Luận án tiến sĩ Ngôn ngữ Anh: Modulation of English Conceptual Metaphor via Vietnamese Translation of Metaphoric Expressions in Economic Discourse (Phần 1)

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIESFACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES QUAN THI HOANG ANH MODULATION OF ENGLISH CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR VIA VIETNAM

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES

QUAN THI HOANG ANH

MODULATION OF ENGLISH CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR VIA

VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF METAPHORIC

EXPRESSIONS IN ECONOMIC DISCOURSE

(Sự điều biến của an dụ ý niệm tiếng Anh qua bản dich tiếng Việt các biểu thức ẩn du trong diễn ngôn kinh tế)

Major: English Linguistics

Code: 9220201.01

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics

HA NOI 2024

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES

QUAN THI HOANG ANH

MODULATION OF ENGLISH CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR VIA

VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF METAPHORIC

EXPRESSIONS IN ECONOMIC DISCOURSE

(Sự điều biên của an dụ ý niệm tiếng Anh qua ban dich

tiếng Việt các biểu thức ẩn dụ trong diễn ngôn kinh tế)

Major: English Linguistics

Code: 9220201.01

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics

Supervisors: Assoc Prof Dr LE HUNG TIEN

Dr HUYNH ANH TUAN

HA NOI 2024

Without meeting my supervisors, Assoc Prof Dr Le Hung Tien and Dr.Huynh Anh Tuan, this doctoral journey could not have reached its desired

destination Words cannot express my gratitude to them who, during tough times,

encouraged me to continue what have embarked on I have learned a lot under their

supervision, not only about Translation Studies, Cognitive Linguistics, and

Conceptual Metaphor Theory, but also about how to learn to become a novicescholar Working with them as a Ph.D student in the past five years has markedimportant highlights of my career Their understanding, patience, and unwaveringsupport guided me through critical phases of composing this thesis and inspired me

to publish additional works in my field of interest Assoc Dr Prof Le Hung Tien

and Dr Huynh Anh Tuan are scholars and research role models whom I

consistently admire and respect

My profound thanks extend to Dr Le Thi Giao Chi, Prof Nguyen Hoa, Assoc

Prof Dr Hoang Tuyet Minh, Dr Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, Assoc Prof Dr Tran Ba

Tien who commented on my research presentations and provided me with manyvaluable ideas to complete my research

My sincere appreciation also extends to my university’s management boardfor their encouragement and valuable advice during my completion of the

dissertation

I owe my thanks to my family, especially my husband, for their unconditional

love and support I am proud of being a part of my extended family and they are

always my foundation of love and perseverance

Last but not least, I am so thankful for having a supportive circle of friends,

who have been with me through all the ups and downs of this journey and have

been my greatest source of encouragement

Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), pioneered by Lakoff and Johnson(1980), has exerted a significant influence across multiple disciplines, includinglinguistics, education, and translation This study investigates the authenticmodulation of conceptual metaphor via the Vietnamese translation of authentic

English news releases sourced from reputable economic institutions, namely WorldBank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) websites, two credible sources ofeconomic discourse Through a cognitive linguistics lens, the study seeks to uncover

distinctive patterns of metaphor modulation in economic, using both qualitative and

quantitative approaches for data analysis Employing an exploratory sequential

approach, where the qualitative analysis to identify and categorize metaphors,

followed by quantitative frequency analysis to measure how often each modulation

pattern occurs The study utilizes various tools such as Metaphor IdentificationProcedures (MIP) by Pragglejazz Group (2007), Oxford Economics Dictionary, andVtudien are used to ensure precise identification of metaphors Kittay and Lehrer's

(1981) Semantic Field Theory of metaphor and Open English WordNet aid in

establishing conceptual domains and corresponding conceptual metaphors in both

source texts (STs) and target texts (TTs) Kövecses (2003) is adapted to identify

translation procedures, while Vinay and Darbelnet's (1995) is utilized to analyze

specific modulations of conceptual metaphors in Vietnamese texts The frequency

analysis reveal that while many conceptual metaphors are preserved, experiencing

fixed modulation in the TT, a considerable portion undergoes significanttransformation Some are shifted into another metaphor, undergoing the change of

concepts, either into a new conceptual domain, or as a change in abstraction level

(more concrete or more abstract) Notably, some even experience non-metaphorrendition or explicative modulation, reflecting the cultural and cognitive nuances of

economic discourse in Vietnamese translation These findings highlight howeconomic events are differently conceptualized across languages and cultures Thisresearch contributes to a deeper understanding of metaphor modulation intranslation, offering novel insights for translation practitioners and enhancing cross-

cultural communication in economic discourse

ii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 0 0ccc ccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeteteeeeeenenaaaaee 1

1.1 Background of the Sfudy c2 22222222 111111111111185585525511 1111111 rre 1

1.2 Objectives of the Studịy HH ng nh 21.3 Research Questions - QQ Q11 1S SH HH nh nh sen 21.4 Scope of the Study -1111111 ng ng ng nhe 2I8 i0, 2/1011 31.6 Significance of the Study - - - c LH ng 21 0 1 khe 31.7 Structure of the Thesis 11 ố.ố 40;/ 940.221 ằỒ na 6LITERATURE REVIEW HH HT ng tr 62.1 Conceptual Metaphor Theory 32211111 xxx ky 6

2.1.1 Conceptual Metaphor versus Metaphoric EXpress1on «««« 7

2.1.2 Approaches to Metaphor Analysis - TS 3x2 11

2.1.3 Metaphor CÏasSIÍICafIOII cece eeenee eee HH kg kg 13

2.2.1 Features of Economic ÏDISCOUTS€ -SE xe 14

2.2.2 Conceptual Metaphors and Metaphoric Expressions in Economic Discourse 162.2.3 Functions of Metaphor in Economic DISCOUTS€ -<+<<<<****+ 18

2.3 Metaphor Translation and Modulation ccceesesseeneeeeceeeeeeeees 20

2.3.1 The Controversy of Metaphor Translation -+ -++++<<<<<<*s«+ 202.3.2 Some Approaches to Metaphor TransÏatIon -<<<<<+<s<<+ 222.3.3 Kévecses’ Model of Metaphor TransÌafIon << ss++ssssxvx 262.3.4 Vinay and Darbelnet’s Model of Message Modulation 302.3.5 Adapted Framework for Metaphor Modulation -<<<<«« 35

2.4 Motivations for Combining the Cognitive Linguistic Model of Metaphor

1H

Translation and Modulation Model in Translation Studies 40

2.5 Previous SfuÏes - -c LH ng kg 432.5.1 Previous Studies on Metaphors in Economic Discourse 442.5.2 Previous Studies on Metaphor Translation in Economic Discourse 512.5.3 Research apDS HH 0 0 và 56Chapter Summary 77 56CHAPTER HH nọ ng nọ re 57

3.1 Research Paradigøm STng kg 57K02 i2110085)9)(2((0an 57

3.2 Research Design ccccsessecccnncccecececeeceeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeennnqnaaeeeeeeeeeeeees 593.3 Research Methods - HT ng kg 603.3.1 Qualitative AnaÏyS1S n0v 61

Ki y.orjivi8ar 2/2000 a.ớ- 643.4 Data Collecfion - - ng ng kg 65

3.5.1 Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) SSSSSS2323555555555555 683.5.2 Semantic Theory of Metaphor by Kittay and Lehrer - 703.5.3 Open English WordÌNet - c1 ng kh 71

3.5.4 Oxford Economics Dictionary - - S3 3312x5 74

3.5.5 VUI€T - TT ng kg 74

3.6 Data AnaÌYSÏS HT ng ng ki, 753.6.1 Step 1: Getting familiar with the dafa 75555 SSS+S+++++*sssssssxs 76

3.6.2 Step 2: Generalizing initial €Od€S ¿+ - c1 1111 1 kh ve 77

3.6.3 Step 3: Searching for Themes eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnenneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 853.6.4 Step 4: Reviewing TheImes - - - « «s13 3x5 913.6.5 Step 5: Defining and naming modulation paffern «+ 953.6.6 Step 6: Producing T€DOT( - - << « « «xxx ng33 55 973.7 TrusfworthineSs LHkg 963.7.1 Researcher DOSI{IOTITĐ - - - << < << + + x0 ng 0 139 x5 983.7.2 Credibility - ng kg 96

3.7.3 TransferabIÏIty k kg kh 99

iv

0010503000017 = 100CHAPTER 4 CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN ENGLISH ECONOMIC

DISCOURCCE Quà 101

4.1 The distribution of the Identified Metaphors -555cc scc+++2 101

4.2 Living Organism Metaphors nnS SH SH như 105

4.2.1 Organism MetaphOTS 299999993 301v re 105

4.2.2 Human Conceptual MetaphorS «+ + + 11111 key 108

4.2.3 Plant MetaplOTS - c S999 111

4.2.4 Animal Metaphors 00099999999 0 0v vn 112

4.3 Movement Metaphors + c1 1n S*SSSvx Sky 113

4.3.1 Forward Movement MetaphOoTS - + 111v key 113

4.3.2 Upward Movement MetaphOrS - - + + + xxx 1v he 114

4.3.3 On-Road Movement MetaphorS - «¿+11 khe 115

4.3.4 Backward, Downward and Swing Movement Metaphors 1164.4 Natural Forces and Occurrence Metaphors cc5 1174.4.1 Nautical Phenomena conceptual metaphots -+<++s++++++2 118

4.4.2 Meteorological Phenomena Metapho®s -<< <<cc+<c++ 120

4.4.3 Geologic Phenomena Conceptual Metaphors -<< sss++ +2 124

4.4.4 Container Conceptual MetaplOTrS + + 1n key 125

4.4.6 Resource Conceptual MetaplOrS -«¿+ + 11h key 128

4.4.7 Burden Conceptual MetaphOTS .- - - << + + + + xxx he 129

4.4.8 Light Conceptual MetaphoTS << 1 1nn 1kg khe 130

4.5 Artefact and Social Event Metaphors - - - 5c SSSSnssSSirseses 131

4.5.2 Machine Conceptual MetaphOorS + + 11h key 134

4.5.3 Building Conceptual MetaphorS - - - << + + + + xxx vrrreg 1394.5.4 Play Conceptual Metaphors - - - << + + xxx nhe 1414.5.5 Key Metaphors - c SH re 1424.5.6 Gift MetaphOTS LHng re 1434.6 Orientational MetaphorsS - LH nhe nưy 1454.6.1 Up MetaphOTS - - - c LHng re 145

4.6.3 Miscellaneous Metaphors -<< <1 11 KH 1k rưy 153

4.7 DiSCUSSÏOI -.L SG QQQQQQ HH HH TT TH ch nhu ky 1564.7.1 The Prevalence of Metaphors in the Source 'ÏeXfS + 1564.7.2 The identified conceptual domains eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnaaeeeeeeeeeees 1574.8 Chapter Summary 0 ng nen 164CHAPTER 5_THE MODULATION OF ENGLISH CONCEPTUALMETAPHORS VIA VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION OF METAPHORICEXPRESSIONS L HH HH ng ngư 166

5.1 Fixed Modulation and Metaphor into the Same Metaphor 1665.1.1 Living Organism Metaphors + 11H ng ve 167

5.1.2 Movement Metaphors - - - - << << + + + + 11 ng ng 22 x5 175

5.1.3 Natural Force and Occurrence MetaphOors «<< << 2*xx 185

5.1.4 Artefact and Social Activity Metaphors cà 205

5.2 Change of Concept Modulation Pattern and Metaphor into a Different

Metaphor tao 226

5.2.1 Movement Metaphors - << «+ + + + ng 3 355 229

5.2.2 Natural Force and Occurrence MetaphOors + +++<<<<<+++x++ 2505.2.3 Living Organism Metaphors - - « « «s33 355 2635.2.4 Artefacts and Social Event MetaphOrr -scccà sss++ssssssesssses 268

5.2.5 Orientational Metaphors - - << E11 1n vn 273

5.2.6 Miscellaneous Metaphors - - - « «s22 x2 2785.3 Explicative Modulation and Metaphor into Non-Metaphor 2835.3.1 Artefact and social Activity MetaphOrS - cà 284

5.3.2 Living Organism Metaphors +2 11kg 2885.3.3 Natural Force and Occurrence MetaphOors - << s xxx 292

5.3.4 Movement Metaphors 8n 298

5.3.5 Orientational Conceptual Metaphors «+ c1 301

5.4 DisCUSSIONS TQng 302

5.4.1 Revisiting the First Research Question -SSSSS<<<<255555 303

5.4.2 Revisiting the Second Research Question 5 +++++<<<<<<*s**+ 304

5.5 Reflecting on the Findings in Relation to the Theoretical framework 318

CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSIONS QLG HH kh 322

6.1 Insights of the Study - - << < 1 11111111 vn x32 322

6.2 Limitation of the Study - << << ng 22 x5 3236.3 ImplicafÏOns HT HH ng nọ và 324

VI

6.3.1 Implications for Theory T 3246.3.2 Implications for Research 0T cc 3256.3.3 Implications fOr practice - << << + + + + ngx5 326

LIST OF ABBREVIA TIONS

ADB: Asian Development Bank

AC: Abstract into Concrete

C.A: Concrete into Abstract

CMT: Conceptual Metaphor Theory

CL: Cognitive Linguistics

CS: Change of Symbol

DTS: Descriptive Translation Studies

ExMo: Explicative Modulation

FREQ: Frequency

FiMo: Fixed Modulation

LGP: Language for General Purposes

LSP: Language for Special Purposes

MIP: Metaphor Identification Procedures

M.M: Metaphor into Metaphor

M.M’: Metaphor into a different Metaphor

M.dM: Metaphor into a different expression of the same Metaphor

M.nM: Metaphor into non-Metaphor

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 The differences between traditional view and CMT on metaphor 10

Table 2.2 Kövecses' (2003) findings and possibilities for metaphor translation 27

Table 2.3 Translation procedures and the corresponding codes 29

Table 2.4 The adapted model of modulation patterns and the corresponding codes 40

Table 2.5 Illustration of the triangulation of translation procedures and

modulatiOn Patter eeeeeseccccceccececceceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeneaneneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenteeees 42

Table 2.6 Review of the previous studies on metaphor in economic discourse 46

Table 2.7 Review of the previous studies on translation of metaphor in economic

Table 4.1 The distribution based on domain of the source text conceptual source

domains in English economic đISCOUTS€ - 5 5 S333 1£ Eveeesseeeesessssee 104

Table 4.2 The distribution of the ST conceptual metaphors - 157

Table 4.3 The identified source domains and target domains in the data 158Table 5.1 The distribution of Fixed modulation and M.M, M.dM in the TTs 167Table 5.2 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of organism metaphors

using M.M, M.dM and FiM0 uuu eeeseeccesseeceseneeccesneeecesaeeessaeesesaeesesaeees 168Table 5.3 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Human Metaphor using

M.M, M.dM and FIMO 2G 111v 171

Table 5.4 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Forward movement CM

Table 5.5 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Upward movement CMsusing M.M, M.dM and FIMO << 1 nh 2 x5 178

Table 5.6 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of On-road movement CMs

using M.M, M.dM and FIMO ccccccceeeeeeseeeeeeeeeennaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneees 179Table 5.7 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Backward movement

CM using M.M, M.dM and FiMo cece eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneees 182

Table 5.8 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of downward movement

ix

CM using M.M, M.dM and FTIMO - 5 ch x2 183

Table 5.9 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Nautical phenomena usingM.M, M.dM and HMO - Q5 1n TT cư 185Table 5.10 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Meteorological

phenomena CM using M.M, M.dM and FiMo eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennennneeeeeeeeeees 190

Table 5.11 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Geologic phenomena

CMs using M.M and FiMO ooo cccccccceceeeeeseeeeeeennnaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 192

Table 5.12 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Container CM using

and EIÌMO - - ng 0000090999 204

Table 5.17 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of War C.M using M.M,

Table 5.18 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Machine CMs using

M.M, M.dM, FIMO eee ceesceccseseccesseeecesseeecsssecceseeecesaeeessaeecessaeesesaaeees 210

Table 5.19 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Play CM using M.M, M.dM,

0/01 — 213Table 5.20 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Building CMs using

M.M and FIMO ee eeeeccccessnsececccessssneeeeceesssnceeeeeeesssaeeeecessssaeeeesessesaneeeeees 215

Table 5.21 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Key, Gift and Medical

treatment CMs using M.M, M.dM, FiMo eceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenennnaaeeeeeeeeeees 217Table 5.22 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Up CMs using M.M,M.dM and EIÌMO c0 ng vn 221

Table 5.23 The distribution of metaphoric expressions of Down CMs using M.M,

M.dM, EIMO LH HT kh 223Table 5.24 The distribution of M.M’ and corresponding modulation pattern ofthe identified CMs in the “Ï”ÏÏS - - -G 10011 ng vn ng 228

Table 5.25 The modulation of forward movement CMs via translation 229

Table 5.26 The modulation of uspward movement CMs via translation 233Table 5.27 The modulation of backward movement, downward, swing movementCMS Via translation 0000100v 238Table 5.28 The modulation of on-road movement CMs via translation 240Table 5.29 The modulation of backward, swing and upward and downwardMovement CMS via transÏafIOTI 1010101re 245

Table 5.30 The mappings of English movement domains and Vietnamese

movement, organism and orientational domains onto the target domain of

S0i100)1009071)142 An ằeee.- 249Table 5.31 The modulation of Container CMs via transÌation - 250Table 5.32 The mappings of English Container domains and Vietnamese Entity

and Surface domains onto the target domains of economic entities 252

Table 5.33 The modulation of Water and Fluid CMs in translation 253

Table 5.34 The mappings of English Nautical domains and VietnameseOrientational, State of Health, and Weather domains onto the target domains ofCCONOMIC State 11 e 255Table 5.35 The modulation of Burden CMs via translation - 256Table 5.36 The mappings of English burden domains and Vietnamese Darkness,

Movement, and Air pressure domains onto the target domains of economic

009522100051 TA 259

Table 5.37 The modulation of Light CMs via translation - 260

Table 5.38 The mappings of English light domain and Vietnamese weather

domain onto the target domains of economic problems -««- 261Table 5.39 The modulation of Earthquake CM via translation - 249

Table 5.40 The mappings of English Earthquake domains and Vietnamese

psychological breakdown domain onto the target domain of economic problems 263Table 5.41 The modulation of Animal CMs via transÏation 263Table 5.42 The mappings of English Animal domains and Vietnamese domains

of Liquid, Movement onto the target domains of Poor spendings 266

Table 5.43 The modulation of Plant CMs via translation 266

Table 5.44 The mappings of English Plant and Organism domains onto the targetdomaIns Of ECONOMIC S€CfOT - << 5 + + + + 1 110g ng 332355 268Table 5.45 The modulation of Machine CM via translation - 269

Table 5.46 The mappings of English Machine domains and Vietnamese Entities,

Xi

Plant, physical force onto the target domain of economic activities 273

Table 5.47 The modulation of source text Up CMs via translation 273

Table 5.48 The modulation of down CMs via transÌafion -<<<5 276

Table 5.49 The mappings of English Orientational domains and VietnameseOrientational, Size and Movement domains onto the target domain of economicØ1 TT 278

Table 5.50 The modulation of down CMs via translatlon - 279Table 5.51 The mappings of English domains and Vietnamese Orientational,

Size and Movement domains onto the target domain of economic changes 282Table 5.52 The distribution of ExMo and M.nM and corresponding modulation

of CMs in the target texts 0 cece cece ceeeeeesseeeeeseeesaaeeeeeseeeaaeeseeeneea 283

Table 5.53 Distribution of Exmo and M.nM and modulation of War CMs in the

8400151 T1 ằee 284

Table 5.54 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of Machine CM in theCAL GEt COXES 4ä 286Table 5.55 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of Building, Medical

treatment and Key CMs In the target f€XÍS eeeeeseeeennnnnneeeeeeeeeeees 287

Table 5.56 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of Plant CMs in the target texts 288

Table 5.57 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of natural force and

occurrence and Light CMs in the target f€XS ST, 292

Table 5.58 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of Container CMs in the

metaphors in the target {€XÍS - c0 335 298Table 5.62 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of backward, swing and

downward movement CMs in the target texts -SSSSSSSS<SSS555555 300

Table 5.63 The distribution of M.nM and modulation of Orientational CMs inthe target teXts 00 cece ee eeeeseeeenennnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeececeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeees 301Table 5.64 The modulation of the English CMs in the Target Texts 313

XI

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Kévecses’ (2003) The expressions of the same figurative meaning 27

Figure 2.2 Vinay and Darbelnet’s (1995) model of translation ‹- 32Figure 2.3 Integrated framework for metaphor modulation «+-s« 36Figure 2.4 Illustration of matching translation procedure and modulation pattern 42

Figure 3.1 Illustration of the process of identifying metaphor and metaphor

translation procedures in English and Vietnamese arfICÌeS - 5-55 +ss+++s 61Figure 3.2 Illustration of distribution of conceptual metaphor, metaphor translationprocedures and modulation patterns - 5 5 22c 33213333 EEEeeseeerreerses 62Figure 3.3 Analytical framework of modulation of metaphOr -«+ « 65Figure 3.4 A screenshot of using Open English WordNet for looking up the topicand domain of the word “headWITid”” - - sưng 73Figure 3.5 Screenshot of the Oxford economics dictionary for checking “humancapital” (version for iPhone, Ipad, Android, windows) ::.:ccesesceeceeseeeeeeteeeeeeaee 74

Figure 3.6 A screenshot of Vtudien used to look up " thúc đây" -. -: 75

Figure 3.7 A screenshot of Vtudien used to look up “bước tiến"” -‹:- 75

Figure 3.8 The illustration of the data analysis procedUure -‹++-«+++<x+++s 76

Figure 3.9 Illustration of coding, tagging and organizing the collected data 77

Figure 3.10 Illustration of initial codes (ADB22.04.06A and WB.22.01.11) 78

Figure 3.11 Illustration of the member-checking file - - 55+ +5<++ 90

Figure 3.12 Illustration of frequency of conceptual metaphors, translationprocedures, themes and possible modulations to conceptual metaphor duringtramslation oo ee 93Figure 3.13 Illustration of themes and modulations to conceptual metaphor viaI0) 110 97Figure 4.1 The identified overarching conceptual metaphors 101

Figure 4.2 The identified source OI41T1S - - 55 + 3+ + £***kE+eeeseeereeeesees 160Figure 4.3 The identified target domains 5 56 5 + +3 * 3+1 £2E+vEeseeseeseree 161

xiii

CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Traditionally, metaphor studies focused on the role of metaphor in rhetoric

and linguistics, examining its nature, functions, and structures Cognitive

linguistics, however, with the prevalence of Conceptual Metaphor Theory

(CMT), revolutionized the field by demonstrating that conceptual metaphor is a

fundamental cognitive tool present in everyday communication, even in

professional discourse This has led to research on conceptual metaphors in

specialized documents, including economic discourse

In particular, economic discourse, which, according to Mc Closkey (1995), ischaracterized by complex and abstract concepts, often relies on metaphors to make

these concepts more accessible and understandable to its Furthermore, Mc Closkey(1998) claims that metaphors are things that economists live by For instance,economic market, in his view is often described as "demand curve" and "supplycurve" drawing on metaphors from everyday experiences of on-road movement.These metaphoric expressions are not just linguistic embellishments but are integral

to how economic phenomena are conceptualized and communicated

Moreover, metaphor translation, particularly in specialized fields like

economics, has long been a significant challenge in translation studies Existingresearch highlights gaps in understanding how metaphors are modulated acrosslanguages, especially in the context of English and Vietnamese Traditional

translation theories have debated the translatability of metaphors, but few studieshave focused specifically on how conceptual metaphors change or adapt whentranslated between English and Vietnamese This study is motivated by the need to

address this research gap, as well as by a curiosity to understand how economic

concepts are cognitively structured and communicated across cultures throughtranslation

By examining the modulation of conceptual metaphors, this research seeks tounderstand how economic events and matters are conceptualized in the pair oflanguages and provide valuable insights into cross-cultural communication in the

field of economics These insights not only contributes to the academic

understanding of metaphor translation but also offer practical benefits for

translation practitioners working in economic context, ensuring seamlesscommunication across cultures, particularly in professional fields like economics

1.2 Objectives of the Study

While metaphors are abundant in economic texts and numerous studies haverecently focused on metaphor translation, few have specifically examined thetranslation and modulation of metaphors in economic discourse between languages.Motivated by the emerging challenges in translating metaphors in TranslationStudies, especially the modulation of conceptual metaphors in economic discourse,

the current study aims to explore how the Vietnamese translation results in the

modulation of the English conceptual metaphors generated in the source text Thisgeneral aim can be attained after three following objectives are fulfilled: (1) tounderstand the uses of metaphors in economic discourse; (2) to analyze and

generalize the common translation procedures employed in rendering metaphorsfrom English into Vietnamese and (3) to examine and generalize the modulation ofEnglish conceptual metaphors in economic discourse via translation

1.3 Research Questions

Influenced by the above objectives and the intricate nature of metaphors ineconomic discourse - such as technical language, statistical descriptions of

economic fluctuations, and information dissemination - have remained relatively

unexplored in translation studies, the current study seeks to answer two main

research questions:

1 What conceptual metaphors are found in English economic discourse?

2 How does the Vietnamese translation of metaphoric expressions modulate the English conceptual metaphors generated in the selected economic discourse?

1.4 Scope of the Study

The current study investigates the rendition of metaphoric expressions in

economic discourse from English into Vietnamese, looking at the modulation of the

corresponding conceptual metaphor via the translation

This study focuses on examining metaphors in authentic news releases by the

World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the two of the most

prominent International financial institutions in the world The organizations

provide a wealth of information related to global economic and financial issues The

WB and ADB reports were chosen because they provide high-quality, well-editedpublications that reflect real-world professional economic discourse,offering bilingual publications in both English and Vietnamese While bilingual

reports in this domain are limited, these sources allow for an in-depth analysis of

how economic concepts are framed and translated across cultures Vietnamesetranslations of these reports are carefully prepared by professional translators,

ensuring a high level of linguistic and conceptual accuracy This makes them a

reliable data source for examining metaphor translation practices and patterns Theauthenticity and originality of these data sources ensure that the study reflects real-world translation practices, making the findings applicable to professional

translation contexts However, the bilingual reports in both English and Vietnamese

are quite limited Hence, accessing both sources is necessary to collect sufficient

data

In terms of time span, all the materials have been gathered within a

four-year period from 2019 to 2022 This timeframe aligns with the initiation of the

study and covers the period of the Covid-19 outbreak, during which the global

economy experienced significant fluctuations This period presents the emergence

of a variety of striking economic issues, enriching the data for the current study.Additionally, this time span enables the investigation to incorporate the most up-to-date information of global economy

1.5 Research Methods

As regards methodology, the current study utilizes a sequential mixed

method approach where qualitative analysis is conducted prior to quantitative

analysis The results of the qualitative analysis are used as foundation for

quantitative evaluation The qualitative method involves analyzing metaphoricity of

metaphor candidates, translation procedures on the basis of CMT and comparing the

source and target texts to examine the modulation of the identified conceptualmetaphors during translation Furthermore, the translation procedures and

modulation patterns are categorized and assigned codes based on the analytical

framework On the other hand, the quantitative method focuses on identifying

frequencies of metaphor occurrences, translation procedures However, quantitative

method plays a minor role in the whole process as its purpose is to count the

occurrences of conceptual metaphors and the procedures of translation employed in

the texts Based on the results of the analysis, some implications to metaphor study

and metaphor translation can be drawn

1.6 Significance of the Study

As the current study investigates the modulation of English CM via

Vietnamese translation of metaphoric expressions in economic discourse, it can

have theoretical, methodological and practical contributions not only to translationstudies but also to the related disciplines.

In terms of theoretical significance, an integrated model that combines the

translation model adapted from Kövecses (2003) with the traditional model ofmodulation proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (1995), offers a new blendedapproach that contributes to a comprehensive understanding of metaphor

modulation via translation and responds to the call for integrated models of

metaphor translation and a cognitive linguistic turn in metaphor translation

Additionally, this hybrid research on the translation of conceptual metaphor in

economic discourse can provide valuable insights into the specialized knowledge,

terminology, and metaphors used in this genre By examining how metaphors are

rendered and modulated from one language to another, this study can contribute to

studies in Contrastive Linguistics and provide materials for metaphor scholars

Methodological contribution of this study lies in the exploitation of theadapted model of metaphor translation and modulation with the utility of tools fordetermining metaphoricity of candidate metaphors and establishing conceptual

domains and conceptual metaphors The triangulation of MIP by Pragglejaz (2007),

Kittay and Lehrer’s (1981) Semantic theory of metaphor, and Open English

WordNet allows for meticulous establishment of conceptual domains, reducingreliance on intuition and ensuring the reliability of the process of conceptualmetaphor analysis

Practically, this study seeks to explore how metaphors, as cognitive tools, are

shifted in Vietnamese texts during the process of translation and what effectivetranslation procedures and modulation patterns are often employed to convey the

meaning of the identifed metaphors to the target language readers By investigating

the modulation of English conceptual metaphors via the process of metaphor

translation, this study provides valuable insights into the how the two culturesconceptualize the same economic events Additionally, it highlights the role ofmetaphors in popularizing economic knowledge to a broader audience This is

particularly beneficial not only for translation practitioners but also for the benefit

of translation studies In addition, this empirical investigation serves to dispel suchmisconception and highlight the widespread use and significance of metaphors inthe specialized domain of economics

1.7 Structure of the Thesis

This thesis is divided into six chapters The first chapter starts with thebackground of the study, research objectives, research questions, contributions of

the study, research methods, structure of the thesis

Chapter Two, Literature Review, focuses on the theoretical aspects including

a comprehensive literature review of metaphor theories, the trends and models of

metaphor translation An intensive review of previous studies is conducted in order

to identify the research gaps that this study attempts to fulfill

Chapter Three, Research Methodology, outlines the methodology employed

in this study, including the description of the data, data collection, procedures ofdata analysis This chapter also presents an adapted analytical framework from

K6vecses’ (2003) translation procedure and Vinay and Darbelnet’s (1995) model

of modulation The reasons for choosing the framework, the order of exploiting the

two models, as well as the adaptation are thoroughly provided

Chapter Four answers the first research by providing an analysis of the

translation of metaphoric expressions, the establishment of English conceptual

metaphors and conceptual metaphors in WB and ADB reports It also identifiestarget and source domains of the identified conceptual metaphors in economicdiscourse The discussions of the findings related to the research question, the

previous studies and the analytical framework of the study are also provided

Chapter Five addresses the second question, showing how Vietnamesetranslation evidences the modulation of the identified conceptual metaphors inEnglish economic discourse Additionally, it presents the statistic information onfixed modulation, change of symbols and explicative modulation, forming the basisfor the discussions of findings about the modulation patterns

Chapter 6 summarizes the entire study and draws the conclusion, which isfollowed by the discussions of the findings and implications of the current study.The chapter also acknowledges the study’s limitations and suggests avenues for

further research

CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW

Translation and linguistics share a close relationship, as both fields involvelanguage According to Baker (2011), linguistics has influenced translation byoffering insights into the nature and function of language Cognitive linguistics hasparticularly impacted translation practices, introducing innovative methods fortranslating metaphors across various genres, from literary to professional discourseslike economics Additionally, the cognitive linguistics perspective on metaphor hasled to the development of integrated models for metaphor translation, a central topic

of discussion in this chapter

The first section of this chapter, Section 2.1, outlines theories of metaphor,including conceptual metaphor, and metaphoric expression In addition, it provides

information about the linguistic nature, as well as typologies of conceptual

metaphor Section 2.2 examines the features of economic discourse and metaphors

in this type of text Section 2.3 investigates the theoretical background of metaphor

translation and modulation of metaphor in translation, highlighting the contributions

of different disciplines to the issue of metaphor translation, as well as to modulation

of metaphor, specifically Section 2.4 examines and synthesizes the model ofmetaphor translation initiated by Kövecses (2003) and Vinay and Darbelnet’s(1995) model of modulation This adjustment are used as the analytical framework

of the present research This section also explains why this framework has beenchosen and how the models of metaphor translation can be combined Finally,section 2.5 includes reviews of related studies concerning metaphor translation and

the modulation of metaphor through the translation process in economic discourse

2.1 Conceptual Metaphor Theory

Over the past century, various theories of metaphor have emerged, but hardlyany seemed to be more significant than Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT)

introduced by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) The CMT has revolutionized the way

linguists view metaphor, leading to extensive research in the field Notable

metaphor theorists such as Charteris-Black (2004), Goatly (1997), and Kövecses

(2002, 2010, 2020) have also contributed to this body of research

2.1.1 Conceptual Metaphor versus Metaphoric Expression

A ground-breaking view of metaphor, which was put forward by Lakoff and

Johnson (1980) has revitalized researchers’ interest in metaphor and spurred

extensive research in linguistics and applied linguistics, particularly in contrastive

linguistics and translation Alongside Lakoff and Johnson (1980), scholars like

Charteris-Black (2004), Goatly (1997), Kövecses (2003, 2008, 2010, 2020), and

Lakoff and Turner (1989) are among those advancing and refining CMT

In terms of definition, Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue “Metaphor is understandingand experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another.” (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980)

While sharing the same view with Lakoff and Johnson in terms ofexperientialism, Kövecses (2010) gives a more sophisticated definition of metaphor

In his term, “Metaphor is defined as understanding one conceptual domain in terms

of another conceptual domain” (Kövecses, 2010a, p 4) This view, along with that

of Lakoff and Johnson, emphasizes that human interactions with physical andcultural environments serve as foundation for both directly emergent concepts (like

UP-DOWN, OBJECTS, NATURAL FORCES, LIQUID, MOVEMENT) and metaphors (like MORE

IS UP, LESS IS DOWN, ECONOMIC CRISIS IS NATURAL FORCES, MONEY IS FLOW OF LIQUID)

(Charteris-Black, 2004a; Croft & Cruse, 2004; Kövecses, 2010a; Lakoff & Johnson,1980) Similarly, the dimensions that people use to categorize their experiences (e.g.parts, stages, emotion) are based on our interaction with the physical world In thisstudy, we refer to K6vecses’ (2010) definition of metaphor as it clearly expresses

the tenet of conceptual metaphor

When examining the structure of metaphor, the Lakoffian generalize a

formula which is shown below:

CONCEPTUAL DOMAIN (A) IS CONCEPTUAL DOMAIN (B)

(Kövecses, 2010a, p 4)

In this sense, the conceptual metaphors are distinguished against linguistic

one with the former representing mappings of knowledge about one conceptualdomain onto another domain Conceptual metaphor is then signalized by capitalletter while the metaphorical linguistic expression is the manifestation of the

conceptual metaphor Accordingly, metaphoric linguistic expressions are “words or

other linguistic expressions that come from the language or terminology of the more

concrete conceptual domain” (Kövecses, 2010a, p 3) For example, the conceptualmetaphor ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ARE NATURAL DISASTERS which was identified by

Charteris-Black (2004), include many linguistic metaphoric expressions

underpinning it The following are three manifestations of the given CM byCharteris-Black (2004)

“a Thai style currency driven meltdown” (Charteris-Black, 2004b, p 138)

(2.1), (2.2) and (2.3) are all the linguistic expressions of the above economicconceptual metaphor In the economic conceptual metaphor above, ECONOMIC

PROBLEM is the target domain and NATURAL DISASTER is the source domain

The Lakoffian framework outlines key features of conceptual metaphor.Firstly, it underscores the partial and asymmetrical nature of the mapping betweensource and target domains, emphasizing the embodied nature of meaning Secondly,the irreversibility of mapping is another interesting characteristic of metaphor It

highlights the irreversibility of mapping, suggesting that metaphorical mappings are

unidirectional and may even differ or oppose each other (Croft & Cruse, 2004;

Lakoff, 1993) Thirdly, metaphor exhibits ambiguity, potentially causing challenges

in translation due to cultural and linguistic variations in symbol creation (Beekman

& Callow, 1975; Newmark, 1988; Snell-hornby, 1995) Accordingly, theinterpretation of metaphors is arbitrary and requires contextual analysis (Croft &

Cruse, 2004; Gotti, 2008; Mason, 1982)

In general, CMT demonstrates that conventional metaphors are grounded in

either the physical or perceived similarities between two things, events or in acorrelation of experiences between a concrete experience and an abstract subjectiveone (Beardsley, 1962; Charteris-Black, 2004a; Kövecses, 2010a; Lakoff & Johnson,1980) In this study, the term metaphor and linguistic metaphoric expression areused interchangeably while conceptual metaphor refers to a broader concept thatmay capsulate metaphoric expressions

Croft and Cruse (2004) have highlighted some key features of metaphor from

the traditional view and how they differ from the Lakoffian perspective, as outlined

in Table 2.1

Table 2.1

The differences between traditional view and CMT on metaphor based on Croftand Cruse (2004)

Traditional perspective Lakoffian perspective

1 Metaphor is a property of words; it is a | 1 Metaphor is a property of concepts,linguistic phenomenon and not of words

2 Metaphor is used for some artistic and | 2 Metaphor is to better understand

rhetorical purpose certain concepts, and not just some

artistic or esthetic purpose

3 Metaphor is based on a resemblance | 3 Metaphor is often not based onbetween the two entities compared and | similarity

identified

4 Metaphor is a conscious and deliberate | 4 Metaphor is used effortlessly inuse of words, and a person must have a | everyday life by ordinary people, notspecial talent to be able to do it and do it | just by special talented people

well

5 Metaphor is a figure of speech that we | 5 Metaphor is an inevitable process ofcan do without; we use it for special | human thought and reasoning

effects

However, CMT does not depart completely from the traditional view of

metaphor, especially in terms of metaphoric meaning Linguists (e.g, Beekman and

Callow, 1975; Black, 1977; Goatly, 1997; Gotti, 2008; Leech, 1969) share the sameidea that meaning of metaphor is based on the associations between the image andthe topic, and that only some of the meaning from the image is mapped onto thetopic According to Lakoffian views, metaphors do not necessarily have to rely onthe actual properties of the investigated objects (Evans & Green, 2006; Kövecses,

2005, 2015; Lakoff, 1993; Newmark, 1988, 2001; Shanti Manipuspika, 2018).Instead, the similarities may depend on our beliefs about the objects - “even if thebelief is false” (Beardsley, 1962, p.294) It is worth remembering that the topic and

point of similarity can sometimes be unstated while the image is never omitted

Consider the following examples from Charteris-Black (2004, p.139)

(2.4):

“The attack on the Hong Kong dollar took on dangerous momentum after Taiwan

abandoned its usual staunch defence of its currency late last week.”

In (2.4), the expressions “attack” and “defence” exemplify conceptual

metaphor MARKET TRADING IS PHYSICAL CONFLICT, conjuring up the images of war or

conflict through the employment of military language The similarity between the

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two domains PHYSICAL CONFLICT and MARKET TRADING lies in the struggle

participants endure to maintain stability, both in life and in the market While theattributes of conflict/ war can be mapped on the target domain of market trading, it

is rare to find the case in which PHYSICAL CONFLICT is conceptualized as MARKET

TRADING.

(2.5):

“Taiwan had been regarded as a haven of economic stability in the Far East, sobadly battered by selling over the past two months, and its decision to allow theTaiwan dollar to float sent a powerfully negative message to investors in Hong

Kong”

(2.5) is a metaphoric expression of conceptual metaphor MARKET CHANGES

ARE WAYS OF MOVING IN THE WATER identified by Charteris-Black (2004) In the

example, the topic “economic changes” has been portrayed through the image of

‘float’, clearly signifying the fluidity of economy Similar to (2.4), it is uncommon

to find cases where WAYS OF MOVING IN THE WATER is described aS MARKET

CHANGES.

These examples illustrate what Lakoff and Johnson (1980) call the asymmetry

of metaphor mapping In other words, metaphoric mapping is partial (Croft &

Cruse, 2004; Thibodeau et al., 2019) Furthermore, linguists (Beekman & Callow,

1975; Black, 1955; Charteris-Black, 2004a; Leech, 1969) suggest that the

examination of metaphor should be considered in the context in which metaphor is

used

2.1.2 Approaches to Metaphor Analysis

Approaches to metaphor analysis encompass cognitive linguistic perspectives,

pragmatic criteria, and contextual influences These approaches emphasize the role

of embodied experiences, contextual factors, and cultural variations in shapingmetaphorical understanding This section explores notable contributions from key

approaches, critically examining their methodologies and the critiques they face

While Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) pioneering approach to conceptual

metaphor, CMT faces criticism about their methods, particularly for being

uncontextualized and relying mainly on intuitive methods in the analysis of

linguistic and conceptual metaphors, the later approaches have tried to investigate in

context The cognitive linguistic and contextual approach, exemplified by Goatly(1997), argues that metaphors arise from our embodied experiences Goatly

emphasizes the role of analogy and people’s bodily experiences in shaping our

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understanding of metaphor This perspective aligns with the views of Croft andCruse (2004), Kövecses (2010), and Lakoff and Johnson (1980) on the ubiquity ofmetaphors in various domains, including economics Economic discourse containsmetaphoric expressions as “balance of trade, capital mobility, consumption, fund-flow model, great depression, inflation” (Goatly, 1997, p 2) Goatly suggests thatmetaphorical meanings are changeable and influenced by factors such as the gap

between a speaker's thought and the expressed proposition, as well as diachronic

processes affecting language systems over time His analysis introduces a system of

root analogies, which traces associations between word roots and concepts

However, Goatly's approach faces criticism for its limited scope, oversimplification,

and neglect of social, cultural, and historical factors shaping metaphor formation

Adopting a linguistic, pragmatic, and cognitive approach to defining and

analyzing metaphor, Charteris-Black (2004) is another renowned metaphor scholar His

extensive research on metaphor in various discourses, including politics, sport, religionand economics, reveals the frequent use of metaphoric expressions in economicdiscourse In his study on financial reporting, Charteris-Black (2004) identifies three

basic source domains of economic metaphors These are HUMAN, NATURAL DISASTERS

and MOVEMENTS, each of which can be divided into subordinate domains including ten

conceptual metaphors, namely MARKET TRADING IS PHYSICAL CONFLICT, MARKET

TRADING IS A STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH, DOWNWARD MARKET CHANGES ARE DISASTERS, A VERY BAD MARKET IS A NUCLEAR DISASTER, MARKET CHANGES ARE WAYS OF MOVEMENT

ON THE GROUND More importantly, Charteris-Black (2004) lists a collection of keywords and their patterns of combination While Charteris-Black’s (2004) criticalapproaches to metaphor analysis have some merits and contribute a great deal to

metaphor studies, they are susceptible to criticism for subjectivity concerning his

two-stage process of metaphor identification This process involves a certain degree of

inconsistency because different researchers may interpret the same feature in different

ways (Li, 2016)

Derived from a cognitive linguistic approach, Zoltan Kövecses, a notable

figure in CMT, has developed a multilevel approach to metaphor This approachfocuses not only on the origins of conceptual metaphors and their universality andvariability across cultures but also on a complex model encompassing the criticalconceptual elements and communicative aspects of understanding, producing, and

retaining metaphoric meaning Kövecses (2003, 2005, 2010, 2020) suggests that

shared human embodiment and experience contribute to the universality of many

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conceptual metaphors, although variations arise due to individual adaptations todiverse contexts When examining challenges in metaphor translation, Kövecses

(2014) identifies cultural differences, structural disparities between languages, and

the complexity of finding translation equivalents that satisfy various connotativematching conditions as significant obstacles The study has provided importantimplications for translation studies This very recent work, Extended Conceptual

Metaphor Theory, Kövecses (2020) offers a multilevel approach to metaphor,emphasizing the role of human cognition in using conceptual metaphor tocomprehend and perceive the world Nevertheless, according to Csatár (2022), the

model lacks a well-developed empirical and experimental basis Csatár (2022)

assumes that though there is a correlation between neural activity and the degree of

conventionality of metaphors, testability is necessary

2.1.3 Metaphor Classification

This section discusses the classification and organization of metaphorinitiated based on the Lakoffian perspective for the purpose of this study

Concerning the first issue of metaphor classification, various typologies of

metaphor have been established by different scholars due to the complexity of this

linguistic phenomenon and the conflicting perspectives among researchers Such

scholars as Beekman and Callow (1975), Broeck (1981), Leech (1994), Goatly

(1997), Charteris-Black (2004), Kövecses (2010) and Newmark (1988b) have

attempted to categorize metaphor Each researcher has his/her own way of metaphor

classification, revealing their individual view on metaphoric mechanism These

differentiated typologies reflect an incongruity among scholars in their examinationapproaches However, in this study, Kövecses” (2010) taxonomy is chosen for

analysis Such an arrangement can help reveal the modulation of conceptual

metaphors during the latter process of metaphor analysis and their changes in the

TTs.

According to Kövecses (2010), from the aspect of functions, conceptualmetaphor can be categorized into three different kinds: ontological, structural, and

orientational conceptual metaphors Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that such

classification is, to some extent, arbitrary since structural and ontological notionsare intertwined (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980) Therefore, this study distinguishesbetween structural-ontological and the orientational metaphors to make use of the

taxonomy for working purposes

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Structural-ontological metaphors: Structural-ontological metaphors allowcomplex and abstract experiences to be conceptualized based on simpler and morespecific ones and vice versa They facilitate the understanding of a target domain(A) through the structure of a source domain (B), achieved through conceptualmappings between attributes of A and those of B Structural-ontological metaphors

can construct reality, shape individuals’ worldview, and guide their actions in real

life (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980)

Orientational metaphor: This type of metaphor involves the organization of

a system of concept spatial relationships such as up/down, on/off, front/ back andthey relate basic human spatial orientations This type of metaphor is often rooted in

our physical experience For example, when we are sad or depressed, we have a

tendency to possess a drooping posture Conversely, an erect posture is often seen

when we are in a good mood These metaphors can also be referred to as coherence

metaphors (Kövecses, 2010) In economic discourse, this type of conceptualmetaphor is employed to convey economic thought, which according to McCloskey(1995) is often conveyed through axis model like price and demand and supply

curve An example of this type of CM is the generic metaphor MORE IS UP, LESS IS

DOWN which are used to describe the quantity and mathematic evaluation of

economic activities in economic discourse (Pecican, 2015)

The second issue related to the classification of metaphor is organizing

metaphors within the individual types A general metaphor can have several

sub-metaphors (Kövecses, 2010) This approach is also supported by Charteris-Black

(2004) and (Charteris-Black & Ennis, 2001b) who divide the identified conceptualmetaphors into sub-types For instance, the more generic conceptual metaphor THE

ECONOMY IS HUMAN includes MARKET TRADING IS A STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH,

MARKET TRADING IS A STATE OF PHYSICAL HEALTH, and MARKET TRADING IS PHYSICALCONFLICT (Charteris-Black, 2004) In this research, the identified metaphor is

organized as such for the purpose of thematic analysis and the identification ofmodulation patterns

2.2 Economic Discourse

2.2.1 Features of Economic Discourse

Many scholars (e.g., Bowker & Pearson, 2003; Cabré, 1992; Gotti, 2008;Richardt, 2003) agree that specialized language or language for special purposes (LSP)

is a part of language for general purposes (LGP) According to Gotti (2008) specialized

14

texts are concerned with specific subject matters, speech participants, communicativesituations, communicative functions, and channels for conveying messages.

On discussing economic discourse, as a subordinate of specialized language,Richardt (2003) defines economic discourse as a professional domain of knowledge

with no homogeneous form of communication but with special knowledge required

of the discourse participants She further claims that economic discourse includes a

variety of terminologies containing metaphorical expressions, borrowings from

everyday language to perform the functions of widening the scientific vocabulary

and filling lexical gaps in explaining newly invented or discovered economic

phenomena while still communicating information within the scientific domain

Richardt (2003) distinguishes between experts, who possess significant

theoretical and practical knowledge acquired through formal education, and

laypersons, who lack academic or professional training but may have acquired some

knowledge through informal means like reading popular-scientific literature Shefurther categorizes economic writing into two types: expert-expert communication,involving texts written by and for experts, and expert-layman communication,

which aims to convey complex economic concepts to a broader audience Economic

academic writing falls under expert-expert communication, while economic

journalism, aimed at laypersons, falls under expert-layman communication

(Richardt, 2003, p 258) This distinction underscores the role of economic

journalism in popularizing economic knowledge for the general public, a purpose

reflected in the data collected from WB and ADB, which are classified as

expert-layman communication

Drawing upon the views of Bowker and Pearson (2003), Cabré (1992), and

Gotti (2008) regarding specialized language, as well as Richardt's (2003) analysis of

economic discourse, economic journalism can be characterized by the following

features:

1 Participants in economic discourse encompass experts, semi-experts, andlaypersons, each with varying levels of economic understanding Layman readers of

economic journalism, such as those on WB and ADB websites, possess a basic

comprehension of economic issues discussed in the texts, bridging the gap betweenauthors and readers Many of these readers are semi-experts or experts themselves,minimizing the knowledge gap

2 The communicative context involves formal economic discourse, akin to

15

popular science, as seen in economic journals focused on data-driven research.Press releases from WB and ADB aim to disseminate timely information oneconomic activities, including capital allocation, fundraising, and performance

evaluation

3 Economic journalism seeks to popularize current economic situations andprovide insights into actions by authorities and politicians

4 Communication occurs predominantly through written language, utilizing

documents like income statements and balance of payment reports These articles

employ accessible language to serve a diverse readership, facilitating understanding

of complex economic information

2.2.2 Conceptual Metaphors and Metaphoric Expressions in Economic Discourse

Metaphors are pervasive in scientific discourse, including economics,

contrary to the misconception that scientific language should be devoid of figurative

language for clarity Scholars like Richardt (2003) and Shuttleworth (2017) assertthat metaphors enhance scientific communication, contributing to precision inlanguage use (Newmark, 1980; Richardt, 2003; Shuttleworth, 2017) Numerous

studies by Boyd, (1993), Charteris-Black (2000, 2004), Charteris-Black and Ennis

(2001); Gotti (2008), and Verity and Larson (1986) confirm the prevalence of

metaphors in economic discourse Richardt (2003) emphasizes the extensive use of

metaphorical structures in abstract domains like economics, suggesting that

metaphors are integral to experts’ knowledge representation and cognitive

processing

McCloskey (1998) observes that economists have employed metaphorunconsciously and often excessively, with examples such as "human capital,"

wow

"demand curve," "supply curve," and the "rational-choice model" He notes that

economic matters are often compared to noneconomic matters in our dailyexperiences Terminologies in economics derive from our interactions with the

external world He argues that the most apparent metaphors in economic discourseare those that introduce new concepts, often by comparing economic matters with

non-economic ones Additionally, many economic terms are now dead metaphors

borrowed from other fields

Based on McCloskey’s above argument, conceptual metaphors in economic

discourse can be defined as understanding economic matters and events in terms of

noneconomic matters This definition is used as a basis for determining identified

16

metaphors in the data of this research are economic or not Economic issues areconcerned with finance, allocation of funds, fiscal matters, markets, economic

crises, inflation, and similar topics, while noneconomic matters may involve

better-known domains such as war, plants, machines, disease, etc., and natural forces andoccurrences like floods, fluids, storms, etc

Based on Kövecses (2010) argument, a metaphoric expression in economic

discourse can be defined as words or other linguistic expressions that come from the

concrete conceptual domain of economics Thus, economic metaphors are often

related to topics such as inflation, financial allocations, current economic status

within communities, capital funds, stocks, and more Regarding specificity, scholars

like Charteris- Black (2004) and Richardt (2003) suggest that economic metaphors

are often neutral in tone Consider the following examples

(2.6):

“to the world’s big markets, or to vulnerable emerging markets, such as those

Low world stocks left the markets vulnerable to supply disruptions and perfect”

In example (2.7), similarly, metaphoric expression uses keyword “shakeout”,pertain to conceptual metaphor A BAD MARKET IS AN EARTHQUAKE in which sourcedomain of earthquake is utilized to describe the poor situation of the market

Moving to (2.8), an example introduced by (Klamer & Leonard, 2010), islinguistic expression of orientational metaphor MORE IS UP

In general, metaphors in economic discourse reflect the interpretation ofdifferent economic entities and phenomena through the process of metaphorization,projecting their qualities in relation to what is known in the human mind and andassociated with human experience The use of metaphor in economic discourse notonly facilitates the easy and comprehensible presentation of information but also

17

adds emotions and imagery to capture the recipient's attention influencing theirunderstanding of economic facts and events through the attitudes and evaluations

implied in the metaphors

2.2.3 Functions of Metaphor in Economic Discourse

Traditionally, metaphor is merely considered a mode of expression and

secondary part of language (Shuttleworth, 2017; White, 2003) Prior to the

emergence of CMT, the Aristotelian scholars, as well as those in translation studies

and linguistics argued that metaphor is one of several ways to enhance language use

(Boys-Stones, 2003; Butcher, 1998; Carston, 2010; Richards, 1936) While some

acknowledged its cognitive function, the cognitive origin of metaphor received

limited attention at that time Scholars like (Black (1962, 1977), Newmark (1988b),

and Richards (1936) just touched on the issue Accordingly, metaphor was primarily

seen as a means to enrich vocabulary, introduce a new idea, persuade interlocutors

However, since the advent of CMT, there has been a shift in understandingmetaphor's functions According to Lakoffian scholars, metaphor is not only a rhetoricdevice but also a tool of cognition (Charteris-Black, 2004a; Gibbs, Jr & Colston, 2012;

Klamer & Leonard, 2010; White, 2003) In economic discourse, metaphor functions as

critical rhetorical and cognitive tools, shaping how economic phenomena are portrayed,

conveyed, and perceived Economists use metaphors to simplify abstract concepts For

example, in economic discourse massive debt is described as “seawave” or economic

uncertainty as “cloud”, helping audiences navigate the complexities of economictheory and practice Building on the ideas of Gotti (2005) about the function of

metaphors in specialized texts, this study classifies metaphor functions into rhetoric andcognitive categories However, it is worth remembering that cognitive and rhetoric

functions are intertwined, and it is uneasy to separate one from another

Rhetoric functions in economic discourse: Thanks to aesthetic values,

metaphor provides economists with vivid and surprising visions of their work and

therefore highlight the impressive connotations of a concept (Gotti, 2008; Klamer &

Leonard, 2010; McCloskey, 1998) Thus, metaphor in economic discourse helps toget information carved into readers’ mind (Gotti, 2008) As a rhetoric tool,metaphor exploits available vocabulary to convey the new ideas and concepts By

implicitly comparing the new with the already-known, metaphor expands

knowledge while utilizing existing lexical resources in an economical and efficient

manner and motivating semantic changes (Goatly, 1997; Humar, 2021; Richards,

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1936) Metaphors are employed to add aesthetic appeal and eloquence tocommunication They dress up concepts with attention-grabbing imagery andexpressive effects (Butcher, 1998; Newmark, 1988) Exploiting metaphors withexaggerating images can bring about highly expressive power to the expressions.

For instance, economic discourse may employ metaphors like “debt waves” and

“exchange rate shocks” to convey emotional attitudes in a moderately toned

manner.

Through some fresh, creative and impressive insight of the world (Boers, 2000;

Goatly, 1997; Johnson & Taylor, 1981; Lakoff, 1993), metaphor tries to persuade and

shape audience’s perception Metaphor highlights some selected characteristics of

target domain, making messages conveyed through metaphoric expressions more

persuasive For instance, in the following expression from Charteris-Black and Ennis

(2001, p.254) the domain of nautics is employed to depict the trading domain in the

economic field

(2.9):

“Taiwan had been regarded as a haven of economic stability in the Far East, so

badly battered by selling over the past two months, and its decision to allow the

Taiwan dollar to float sent a powerfully negative message to investors in

HongKong”

The choice of words related to natural occurrences (haven, float) likens

economic activities to the seafaring, providing a novel description of trade in terms

nautical phenomena These expressive words help to convince readers of the

economy’s performing mechanism.

Cognitive functions in economic discourse: Metaphor is considered as an

integral part of human conceptual system (Croft & Cruse, 2004; Gibbs, Jr &

Colston, 2012; Thibodeau et al., 2019) In the same vein, McCloskey (1998)

emphasizes that metaphors in economic discourse are not just ornament but also a

method of reasoning, thinking, both mathematically and non-mathematically

Metaphor plays a significant role in economic thought, and removing metaphors

means removing thought Many of the metaphors used in economics involve

comparing economic matters with non-economic aspects of daily life Economics

borrows from individuals’ interactions with the outside world, and much of the

vocabulary of economics consists of dead metaphors taken from non-economic

domains (McCloskey, 1998)

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Metaphorization has several advantages including the achievement ofterminological transparency, conciseness of conveyed information andsimplification of abstract concepts through the use of tangible images in metaphors.People employ familiar, better known conceptual domains to reason and understandunfamiliar, complex concepts (Croft & Cruse, 2004; Kövecses, 2010a; Lakoff &

Johnson, 1980; Newmark, 1988) For example, in economics, terms “supply curve ”

and “demand curve’ are metaphorical representations of supply and demandchanges, conceptualizing economic changes in terms of a road metaphor, whichuses familiar, better known conceptual domains of changes of the road to reasonand understand unfamiliar, complex concepts of economic supply and demand in

economic field

Metaphor participates in reconceptualizing and expressing ideology (Goatly,1997; Kövecses, 2003) Metaphors invite individuals to view their experience fromunfamiliar aspects and challenge conventional views Economic metaphors like

“human capital, labor market”, according to Klamer and Leonard (2010)defamiliarize traditional notions, suggesting that human beings can be conceptualized

as commodities and can be invested in for benefit Such expressions introduce a

permanent revolution in thinking, encouraging hearers/readers to conceptualize

human beings from the view of economists: humans are a kind of resource that

can bring about profit

2.3 Metaphor Translation and Modulation

2.3.1 The Controversy of Metaphor Translation

Translation theorists have divergent views on the challenges of translatingmetaphor across languages Some argue that metaphor can be translated without

major difficulties, while others advocate that it is inherently untranslatable Between

these extremes, there are varying perspectives acknowledging that while metaphors

can be translated, they may exhibit interlinguistic inequivalence

To begin with the view about Metaphor’s untranslatability, scholars who

argue for metaphor's untranslatability primarily focus on cases involving poems,local mythologies, and sacred texts, contending that translation results in a loss ofmeaning Although relatively few in number, proponents like Dagut (1976), Nida (1964) and Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) argue that unique metaphors lackequivalence in the target language, leading to a loss of information when these

metaphors are translated into non-metaphoric expressions

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On the opposite end, proponents like Mason (1982), Koepfler, and Reiss (inSnell-hornby, 1995) from the Skopos translation school argue that metaphors canalways be translated without significant issues They view language as inherentlymetaphoric, suggesting that comprehension difficulties associated with metaphor intranslation can be overcome While acknowledging cultural influence, Masonasserts that a theory of metaphor translation is impractical.

Snell-Hornby (1995) adopts an in-between approach to metaphor translation,sharing similar views with Mason regarding the relationship between metaphor and

translation while emphasizing the importance of considering contextual factors Shesuggests that metaphor translation depends on culture, function, and structure within

the text, implying that metaphors may not always be fully translatable

As such it can be seen that scholars supporting metaphor's translatability

often acknowledge a degree of meaning shift They are divided into prescriptive and

descriptive approaches to metaphor translation Prescriptive scholars establish rules fortranslation, while descriptive scholars focus on identifying translation regularities used

by translators, arguing that there is no single "correct" way to translate a metaphor

Such incongruence among scholars regarding metaphor translation stems

from the inherent nature of metaphors and their cultural underpinnings Metaphor

translation is particularly challenging due to two key factors: the implicit

comparison and the cultural specificity of metaphorical imagery

Firstly, the implicit comparison inherent in metaphors creates ambiguity

While the source and target languages may employ similar images or domains in

their metaphors, the specific attributes highlighted can differ These attributes areoften implied rather than explicitly stated, making it difficult for translators to

preserve the intended meaning This can lead to variations or discrepancies in how

the metaphor is interpreted across languages

Secondly, the cultural connotations of metaphorical imagery present another

challenge Different cultures may assign distinct symbolic meanings to the same

image As a result, the modulation or substitution of metaphorical imagery duringtranslation can lead to partial conveyance of the original message or evenmisinterpretations For instance, an image that signifies prosperity in one culturemight evoke a completely different association in another, complicating thetranslator’s task of maintaining both the metaphor's impact and its cultural

significance

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2.3.2 Some Approaches to Metaphor Translation

In this section, prescriptive, descriptive and cognitive linguistic approaches to

metaphor translation are discussed

2.3.2.1 Prescriptive approach to metaphor translation

Representatives of the prescriptive approach to metaphor translation,including Beekman and Callow (1974), Larson (1986), Newmark (1988a, 1988b),

Nida (1964), and Vinay and Darbelnet (1995), address metaphor as a significantchallenge in translation and propose procedures for its transfer between languages

They aim to establish principles for effective metaphor translation, commonlyagreeing on procedures like metaphor to metaphor, metaphor to different metaphor, and

metaphor to non-metaphor Additional adaptations may include metaphor to metaphor

plus sense, metaphor to simile, or deletion of metaphor in the target text (TT)

Newmark's (1988a) model is widely recognized, with some researchers

adopting his approach (Bui, 2011; Dickins, 2005; Oliynyk, 2014; ShantiManipuspika, 2018) and others have adapted his model to their studies In hismodel, Newmark emphasizes the importance of metaphor in language and itschallenges in translation He classifies six types of metaphor and proposes termslike object, image, sense, and metaphor to aid translation Newmark supports the

partial mapping of metaphor, where the image is central, and only certain features

are utilized for constructing meaning

For translating stock or standard metaphors, Newmark outlines seven

procedures in order of preference These include reproducing the same image,

replacing with a standard image, translating into similes, adding clarifying elements,

converting into straightforward sense components, deleting redundant metaphors,and combining with a sense component Despite facing criticism, Newmark'sprescriptive approach has facilitated research projects on metaphor translation and

offers merits in translation practice One critique is that it overlooks the creative and

context-dependent nature of metaphoric language and may lead to a loss of the

expressiveness (Shuttleworth, 2017)

2.3.2.2 Descriptive approach to metaphor translation

While scholars may differ in their perspectives on metaphor translation, mostagree on its ubiquity in language, its importance in translation studies (TS), andcertain foundational principles of metaphor translation Those advocating adescriptive approach argue against imposing norms on metaphor translation,

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asserting that there is no single "correct" way to translate a metaphor (Shuttleworth,2014) They highlight the significance of considering meaning, which can beinfluenced by historical and cultural context (Dagut, 1976, 1987; van den Broeck,1981; Vinay & Darbelnet, 1995) Therefore, examining metaphor within its context

is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and to ensure the intended meaning to be

conveyed (Beekman & Callow, 1975; van den Broeck, 1981) Scholars adopting adescriptive approach contend that translation theory should not prescribe rules butdiscover regularities (Van den Broeck, 1981) While such representatives as Dagut(1976), Scholz (1988), and Van den Broeck (1981) have proposed principles fordealing with metaphor, they acknowledge that these are tentative frameworks thatrequire further scrutiny

Of the prominent investigations of metaphor translation from the perspective

of DTS, the works by Dagut (1976), Scholz (1988), Toury (1995), and van denBroeck (1981) show the scholars’ great concern about the importance and position

of metaphor in linguistics and TS

Toury’s (2012) model of metaphor translation represents a descriptive andboth-source-target-oriented approach On discussing the issue, Toury (2012) arguesthat the problem with metaphor translation primarily arises from the fact thatmetaphor is often examined solely from the source language (SL) text and not fromthe target language (TL) text As a result, the solutions proposed for metaphor

translation have not been fully explored and understood in their true essence To

address this issue, Toury (2012) categorizes the solutions provided by most

translation researchers into three main categories:

1 Metaphor > same metaphor

2 Metaphor > different metaphor

Among the first four patterns, he emphasizes that the fourth, metaphor > 0,

is often overlooked as a solution in metaphor translation Toury (2012) explains that

the elimination of metaphor in the target text may occur because the metaphor is

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unimportant to the overall message or is used in less significant context.

Furthermore, Toury (2012) adds a new stance to metaphor translation by

investigating the appearance of metaphors in the TT He emphasizes that thestrategy of replacement or compensation of metaphor should be taken with care andconsideration of the source text By approaching metaphor translation from thetarget-text perspective, he proposes two other possibilities of translating metaphor:

(5) Non-metaphor > metaphor, and (6) 0> metaphor These two possibilities,

according to Toury (2012), are found in the target pole and should be viewed as

solutions rather than problems

While the framework of descriptive approach to metaphor translation hasgenerally gained recognition and offered a flexible approach to metaphor

translation, it falls short in addressing certain aspects For example, traditional

approach primarily focuses on the preservation or modification of the meaning of

individual words, phrases, or sentences during translation during translation Itcannot indicate the conceptual changes to conceptual metaphor and therefore,cannot indicate the possible changes in the way the conceptual metaphors are

understood and interpreted in the TL Shuttleworth (2019, p.59) even argues that the

last two procedures proposed by Toury (2012) “are hardly observed in practice”

2.3.2.3 Metaphor Translation from the Perspective of Cognitive Linguistics

Investigations into metaphor translation have been emerging and have shednew light on approaches to metaphor translation

Deignan et al., (1997) and Schaeffner (1997) perhaps are among the notable

pioneers in investigating metaphor translation from the perspective of cognitivelinguistics While Deignan et al., (1997) focus on examining the difficulties

encountered by students in learning and translating metaphors and the analogies

between the pairs of languages of English and Polish, Schaeffner (1997) studies

metaphor translation in political discourse of the language pair German and English.Schaeffner (1997) specifically analyzes rendering conceptual metaphor EUROPE ISHOUSE and problems of in-house German translators’ using hard core for the

expression feste Kern in English Despite their differences in research aims and

methodologies, these scholars successfully highlight the prevalence of metaphor in

language, the difficulties involved, and the need to consider social context and

culture when dealing with metaphor translation More importantly, their studies

show a novel approach to investigating metaphor translation, from the perspective

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of cognitive linguistics.

Al-Harrasi (2001) investigates metaphor translation in political discourse,

utilizing data from reputable English and Arabic sources He analyzes translations

of speeches by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf Crisis and official translations ofspeeches by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman Al-Harrasi draws on translationapproaches proposed by Chesterman (1997), Newmark (1980), and Toury (1995),

Al-Harrasi puts forward new procedures of metaphor translation by applying CMT

which can be grouped into four major procedures including (1) Using the same

conceptual metaphor in the TT; (2) Introducing a new instantiation in the target text,

(3) Employing a different conceptual metaphor; (4) Omitting the metaphor's

expression Among the four procedures, the first one is subdivided into 9 sub

possibilities which involve the retainment of the same image schema but the image

schema can be kept identical, schema can be kept identical but with emphasis,

schema can be kept but with different mappings; schema can be kept but with thesame mappings but different perspective; the image schema can be made moreconcrete, more generic On reviewing Al-Harrasi’s findings, Shuttleworth (2017)

considers this list of procedures for metaphor translation to be one of the most

detailed and suggests that it opens up new possibilities for research

Schaffner (2004) analyzes conceptual metaphors in political discourse, such

aS EUROPE IS A HOUSE, HAVING CONTROL IS BEING AT THE CENTRE, INTIMACY ISCLOSENESS and discusses their implications to translation study In her product-oriented new research, she suggests some theoretical insights into metaphor

translation, emphasizing the challenges posed by cultural differences, which are

crucial for how recipients perceive translated expressions Through the analysis ofthe interrelationship between metaphor and culture, Schaffner (2004) identifies fivecases in her studies: (1) A conceptual metaphor is kept intact in both ST and TT atthe macro-level without accounting for a single manifestation at the micro-level; (2)Structural elements of the original conceptual schema are replaced in the target text

with expressions that clarify the entailments; (3) The metaphor becomes moredetailed in the target text; (4) Different metaphorical expressions of the more

generic are used in the ST and the TT; (5) The target text expression highlights adifferent aspect of the conceptual metaphor

However, since she has no intentions of offering any translation procedures

or solutions, it is hard to take her findings as a framework or model to further their

study

Schaffner and Shuttleworth (2013) propose a corpus-based approach to

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