The Role of Cognitive Linguistics in Enhancing Translation Accuracy: A Comparative Study
Keywords:
Cognitive linguistics, translation accuracy, comparative study, language processing, semanticsAbstract
This study explores the contribution of cognitive linguistics to enhancing translation precision, founded on the influence of cognitive processes such as conceptual metaphor, frame semantics, and mental spaces on the translation of cognitively dense texts. This study adopted a comparative method and examined several translations of five text types, which included literary texts and advertisements, legal texts, among others. It is where patterns and differences in translation methods were to be discovered. The results demonstrate that cognitive linguistics is, in fact, a viable framework to use in trying to translate problematic scenarios, including metaphors, idioms, and culturally bound expressions. By using cognitive processes such as metaphor adaptation, frame shifting, and mental space reconstruction, translators are consequently making the translation process more accurate and culturally relevant. Cognitive linguistics is highly relevant to translation studies, bringing with it new perspectives on the dynamic and context-dependent nature of meaning. This study, therefore concludes that the application of cognitive linguistics in translation theory and practice can significantly enhance accuracy in translation, and this is the important implication for trainer training and professional practice.
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