Translation of Idioms and Matters of Equivalence in Arabic Literature

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Master of Arts in English/ Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting (MATI)

Translation of Idioms and Matters of Equivalence in Arabic Literature

(This term paper is based on a novel from modern Arabic literature. The novel is under the title of" "تانب ضايرلا , written by the Saudi authoress Raja AlSanea, and its translation into English "Girls of Riyadh", by Raja AlSanea and Marilyn Booth)

Author: Eman Mohamed Sayed Ahmed Aly

Master’s Degree in English/Arabic/ English Studies and Humanities

January 6, 2014

I. Contents

1. Preface

2. Introduction

I. Culture, Literature and Translation

II. Glimpse about the Novel

III. Translator's Technique

3. Definition of Idioms

4. Equivalence at Different Levels

I. Formal Equivalence/ Literal Translation

II. Dynamic Equivalence

III. Approximativ Equivalence

5. Problems in the Translation of Some Idioms

 Null or Nil Equivalence

6. Suggested Solutions

 Domestication Strategy

7. Conclusion

8. References

Preface

Translation does not happen in a vacuum, but in a continuum; it is not an isolated act, it is part of an ongoing process of intercultural transfer.

(Bassnett& Trivedi (1999:2). According to Venuti, translation wields enormous power in constructing representations of foreign cultures. The selection of foreign texts and the development of translation strategies can establish peculiarly domestic cannons for foreign literatures, cannons that conform to domestic aesthetic values and therefore reveal exclusions and admissions, centers and peripheries that deviate from those current in the foreign language (1998:97). Hence, translation reflects culture. Literature, too, represents culture with its specific elements and features In this term paper, I will present the methodologies of translation followed in translating culturespecific items (i.e. idioms) in an outstanding work of literature, "Girls of Riyadh" for Raja AlSanea. The novel manifests modern Arab culture in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through reading the translated of version of the novel, Marilyn Booth, the translator, demonstrates clear examples of the approaches and methodologies of the translation of idioms at different levels. This term paper raises the question of whether or not the translator succeeded in finding equivalence to all the idiomatic expressions used in the sources text ( i.e. the Arabic text) and was able to produce the same effect in the target text (i.e. the translated text into English) of the target culture.

Introduction

Culture, Literature and Translation

TheWestshowsgreatinterestinapproachingtheArabcultureand revealingitsmysteries.ThebestwaytoachievethisistoreadArab literature,andherecomestheroleoftranslationincrossingallthe culturalboundariesandnarrowingthegaps. "Translationisahighly manipulativeactivitythatinvolvesallkindsofstagesintheprocessof transferacrosslinguisticandculturalboundaries"(Bassnett&Trivedi 1999:2)

Glimpse about the Novel

In the Arabic version of her novel "Girls of Riyadh", Raja AlSanea interspersed the classical Arabic with language that reflects the mongrel Arabic of the modern world – there was Saudi dialect, Lebanese-Arabic, English-Arabic and more. The translated version into English had to include "explanations that would help the western reader better understand the gist of the text, as it was originally intended in Arabic" (AlSanaa 2005).

Translator's Technique

In the translated English version of the novel, Marilyn Booth had utilized two translation strategies to convey the spirit of the Arabic text: literal translation (when there is no actual difference between the English and Arabic idiomatic expressions) and free translation (when the difference between the Arabic source text and the English target text results in huge misunderstanding and loss of the gist and skopos).

This term paper explores the strategies and techniques used in translating idioms from Arabic into English, the problems encountered by the translator and their solutions. In addition, in the studied case here, the big question is whether or not the translator kept the identity of the source text (i.e. adopting foreignization strategy).

What are Idioms?

Merriam Webster defines an idiom as "an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own". Hence, idioms are considered to be culture-specific items that need to be used and understood through a cultural context. A translator's job is to transfer the intended meaning and function of the idiom used in the source text (ST) of the source culture (SC) to the target text (TT) of the target culture(TC) in order to produce the same effect on the target reader.

Equivalence in Translation

Koller describes equivalence as a relationship between a given source text (or source text elements) and target text (or target text elements), stressing that it is the nature of the relationship that defines the equivalence type (1979: 186)

Eugene Nida ( 1964) proposed two types of equivalence: "formal equivalence" and "dynamic equivalence". Then in 1968, Otto kade proposed four equivalence types: total, facultative, approximativ, and null.

In the translated English version of "Girls of Riyadh", equivalence in translating idioms does take place at different levels and here are some examples:

I. Formal Equivalence/

Literal Translation

Formal equivalence is analogous to leaving the author in peace as much as possible and moving the reader towards him ( koller 1979: 125).

- In the following examples, there is total equivalence between the Arabic idiom and the English translation.

A) In the Arabic novel, the author mentioned:

AlSanea:12))

Booth translated this as:

"If anyone doesn't like my saying so they can go drink from the sea." ( Booth: 4)

B) Another example is:

" Without his family he isn't worth a penny." (AlSanea & Booth: 77)

C) A third example from Arabic novel is:

The translation is:

" Her older sister Naflah's watermelon had turned out to be one of those extra-sweet ones, while her own watermelon and sister Hessah's were more like dried-out, empty gourds." (AlSanea & Booth: 58)

D) The following example was translated literally, though it needed more clarification that was written in a footnote:

The translation came as:

"And because every one of them lives huddled in the shadow of a man, or a wall, or a man who is a wall…" (AlSanea & Booth: 2)

The translator felt comfortable in translating the word ةطيح" " as it is in English "wall", but for more clarification to the target reader, she provided a reference to the Arabic proverb that says: "Better the shadow of a man than the shadow of a wall."

II. Dynamic Equivalence

Dynamic Equivalence corresponds to leaving the reader in peace and moving the author towards him (koller 1979:125)

The following examples demonstrate Booth's free strategy in translation.

A) The first example is:

Here, the translator didn’t translate the phrase"

"; instead she used the word" bend" to show how the character is really weak and easily influenced by his/ her family. Hence, she translated the whole sentence as: "The person whose family can easily bend him (or her) one way or the other." (AlSanea & Booth: 77)

B) A second example from the novel is:

)

The translation is:

"And to all of you who just know that every weekend for the rest of your lives will be a total loss- not to mention the rest of the week" (AlSanea & Booth: 2)

Despite the fact that there is no corresponding equivalent idiom in English, the translator used one- to- many equivalence technique in translating two words (i.e. تبسلا و دحلا ) to one word (i.e. weekend)

III. Approximativ Equivalence

It takes place when one term finds only partial correspondence in a term belonging to another language (kade 1968: 79)

A) AlSanaa mentioned: "

هيفاعلا" ( AlSanea: 15)

The transition is: "May good health knock on her door." ((AlSanea & Booth: 6) Booth: 6)

- The word "تلأس" could be translated as "asked", but in this case the meaning will be inaccurate. Therefore, the translator preferred using an approximately equivalent expression, but conveys a stronger meaning which is "knock on her door".

B) Another example is:

The translation in the English version came as: "The first pearl to roll off the necklace" ((AlSanea & Booth: 6) Booth: 6)

" ( AlSanea: 15)

- The word "necklace "is not an accurate translation of "ةحبس". Since "

ةحبس" is a culture-specific word that has an Islamic connotation, the translator used the word "necklace" in a context that has an approximate function in the TC (i.e. it means that the girls will get married one after the other).

Problems in Translating Idioms

Scholars have agreed that the cognitive activities of translating are complex, involving the comprehension of a text in one language and the production of a text in another language, and also requiring processes of transfer or switching between the two languages. Admitting this complexity, the translation process faces problems. The major problem encountered in translating idioms is null or nil equivalence.

Null or Nil Equivalence

Zero equivalence occurs in the case of culture-specific terms that have no correspondent in another language (kade 1968: 79)

In some cases, the translator remains hand-cuffed in finding accurate equivalent idioms in the TC. This case occurred more than once when the translator did not find a corresponding equivalent to the idioms in English. Examples from the Arabic novel that had no equivalence in the English translated version are:

"

( AlSanea: 22)

Suggested Solutions

In case of not finding an accurate translation of the idiom at any level, a translator can either(1) do without translating the idiom ( i.e. leave the idiom untralnslated) , as long as it will not affect the meaning and spirit of the text, or (2) adopt domestication or free translation strategy.

Domestication / Free Translation

Domestication is often used to refer to the adaptation of the cultural context or of culture- specific term." Translation, in other words, inevitably perform a work of domestication" (Venuti 1998:5)

In performing an act of domestication the translator leaves the reader in peace, as much as possible, and moves the author towards him. This is done to achieve full involvement of the target reader in the work of literature.

For example, one of the lines in the novel stated:

( AlSanea: 51)

The author wanted to show how powerful and influential the girl, lames, is by saying " و

She adopted the domestication approach that of not translating words like "الله رجا" و " " that might be out of context if they were literally translated. Instead, she chose to move toward the TC and translate the phrase as " The one and only" that would result in a similar image to the SC in the TC. Hence, a full translation would be:

" Hey, I'm lames! The one and only." ((AlSanea & Booth: 48)

A similar example is:

That is translated into:

"With butterflies in her stomach" ((AlSanea & Booth: 34)

( AlSanea: 37)

Conclusion

Translation is a form of re-writing. For Lefevere, in particular, the notion of rewriting is very important and her argues very forcefully that the study of literature should be the study of rewritings because these and not the original texts are the primary mode of consumption and appreciation of literature in modern times (1992:7). In other words, translating a masterpiece like" girls of Riyadh" has deeply contributed in differently exposing the Arab culture to the western reader. Furthermore, the translated version of the book shows talent in utilizing multiple translation techniques and strategies that conveyed the spirit and indented meaning of the original text. In all, it is the translator's decision to choose the best translation strategy according to the text type and purpose.

Accordingly, despite using domestication strategy to handle some translation problems, Booth was keen to remain faithful to the source text through using foreignization strategy in most cases. She succeeded in communicating the cultural image in a way that neither violates the Arab culture's identity nor deprive the translated text from its esthetics.

References

AlSanea, Rajaa (2005). Banat Al Riyadh( 7th Ed). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al Saqi.

AlSanea, R.& Booth, M. ( 2007).Girls of Riyadh. London, England: Penguin books, Ltd.

Bassnett, S. & Trivedi, H. (1999) "Introduction: Of Colonies, Cannibals and Vernaculars." In S.

Bassnett & H. Trivedi (eds.) Post-Colonial Translation (pp. 1-18). London: Routledge.

Idiom. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (11th ed.). Retrieved January 1, 2014 from http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/idiom

Kade, Otto (1968). Zufall und Gesetzmäßigkeit in der Übersetzung. Beiheft zur Zeitschrift Fremdsprachen I. Leipzig: Enzyklopädie.

Koller, Werner ( 1979) Einführung in die Übersetzungswissenschaft Heidelberg: Quell und Meyer.

Lefevere, Andre (1992). Translation, Rewriting and the Manipulation of the Literary Fame. London: Routledge.

Nida, Eugene (1964). Toward a Science of Translating. Leiden: E.J. Brill.

Venuti, Lawrence (1998). The Scandals of Translation. Towards an Ethics of Difference. London/ New York: Routledge.