Linguistic, Aesthetic And Cultural Aspects Of Translating Literary Texts (Arabic-English): A Model For Translation Pedagogy

Abdelhamid Elewa

Abstract


The main aim of this paper is to explore the different linguistic, aesthetic, and cultural aspects of literary translation. The paper examines the various features of literary translation at both macro and micro levels. It focuses on those features of literary texts that are characteristic of literary works. First, we follow the standard linguistic paradigm in the discussion of literary translation, including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and the aesthetic and cultural features of literary texts. The qualitative method is used to explore the various features of literary translation to identify the recurring linguistic and literary devices lacking systematic forms and patterns to find a comparable genre-specific form in the target language. The model proposed consists of five stages: (1) Retention of sound devices, (2) Retention of syntactic patterns, (3) Retention of semantic features, (4) Retention of figurative language, and (5) Retention of the cultural aspects. The model is a descriptive model for analyzing literary translation procedures and can be used as a pedagogical model for translation practice. Findings show that employing this model would offer translation students new insights to describe challenging linguistic, aesthetic, and cultural features in the source texts to think of some practical solutions for translating literary works.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Al-Azzam, B. (2005). Certain terms relating to Islamic observances : their meanings with reference to three translations of the Qur'an and a translation of Hadith. Doctoral thesis, Durham University.

Abdelsabour, S. (1966). Masaat Al-Hallaj [Tragedy of Al-Hallaj]. Cairo: Egyptian General Authority of Books.

Abdulrahman Maneef (2008) Al-Ashjar wa ightiyal Marzouk [Trees and the Assassination of Marzouk]. Beirut and Casablanca: Almuasah alarabiyah llidirasat wa lanashr and Almarkaz althaqafi Alarabi llinashr wa altawzie’.

Al-Kharrat, A. (1989). Turabuha Zafaran [City of Saffron] translated by Liardet, Frances (1991). London: Quartet Books.

Almanna, A. (2016). The Routledge Course in Translation Annotation: Arabic-English-Arabic. London: Routledge.

Baker, M. & Saldnha, G. (eds.) (2020). Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies (3rd edition), London: Routledge.

Baker, M. (2000). 'Towards a Methodology for Investigating the Style of a Literary Translator', Target 12(2): 241-266.

Bell, R. T. (1998). “Psychological/cognitive approaches”. In M. Baker (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London & New York: Routledge.

Bland, J. (ed.) (2018). Using Literature in English Language Education: Challenging Reading for 8-18 Year Olds. Great Britain: Bloomsbury Academic

Bloemert, J., E. Jansen, and W. van de Grift (2016). Exploring EFL literature approaches in Dutch secondary education. Language, Culture and Curriculum 29, no. 2: 169–188. doi:10.1080/07908318.2015.1136324.

Bloemert, J., A. Paran, E. Jansen, and W. van de Grift (2019). Students’ perspective on the benefits of EFL literature education. The Language Learning Journal 47, no. 3: 371–384. doi:10.1080/09571736.2017.1298149.

Bush, P. (1998) "Literary Translation." In: M. Baker (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (1st edition), London: Routledge, 127-130.

Chapple, F. (2007). “Adaptation as Education: A Lady Macbeth of the Mtensk District”. Journal of Adaptation in Film and Performance. Volume 1, Number 1 - 2007. 3-4, 17-31.

Chesterman, A. (1997). The Memes of Translation. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Collie, J., & Slater, S. (1987). Literature in the Language Classroom: A Resource Book of Ideas and Activities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dickins, J., Hervey, S. and Higgins, I. (2017). Thinking Arabic Translation, A Course in Translation Method: Arabic to English (2nd edition). London: Routledge.

Ekegren, P. (1999). The Reading of Theoretical Texts: A Critique of Criticism in the Social Sciences. London: Routledge

Hamimed, N. (2021). A Review on Instructing English through Literary Genre.
Arab World English Journal, 12 (3) 278-293. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.19

Hatab, W.a. (2015). Cultural Problems in Literary Translation from English into Arabic. In: Piechurska-Kuciel, E., Szyszka, M. (eds) The Ecosystem of the Foreign Language Learner. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14334-7_12

Johnston, J. (1992). "Translation as Simulacrum". In Rethinking Translation, Venutie, L. (Ed.). London: Routledge.

Lakoff, G. (1992). “The Contemporary Theory of Metaphor”. In Ortony, Andrew (Ed.) Metaphor and Thought (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press.

Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Mostaghanmi, A. (1993). Dhakiratu Aljasad, translated by Baria Ahmar Sreih (2000) Memory in the Flesh. Cairo: The American University Press.

Mukarovsky, J. (1964) “Standard Language and Poetic Language”, in A Prague School Reader on Aesthetics, Literary Structures and Style, trans. and ed. Paul Garvin. Washington D.C.

Newmark, P. (1988). A Text Book of Translation, New York: Prentice Hall.

Reiches, K. (2005). Monday Mourning. A Tempe Brennan Novel (Temperence Brennan).

Sun, X. (2023). Literature in secondary EFL class: case studies of four experienced teachers’ reading programmes in China. The Language Learning Journal, 51(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2021.1958905.

Tsokalidou, R., Skourtou, E. (2020). Translanguaging as a Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Approach: Bi/Multilingual Educators’ Perspectives. In: Panagiotopoulou, J.A., Rosen, L., Strzykala, J. (eds) Inclusion, Education and Translanguaging. Inklusion und Bildung in Migrationsgesellschaften. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-28128-1_13

Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation. London & New York: Routledge.

Venuti, L. (ed) (1992). Rethinking Translation. London: Routledge.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v7i3.27637

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Abdelhamid Elewa

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/