Transferred Epithet and its Translation

 

Another example of different frequency and different specific weight of a stylistic device is presented by the transferred epithet which is a structural variant of the metaphoric epithet. Its expressive force lies in its peculiar distribution: syntactically it modifies one word whereas logically it refers to another. Thus, syntactically it stands apart from the word to which it is semantically attached. Transferred epithets both trite and original are widely used in English while in Russian they are mainly confined to poetry. Such combinations with transferred epithets as “hasty luncheon”, “quick cigarette”, “accusing finger”, “indifferent shoulder”, etc. have become clichés through their frequent use.

Some models of transferred epithets are more unusual and therefore more expressive but nevertheless are rarely preserved in translation.

 

…his commanding officer had called him … and sent him on his puzzled way. (M. West).

Командир позвал его … и послал его с поручением, которое совсем озадачило его.

 

The Russian translation in keeping with the existing norms of valency re-establishes the logical link between the attribute and the modified word but inevitably destroys the stylistic effect.

 

In the narrow darkness between the doors he drew his pistol. (E.Gardner).

 

The epithet “narrow” semantically refers to the implied word “interval” (between the doors) which is introduced in the Russian translation.

 

В узком темном промежутке между дверями он вынул свой пистолет.