Abstract:

Translating aviation terms into Chinese is crucial for the sharing of aviation knowledge and technology. The translation of metaphorical aviation terms involves the continuation of systematicity, namely that the cognitive structures and knowledge systems embedded in the metaphorical elements of original English terms are systematically preserved in the Chinese language. This paper systematically analyzes a wide range of typical metaphorical aviation terms by comparing their English originals and Chinese translations to explore the mechanisms by which systematicity is preserved in translation. Our study finds that the system of associated commonplaces shared across different cultures is a precondition and driving force for the continuation of systematicity. The Chinese translation of both typical metaphorical terms and those driven by metaphorical mindset with less conspicuous metaphorical properties involves the systematical preservation of the topological features, functions, and principles reflected by the original terms’ metaphorical elements.

Key words: metaphor, aviation terms, systematicity, topological structure