Metaphors in The Woman in Black: A Translational Study from Peter Newmark´s perspective

Abstract

This study analyzes the strategies used in the Spanish translation of the metaphors present in Chapter 10 of Susan Hill's (1983) The Woman in Black, titled "Whistle and I'll Come to You". In the context of Gothic literature, metaphors play a crucial role in creating atmospheres of tension, mystery, and fear. The main objective of this research is to identify and classify the metaphors present in Chapter 10 of the work in order to determine the translation strategy in each case. Through a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical-comparative methodology, 10 significant metaphors were selected to identify the type of metaphor and classify the metaphor translation strategies proposed by Peter Newmark (1988). A literary analysis of the stylistic role of each metaphor was also conducted. The findings reveal that the predominant strategy is the reproduction of the original image; therefore, the aim was to preserve the emotional effect of the original text, prioritizing semantic fidelity without sacrificing the fluency or naturalness of the Spanish language. This demonstrates a deep understanding of the Gothic genre and the function of metaphor as a narrative device. Furthermore, it is concluded that the effective translation of literary metaphors requires not only linguistic competence but also aesthetic sensitivity and knowledge of the cultural context. This analysis provides tools for translation practice and at the same time emphasizes the importance of metaphors as fundamental elements in literary translation, especially in genres that rely on figurative language to convey their atmosphere and deeper meaning.