Cognitive load of metaphor translation in English-to-Chinese sight translation: An eye-tracking study

This study examined the impact of metaphor complexity on translators’ cognitive load and the interaction between metaphor translation strategies and translators’ cognitive load. The researchers used eye-tracking technology to conduct a quantitative empirical study. Specifically, more complex metaphors require more cognitive resources for translators to process, which is similar to the different response mechanisms shown by cells in biology when responding to external stimuli. The adaptability and response patterns of cells change with increasing pressure. The choice of translation strategy will also affect the effect of this process, so that different translation methods have different levels of cognitive load when dealing with complex metaphors. The results show that there are significant differences in cognitive load between metaphors of different complexity; metaphor translation strategies affect cognitive load, and cognitive load affects the choice of translation strategies. This study provides objective data measurement for translators’ cognitive load in the process of metaphor sight translation. The research results can provide certain inspiration and reference for translators in metaphor sight translation. At the same time, it also helps teachers understand students’ difficulties in metaphor translation and better guide metaphor translation teaching.