The Role of Translator Subjectivity in Rendering Cultural References: A Comparative Analysis of Arabic-English Translations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol21.Iss4.1207Keywords:
translator subjectivity, cultural references , Arabic-English translation , domestication , foreignization , translation strategies , intercultural communicationAbstract
The present paper endeavours to explore the intersection of translator subjectivity and the translation of culturally-bound references in Arabic-English translations. It also looks at the impact of translators' backgrounds, ideological positions and sensibilities on the decisions made in translation of chosen literary texts. The study is mixed method research using qualitative content analysis and quantitative analysis of translation strategies in several case studies. The results indicate that the translator's subjectivity comes to the surface through certain strategies in the text, such as explicitation, domesticating, foreignizing, and culturalising. The research shows that subjectivity is not only unavoidable but also something that can be navigated strategically to promote intercultural understanding. The research has built a theory of viewing subjectivity as an asset rather than a limitation in the context of cultural translation as a positive resource in Translation Studies. The implications are wide-ranging and include translation pedagogy, professional practice, and intercultural communication in an internationalized world.
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