A cognitive stylistic approach to the translation of spatial metaphors in Alai’s Chen’ai luoding

As an important type of cognitive metaphor, spatial metaphors are a demonstration of the unique environment and mind of characters in fiction. Therefore, the translation of spatial metaphors is not only the translation of language but also the reproduction of their spatial consciousness and perception. Drawing on cognitive stylistics, this paper studies whether the spatial metaphors in Chen’ai luoding are “downtoned” in the English translation, Red Poppies, by Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-chun Lin, as is the case in most metaphor translation. Spatial metaphors carrying political, ethical and spiritual elements in Chen’ai luoding are discussed in terms of three dimensions: POWER IS HEIGHT, RELATION IS DISTANCE and HEAD IS A CONTAINER. The study finds that the source domains of the spatial metaphors in Red Poppies are reinforced, which is different from common practice in metaphor translation. The cases exemplified in this paper illustrate that lexical addition, syntactic adaptation and visualisation are effective ways to strengthen the effects of spatial metaphor and to realise its translation.