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Abstract

Abstract

This study investigates how English health and illness metaphors are translated into Arabic, using examples from the , , and the within the context of economic discourse. Applying cognitive metaphor theory, it examines metaphorical expressions related to health and illness in financial texts, exploring how these metaphors shape economic ideas and assessing the effectiveness of their Arabic translations. The research highlights the crucial role of health and illness metaphors in expressing complex economic conditions and their importance in both English and Arabic economic discussions. The results show that while literal translations often preserve the metaphorical meaning, some translators choose non-metaphorical equivalents, which can alter the metaphor’s impact and diminish clarity. The findings also emphasize the need for cognitive equivalence in metaphor translation and support approaches that improve mutual understanding of economic phenomena across languages, ensuring the original meaning of the metaphors is maintained. The study concludes that successful translation of these metaphors depends on understanding their cognitive functions and the genre’s context; strategies should aim to preserve the conceptual core of metaphors to facilitate clear communication with both expert and general audiences.

© Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT) Revue Babel
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/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25049.she
2025-12-15
2026-01-24

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/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25049.she
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A cognitive approach to translating English health and illness business metaphors into Arabic
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.25049.she
/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25049.she
/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25049.she
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: cognitive metaphor ; health and illness metaphors ; métaphore conceptuelle ; metaphor translation ; métaphores de la santé et de la maladie ; traduction des métaphores ; cognitive equivalence ; équivalence cognitive

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