Advantages of Using Critical Thinking Skills in Translating Poetry by Advanced Learners in Translation Department

Abstract

Language learners and users must have a certain realization of the concept of critical thinking. Critical thinking is supposed to be the means of solving problems in translation in general and translating poetry in particular. In this paper, the researcher observes the benefits of critical thinking and tries to apply its skills in translating poetry into English and Arabic personally and by a group of advanced learners of translation after explaining the concept in detail to them. The next step is asking translation professionals and lecturers in the department of translation in the College of Arts, the University of Basra to evaluate translation and the benefit of critical thinking skills in the process of translating the mentioned texts. The professionals evaluate the translation by answering a questionnaire prepared by the researcher to cover the purpose of the study and evaluate students’ responses. The findings showed a close positive relationship between critical thinking strategies and translation of literary texts in general and poetry in particular. The study concluded that the translator with more critical abilities will be more successful in translation performance. Results highlight the importance of realization and using critical thinking skills by translators and students in particular to perform good translated texts.