The theme offakhr(self-exaltation) in the translation of Antara’sMu‘allaqa

Abstract

This paper investigates the possibility of translating, into English, Antara’s <i>Fakhr</i> (self-exaltation), as a prominent theme in his renowned <i>Mu‘allaqa</i>. The theoretical framework rests on the supposition that a literary work in general and pre-Islamic poetry in particular must be examined within its socio-cultural, spatio-temporal context as a total meaningful structure which entails the semantics and pragmatics of the text.<p>Examining this theme in three selected translations, the analysis shows that the source text has proved that <i>Fakhr</i> (self-exaltation), as a conventional constituent of Antara’s <i>Mu‘allaqa</i>, presents a remarkable degree of sophistication which poses serious translation challenges.<p>The discussion also reveals that, owing to the daunting complexity of incongruence and distance between the cultures of the two languages, the translations have only managed to maintain the textual import, but have not satisfactorily captured the socio-cultural denominations and implications, a perceptible translation erroneousness, which impeded straddling the required semantic effect and the required reader’s response in the target language version.<p>The paper draws the conclusion that the socio-cultural, spatio-temporal context can provide a broader frame of reference for analyzing, interpreting and translating the original Mu‘allaqa in a completely new, contemporary setting of transmission and reception.<p>