Original Metonymies and their Translation

The rendering of metonymy is not always easy because of differences in usage.

So the pink sprigged muslin and the champagne voile ran downstairs in a hurry. (C. Dane).

The metonymies «розовый муслин в цветочках и палевая кисея сбежали по лестнице» are hardly possible in Russian. The following is an acceptable rendering:

Подруги, одна в розовом муслине с цветочками и другая в палевой кисее, быстро сбежали по лестнице.

The addition of a concrete word – подруги – is prompted by the macro context, but the stylistic effect is certainly lost in translation. What is permissible and possible in our language is impossible in another. Still there are cases when the norms of the Russian language permit the use of original metonymies.

There were only four other people in the bar. I knew them all, or knew what they did for a living: timber, flour, textiles, insurance. Timber and Flower were standing at the counter discussing the cost of labour; Textiles at a table on the opposite side of the room was complaining about his garage bills. Insurance was listening patiently. (J.Braine).

В баре было только еще четыре человека. Я знал их всех, вернее знал, чем они занимаются: строевой лес, мука, текстиль, страхование. Строевой лес и Мука стояли у стойки, обсуждая стоимость рабочей силы; Текстиль, сидя у столика в другом конце бара, жаловался на большие счета за гараж. Страхование терпеливо его слушал.