The Challenges of Translating Idioms from Arabic into English A Closer look at Al Imam AL Mahdi University – Sudan

Amin Ali Al Mubarak

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijclts.v.5n.1p.53

Abstract

This particular study explores and identifies the obstacles faced in the process of translating idioms from the Arabic into the English. In fact, one of the most challenging issues in the field of translation is the process of translating idioms from the source language into the target language with maximum success in conveying similar connotation, conceptualization, as well as shades of meaning. Therefore, in meeting the objectives outlined in this study, a purposive sample that consisted of forty students pursuing B.A. in English at the Arts College of Al Imam AL Mahdi – Sudan had been selected. Other than that, the researcher employed the descriptive approach in the study to identify and to list down the problems faced by students in applying certain strategies to translate idioms from Arabic into English. As such, a translation test was carried out as an instrument for data collection. The test was comprised of twelve Arabic proverbs based on Speake (2008) classification of Proverbs, i.e. everyday experience, traditional wisdom, and folklore, to name a few. As a result, the outcomes of the study revealed several issues that must be ironed out in order to translate idiomatic expressions appropriately and accurately. Some significant factors that had been included are cultural aspects, sociolinguistic elements, linguistic and stylistic considerations and some particular meta-lingual factors.

Highlights

Language functions as an apparatus or a link that strengthens the relationships between nations so as to coordinate, as well as to tackle the difficulties faced by humans, in general, and to mirror our philosophies and convictions, in precise
This may be attributed to several factors, for instance, they are not exposed to the culture of the target language, they are unfamiliar with the target language cultural expressions, as well as the gap that exist between the two cultures
The results obtained from this study have answered the first research question, i.e., ‘what are the obstacles of translation strategy encountered by the students in translating idioms from Arabic language into English language?’ some obstacles of translation strategy when translating idioms from the Arabic language to the English language had been examined and identified, which are due to the absence of strategy knowledge among the students

Summary

Introduction

Language functions as an apparatus or a link that strengthens the relationships between nations so as to coordinate, as well as to tackle the difficulties faced by humans, in general, and to mirror our philosophies and convictions, in precise. The process of translating idioms and fixed expressions from source language into target language is a fine work, in which a translator must possess a decent amount of knowledge in both languages and cultures, besides being capable of distinguishing and coping with unexpected concerns while fine tuning the most accurate and identical inter-lingual idiomatic pairs Those who are multilingual have the opportunity to utilize wholesome unique expressions to express a comparative significance in an effective manner that is intelligible by the others including those with knowledge of another language, or otherwise it may turn to be a complete gibberish or even worse, a cause for misunderstanding that could have been avoided. This study looks into the strategies that can be applied for translation of idioms, which derive as outcomes from earlier researches in this field

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion