This paper demonstrates that representation of translation by way of a model is possible. As a corpus, proverbs offer a vast and reliable source of previously translated metaphors, in this case, French to English. Proverbs and their metaphors constitute a sign with inherent components that include, but are not limited to, message, meaning(s), connotations, and syntactic structure, as well as information derived from sources such as the text or an individual's personal knowledge. Such components are essential and interdependent elements of translation. However, the extent of the role of each of the components that constitute the overall process of translation varies. In other words, the makeup of each proverb and its metaphor varies. Thus, a translation model must be flexible in order to accommodate these variances, a task accomplished by this model through cognitive mapping strategies and the view that translation involves both how it occurs and what occurs.