Economized Processing Of Metaphors In Sight Translation:An Eye-tracking Study

In recent years,translation process research has shown initial results in empirical research,and the application of various instruments has also contributed to the translation process research.Translation studies on metaphors have always been an ultimate problem,but most of these studies are limited to metaphors and non-metaphors,and the category of metaphors in forward translation(FT,i.e.,L1-L2 translation)and backward translation(BT,i.e.,L2-L1 translation)is less involved.Taking cognitive economized processing model as the theoretical basis and employing eye-tracking technique,this thesis aims to explore economized processing(cognitive effort)affected by categories in two directions(i.e.,forward translation and backward translation).It seeks to discuss the three questions:(1)Will participants’ cognitive efforts will be affected by the metaphor category?(2)Do participants’ cognitive efforts remain the same in two directions?(3)Do the voice translators tend to use economized processing when translate metaphors in sight translations?The experimental materials were selected from the literary works and translations of Lu Xun and Shen Congwen.The experimental stimuli appeared in the form of sentences,and each was translated in Chinese(L1)to English(L2)and English to Chinese directions(40 English metaphors,40 Chinese metaphors)respectively.35 participants were recruited to do sight translation of these metaphors in both directions,but the qualified data(17 Chinese-English data and 22 English-Chinese data)were statistically calculated.The experiment mainly analyzed three kinds of data:eye movement,translation strategy,and retrospective interview data.By triangulating these data,the current research found that(1)the culture specificity has an effect on English-Chinese metaphor translation.Specifically,culture-specific(Cs)metaphors need more cognitive efforts(CE)than non-culture specific(NCs)metaphors in English-Chinese translation.Conversely,culture-specific effect could be found in Chinese-English metaphor translation.(2)The conventionality/individuality has an effect on metaphor translation,and individual metaphors(NCon)is more cognitive effortful than conventional metaphors(Con)in both directions.(3)FT is more cognitive effortful than BT in each category of metaphors.(4)Even though the structure-routed transfer(IR)is less cognitive effortful than Conceptually mediated transfer(CMTR),the novices still accustomed to using CMTR in metaphor translation.Thus,novices don’t tend to use economized processing to deal with metaphors across time(conventionality)and space(cultural specificity).This experiment provides initial results and experience for empirical research on mixed effects of metaphor categories and its translation directions.In addition,combining the economized processing theory and the research results of this paper,a revised asymmetric parallel processing model was proposed.On the one hand,it is helpful to deepen the understanding of the cognitive process of translation processing.On the other hand,it is beneficial for teachers and students to have specific focus on translation practice and teaching.In this respect,the training content can be arranged more effectively.Moreover,it is suggested that except for expanding the second language memory,student translators should also pay attention to the cultivation of second language thinking in translation to establish a conceptual connection with the entities in second language.