The Translation of Body-part Rhetoric in Romeo and Juliet: Take the Example of Facial Terms

Abstract

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, numerous references to the human body are intertwined with a rich array of rhetorical devices including personification, simile, metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche. Metaphorical rhetoric is a hallmark of Shakespearean language, often used to depict sensory experiences, symbolize objects and emotions, and flesh out characters. However, due to cognitive disparities between Western and Chinese cultures, the same rhetorical themes may be expressed with different objects across cultures. As a result, translators must employ various strategies to bridge these gaps. This study aims to examine the cognitive differences underlying body-related rhetoric, particularly facial descriptions, in five different translations of Romeo and Juliet spanning different periods. The goal is to analyze the translation techniques and methodologies employed by translators to address these cultural disparities.