DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2663-4619/124/23-32
Duran İçel
Kırıkkale University
PhD in Philology
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1549-0500
dicel@kku.edu.tr
Imagery in Literary Language and Its Translation
Abstract
This study explores the concept of “image” within the aesthetic and creative dimensions of literary language. Imagery is examined not only in its denotative sense as “something that exists in reality and its reflection in the mind,” but also as a subjective creation shaped by imagination and enriched with multiple layers of meaning. Within the refined and poetic nature of literary discourse, imagery emerges as a powerful tool: in romantic contexts, it reveals inner states of the self, while in symbolic functions, it opens pathways to associations and dreams. The research adopts a reader-oriented approach of “reception aesthetics” and analyzes examples from 19th- and 20th-century French literature to highlight the role of imagery in literary discourse and its significance in translation practices. The findings demonstrate that imagery is neither fixed nor uniform; rather, it is dynamic and transformative, capable of reshaping itself and those who engage with it through imagination. Ultimately, imagery is emphasized as a mirror reflecting both the creative power of human imagination and the realities of human existence, thereby strengthening the aesthetic dimension of literary language and contributing meaningfully to literature and translation studies.
Keywords: literary language, Imagery, reception aesthetics, French literature, aesthetic discourse