Research on the Characteristics and Translation Strategies of Transferred Epithet

Abstract

English transferred epithet is a figure of speech that is frequently used, especially in literary works. It works like magic and plays an important role in expression and communication, so a number of scholars have researched it from the aspects of the definition, the classification, the functions, the pragmatic characteristics, the semantic characteristics and the cognitive foundation of it. Though transferred epithet seems to deviate from logic, it can polish expressions if known and used efficiently. In this paper, the characteristics and translation strategies are studied. Based on the related theories of semantics, aesthetics, and translatology, the structural characteristics, the semantic characteristics, the aesthetic characteristics and the translation strategies of transferred epithet are discussed. This paper is of both theoretical and practical significance. If readers can draw inferences about other cases from one instance and have a good command of transferred epithet, it can be properly employed in such language activities as reading, writing, speaking, translation, etc.