational procedures, Macbeth

1084
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
1. Introduction

Translation is an important link between the author of a literary text and

those who wish to read it in another language. This study tackles one of the main
types of metaphor: the original metaphor and the translational procedures of
Newmark that will be adopted in this study.

Newmark(1988:5) defines translation as the rendering of the meaning of

work into a different language in the manner intended by the author. A successful
translation is critical to obtain the message from the original language to the target
language most efficiently and accurately. The translation is challenging due to the
disparities in the source and target languages, as well as the variances in their
cultures. This is especially true when translating work comprises a number of
figurative languages. Lakoff and Johnson ( 2003: 7) agree that human language is
loaded with metaphorical terms that are related to abstract notions and that these
difficult concepts can be better understood as a result of them.

Newmark (1988:113) classified six kinds of metaphor: dead metaphor,

cliché metaphor, stock/standard metaphor, adapted metaphor, recent metaphor, and
original metaphor, besides that he(1988:107) offers seven procedures to convey
metaphors, which are (1) representing the same form in the TL, (2) shifting the SL
form with a basic TL form that is incompatible with TL culture, (3) rendering of
metaphor by simile, (conserving the image), (4) rendering of metaphor (or simile)
by simile as well as meaning, or (5) sometimes metaphor plus meaning conversion
of metaphor to the meaning, (6) omission, and (7)rendering the metaphor by the
same metaphor joined with the meaning.

1085
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
2. The concept of Metaphor

Metaphor derives from the Greek word “meta”, “change” and “pherein”
“carry” (etymonline.com). Newmark (1988: 111) states that the primary goal of
metaphor is to convey something in a more comprehensive, economical, and
compelling manner than is possible in literal language.

Holman and Harmon (1992:287) point out that a metaphor is a likeness that
compares one object to another. For instance (She is my heart). The pronoun (she)
is directly compared to the word (heart).

Larson (1998: 276-277) explains a few factors why metaphors are confusing
and cannot be conducted directly, one of these is that the form produced can be
foreign to TL receptor. The form, topic, and point of similarity are the three most
significant elements in translating metaphors. After these characteristics are
referred to, an efficient translation into TL can be made.

Metaphors, according to Lakoff and Johnson (2003: 5), are understanding

and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another. They also state that “every
experience occurs against a vast backdrop of cultural presuppositions.”

Original metaphor is used by the writer in the current play, so the discussion
will only cover this type.

3. Original metaphor

An original metaphor is one of the metaphor types that explains an object or

act in an untrue literary manner, but assists describe an idea or inform a
comparison between two things that are not the same
(blog.https\\www.grammarly.com). According to Newmark (1988: 106), an
original metaphor is one that the SL writer creates or quotes to make the text more

1086
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
interesting. The original metaphor should be translated to the greatest extent
possible. If, on the other hand, a metaphor is obscure and its absence will not affect
the target reader's comprehension of the ST, the translator should replace it with a
descriptive metaphor or transfer its meaning into a sense.

4. Newmark's Translational procedures for translating metaphor:

Translation of literary work especially the play is a difficult matter since the
text may have more than one special meaning and the translator should be aware
to convey the author’s intended meaning of the text. Furthermore, the literary
work may have figurative language as a metaphor which causes difficulty in
translating. Newmark (1988) suggested seven translational procedures for
metaphor as follows:

1. Representing the SL image in the TL. This procedure is used if it has

comparable frequency and currency in the appropriate register. According to
this procedure, the image of metaphor is transferred from SL to TL. (
Newmark,1988:112).
2. Shifting the SL image with an equivalent TL image provided no cultural
overlap occurs.
3. Rendering of metaphor by simile. Because simile and metaphor work in a
similar way, this approach can be used to alter the shock of any metaphorical
term.
4. Rendering the metaphor by simile as well as meaning is a compromise
procedure. In this procedure, communicative and semantic translations are
fused, and also the emphasis is put on the gloss rather than the equivalent
effect.

1087
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
5. Converting a SL metaphor into its meaning in a TL is the common and
preferred procedure particularly when the image is too wide of the sense.
The translator should analyze the sense of metaphor componential and
chooses to depend on the type of the text. Moreover, it is preferred to be
used between the language of a different culture.
6. An omission is a redundant metaphor if the text is not authoritative or
expressive. The translator can follow this procedure only when the metaphor
is repeated and fulfilled elsewhere in the text.
7. Representing in the TL the same SL metaphor joined with the meaning. This
procedure is useful if the metaphor is repeated, nevertheless, it reveals a lack
of confidence in the power and clarity of metaphor.
5. Metaphor in Arabic
The term AL-Majaz is employed to cover all types of metaphor, and
to describe something more effectively and concisely than is possible by
using literal language giving new concepts to a variety of expressions.
Arab rhetoricians distinguish between two types of AL-Majaz: aqly
(mental) and lugawi (linguistics). Under the second type, a word or
construction which has known basic meaning in the language is temporarily
lent, as it was to something other than the original object. therefore, it is
called istiara( Al-Jurjani, 1954:29; Abass,1987:157).
As in English, Arabic istiara consists of the tenor (Mushabbah), the
“vehicle” (Mushabbah bih), and the “image of similarity” (Wajhu shabah)
(Faiq,1998:230). It is also regarded as an abbreviated form of “Tashbih”
(similar ), for it has a more eloquent effect than similar. Moreover, in
metaphor, the vehicle and the tenor are united whereas they are merely alike
in similar (ibid:230).

1088
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)

6. The Model adopted in the original metaphor translation

Due to the difficult essence of this topic which deals with one of the
complex types of metaphor, the study will adopt Newmark's Translational
procedures in an attempt to analyze some problems which may appear in
them.

7. Data Analysis
Some sentences from the Shakespearean play: Macbeth have been
selected for analysis with their renderings by the translators (Mataar 2019,
Ameen1994, and Jabra 2008), annexed with a table prepared by the
researcher and then the researcher's discussion of these renderings.

1089
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)

SLT: 1
Table (1): The translational procedures of SLT according to Newmark's
Translational procedures(1988)
SLT Type of Metaphor
Rosse say:” Where the norweyan banners Original
flout the sky and fan our people cold” (
I.ii.51,p.7)
TLTs The Renderings The Procedures Adopted

Matraan ________________ Omission

Ameen ‫حيث ارتفعت رايات النرويج تتحدى‬ Shifting a SL image with an

(1994:I.ii.28)
‫السماء وتبث في قلوب رجالنا الرعب‬ equivalent TL image
Jabra ‫حيث البيارق النرويجية كانت تهزأ من‬ Converting to meaning
(2008:I.ii.55)
‫السماء وترف اخمادا لنار ربعنا‬

Discussion

The three selected translators have provided different literary renderings of

the original metaphor. According to Newmark translational procedures, the first
rendering was adopted the omission procedure, so ( Matraan) delete the metaphor.
While the second translator (Ameen) transferred the intended meaning which
seems more appropriate rendering when he chose to apply the procedure of
replacing the SL image with an equivalent TL image, whereas the translator ( Jabra
) dropped the additional sense of fear, which is embedded in the second image
(cold) when he applied the procedure of Converting to sense.

1090
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)

SLT 2:

Table (2): The translational procedures of SLT according to Newmark's

Translational procedures(1988)

SLT Type of Metaphor

Macbeth says:” Here lay Duncan, His silver Original

skin laced with his golden blood”.
(II.iii.109p.79)

TLTs The Renderings The Procedures Adopted

Matraan ‫نظرت ودنكان صريع بجانبي يتدفق الدم‬ Converting to meaning

(2019:II.II.52)
‫ارجوانيا زاهرا من صدره‬
Ameen ‫فهنا كان يرقد دانكان وعلى اديم جسمه‬ Representing the SL image in the TL
(1994:II.iii.60)
‫الفضي خطوط متشابكة من دمه الذهبي‬
Jabra ‫هنا رقد دنكن وفضى اهابه موشى بذهبي‬ Representing the SL image in the TL
(2008:II.iii.91)
‫دمه‬
Discussion

Matraan’s rendering seems inappropriate one for he distorted the whole

image by converting this metaphor to its inaccurate sense: adding the word
)‫ (ارجواني‬is irrelevant and using the preposition )‫ (من‬doesn’t signify the whole
body is covered with blood. While the two other translators (Ameen & Jabra )
succeed in transferring the image, though they differ in presenting their renderings
for the original metaphor, yet it is clear that they used the same translation
procedure of Newmark's model which is transferring the image. through employing
an easy literary language and despite their proper translations, I see that the
following rendering seems clear.

1091
 ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية ‪ ،‬اجمللد ‪ ،17‬العدد (‪ ،)4‬لسنة ‪2021‬‬
‫)‪College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021‬‬
‫هنا يرقد دنكان حيث مزجت بشرته الفضية بدمه الذهبي‪Proposed rendering :‬‬

‫‪1092‬‬
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
SLT 3:
Table (3): The translational procedures of SLT according to Newmark's Translational
procedures(1988)
SLT Type of Metaphor

Macduff says:” new sorrows strike heaven on the Original

face, that it resounds. As if it felt with Scotland,
and yelled out like syllable of dolour”. (IV, iii, 5
p.171 )
TLTs. The Renderings The Procedures Adopted

Matraan ‫حتى الدخال السماء قد اخذت تستمع لدعاء‬ Omission

‫اسكتلندة وترثي ال عوالها ونحيبها‬
Ameen ‫وجه‬ ‫تلطم‬ ‫مستجدة‬ ‫احزانا‬ ‫ويشهد‬ Rendering metaphor by simile plus
(1994.IV.iii.104) ‫السماءفتردد صدى اللطمات وكأنما تتعاطف‬ the meaning
.‫مع سكوتلندا وتصدر صيحات لوعة مماثلة‬
Jabra ‫وويالت جديدة تصفع وجه السماء فترجع‬ Rendering metaphor by simile plus
(2008:IV.iii.127) ‫السماء كأنها تشعر مع اسكتلندا صارخة‬ the meaning
‫الفاظ حزن مماثلة‬
Discussion

The three translators have presented different renderings by employing different

translational procedures. Matraan deleted part of the sentence which is the original
metaphor image “strike heaven on the face where sorrows are compared to human
in his action from his rendering, and he uses instead of that the inexpressive phrase
)‫ (ادخال السماء‬which seems unsuitable and incorrect rendering. Ameen& Jabra used
the same fourth translational procedure of Newmark in presenting their different
translations which that seem proper. However and according to my opinion, I find
that reproducing the same image in the TL can convey the same meaning in the
ST. Propose rendering: ‫احزان جديدة تصفع وجه السماء بشكل مدوي كما لو انها متعاطفة مع‬
.‫اسكتلندا صارخة مثل لفظ حزن مماثل‬

1093
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
SLT 4 :

Table (4): The translational procedures of SLT according to Newmark's Translational

procedures(1988)

SLT Type of Metaphor

Macduff says:” This avarice Sticks deeper Original

grows with more pernicious root than
summer seeming lust” (IV, iii,84-85,177)
TLTs The Renderings The Procedures Adopted

Matraan ________________ Omission

Ameen ‫جذور هذه الرذيلة اعمق واخطر عمرا‬ Shifting the SL image with
(1994:IV.iii.106)
.‫من الشهوة المرتبطة بربيع العمر‬ an equivalent TL image
Jabra ‫هذا الجشع اعمق بعدا وينمو بجذر اشد‬ Representing the SL image in the
(2008:IV.iii.129)
‫دمارا من شبق كصيف عابر‬ TL

Discussion:
(Matraan) failed to translate the original metaphor, and used deletion to
evade the lack of understanding the metaphorical image. (Ameen) used the
procedure of replacing a SL image with an equivalent TL image. Whereas the last
translator (Jabra) though he transferred the image he failed to reproduce the
accurate sense of metaphor which signifies the increasing of harm and fastness
with depth.

Proposed rendering : ‫ينمو هذا الجشع بشكل اعمق من جذر متضررا من شهوة صيف‬

1094
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)

SLT 5:

SLT Type of Metaphor

Tabl
“Macduf: Lest our old robes sit easier than Original e (5):
our new” (II.iv.39,p.89) The
TLTs The Renderings The Procedures Adopted trans
latio
Matraan ‫وزعمي وخشيتي ان تكون الثياب الجديدة‬ Same metaphor joined with meaning nal
(2019:II.ii.54)
.‫ اقل مالءمة الجسامنا من الثياب العتيقة‬, proc
Ameen ‫ذلك ما اخشاه هو ان يكون رداؤنا القديم‬ Representing the SL image in the TL edur
(1994:II.65)
.‫انسب لنا من الجديد الذي ارتديناه‬ es of
SLT
acco
rding to Newmark's Translational procedures(1988)

1095
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
Jabra ‫ لئال تالئمنا ارديتنا القديمة اكثر من‬Representing the SL image in the TL
(2008:II.iv.95)
.‫الجديدة‬
D
iscussion

The translator (Matraan) applied the procedure (Same metaphor combined

with sense) and he added the words )‫ (اقل‬and )‫ (اجسامنا‬to fit his rendering. (Ameen)
and (Jabra) applied the same procedure of (Transferring the image).

All the translators didn't convey the metaphorical image, because Macduf
here compares the ruling system to clothes, the old clothes: old clothes refer to
Duncan's times and the new ones refer to Macbeth's times, and in case the old
times suit them better than the times to come.

Proposed rendering : ‫اخشى ان يكون ماضينا افضل من حاضرنا‬

1096
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)

Conclusion
It seems from the analyzed data that translating metaphor and especially
translating original metaphor is not an easy matter. The selected translators
presented different renderings according to their comprehension of this type.

The translators should be bicultural to be able to translate the literary work

and rendering of metaphor and any shortcoming in this matter leads to
inappropriate translation as shown in some of the selected examples.

However, it seems that the procedure of reproducing the same image in the
TL which is similar to literal translation can be regarded as the best procedure to
transfer the original metaphorical image from the ST to the TT.

1097
 2021 ‫ لسنة‬،)4( ‫ العدد‬،17 ‫ اجمللد‬، ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية‬
College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021)
References

• Abbas, F.(1987): Al Balagha Funoonuha wa Afnanuha.Amman: Dar Al-

Furqan Press.
• Al-Jurjani, A (1954): Asrar Al-Balagha.Istanbul: Government Press.
• Faiq, S. (1998): "Handling Metaphor In Sensitive Texts": Contributions
From Arabic–English Translation". Translation, 17(3): 224-239

• Holman, C.H. and Harmon, W. 1992. A Handbook to Literature. New York:

Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (2003). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: The
University of Chicago Press.
• Larson, M. L. (1998). Meaning-based translation: A guide to cross language
equivalence. Lanham: University Press of America.
• Newmark, P. (1988). A Text-Book of Translation. New York& London:
Prentice-Hall.
• Online Etymological Dictionary.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/metaphor.
• Blog. https://www.grammarly.com
Text Analysed:
A- English text
Shakespeare, W. (1965). Macbeth. London: London Grop Ltd.
B- Arabic Text
Ameen, H. (1994). Macbeth.Cairo: Dar Al-Shurooq.
Jabraa, J. (2008). Macbeth. Kuwait: Dar Al- Seyasa for Publication.
Matraan, K. (2019). Macbeth.Cairo: Hindawi Firm for Education and
Culture.

1098
 ‫جملة أحباث كلية الرتبية األساسية ‪ ،‬اجمللد ‪ ،17‬العدد (‪ ،)4‬لسنة ‪2021‬‬
‫)‪College of Basic Education Researchers Journal. ISSN: 7452-1992 Vol. (17), No.(4), (2021‬‬

‫تطبيق اجراءات الترجمة لنيومارك في ترجمة االستعارة االصلية في مسرحية شكسبير ‪:‬‬
‫ماكبث‬

‫المستخلص‬

‫االستعارة االصلية هي احد االنواع الرئيسة لالستعارة وتعنى بنقل معنى كلمة معينة او عبارة‬
‫بطريقة غير صحيحة حرفيا‪ .‬نظرا الن االستعارة االصلية هي االكثر استخداما في هذه المسرحية فسيتم‬
‫استبعاد دراسة االنواع االخرى من االستعارة في الدراسة الحالية‪.‬‬

‫تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التحقق من وجود إجراءات الترجمة المستخدمة في ترجمة االستعارة األصلية في‬
‫ماكبث‪ .‬كما نالحظ ما إذا كان المترجمون المختارون قد نجحوا في ترجمة االستعارة األصلية بشكل صحيح‬
‫إلى العربية أم ال‪ .‬تفترض الدراسة أن تطبيق إجراءات نيومارك للترجمة (‪ )1998‬يمكن أن يحقق العرض‬
‫المناسب ويساعد في مالحظة بعض المشكالت التي قد يواجهها المترجمون‪.‬‬

‫تستنتج الدراسة إلى أن المترجمين المختارين يقدمون ترجمة مختلفة وفقًا لفهمهم ألمثلة االستعارة األصلية‬
‫المدرجة في مسرحية ماكبث ‪ .‬باالضافة الى ذلك‪ ,‬ان اجراء إعادة إنتاج نفس الصورة في اللغة الهدف والذي‬
‫يماثل الترجمة الحرفية هو اإلجراء المطبق غالبًا ألنه يوفر أفضل ترجمة ممكنة لنقل الرسالة من النص‬
‫المصدر مع الحفاظ على سياق اللغة المصدر‪.‬‬

‫الكلمات المفتاحية ‪ :‬االستعارة‪ ,‬االستعارة االصلية‪ ,‬اجراءات نيومارك للترجمة‪ ,‬ماكبث‬

‫‪1099‬‬