The Chinese Translation of Emotion Metaphors in the Hebrew Bible:
A Cognitive Approach to Translation Criticism
Lynn I. L. Tsai
Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies
Chang Jung Christian University
Abstract. This study examines the Chinese translation of emotion metaphors in the
Hebrew Bible through a cognitive approach to translation criticism. As a preliminary
study on the bible translation from a cognitive perspective, this paper utilizes a
revised six-pattern metaphor translation model to explore the translation strategy
taken by the translation committee of the RCUV. After examining how the emotion
metaphors in the Hebrew Bible were translated in the Revised Chinese Union Bible,
this study finds that the literal translation of body part metaphors, i.e., heart, liver, and
bowel, from the Hebrew into the Chinese language works well in expressing similar
emotions, most probably owing to similar conceptual metaphors identified in both
languages.
Keywords: conceptual metaphor, emotion metaphor, Revised Chinese Union
Version Bible, Hebrew Bible, translation criticism