Why special language translators need insight in the mechanisms of metaphorical models and figurative denominations

In this article we deal with metaphor from two perspectives. First we
investigate the mechanisms behind the urge for better and new understanding. Our
hypothesis is that these are generally related to and inspired by metaphorical reasoning.
The existing cognitive model of a source domain of understanding is used to structure and
categorise a target domain. The metaphorical model is an underlying schema which is
never fully expressed propositionally and lexically. The traces and results of metaphorical
thinking are in metaphorical lexicalisations. The underlying domain metaphor in e.g. the
life sciences appears to be the reason why there are few translation problems (from
English into French and vice versa) for metaphor-based terminology in this discipline. In
the second part we deal with figurative body part denominations (metaphor and or
metonymy) in technical language. There appear s to be strong anisomorphism between
body-part lexicalisations in French and English and consequently translation problems are
numerous. Translators need awareness of the impact of metaphorical reasoning on
lexicalisation in special language. They should know how to distinguish between domain
metaphorical models which are mostly language and culture independent and culturerelated
understanding. Body-part lexicalisations in technical language are often examples
of culture-related understanding. Hence their translations are often unpredictable.