Gain and Loss in the Translation of Cultural Aspects from English to Arabic.

Abstract

The current research seeks to emphasize the idea of gain and loss in the translation of cultural specific items. Gain is accomplished largely through the inventiveness of the translators when they can express the cultural words for good communication, whereas loss happens as a result of cultural and linguistic inequalities that exist between the source and the target language. In addition, cultural specific items (CSIs) are difficult to translate because they are linked to cultural knowledge and the cultural context of the particular culture. The study aimed to investigate the most common translation problems that third year EFL students encounter in translating some cultural specific items from English to Arabic. To achieve the purpose of the study, a translation test, which involved three items and expressions in English and two in Arabic, was prepared in advance. Furthermore, a questionnaire was given to the participants to ask them about their points of view concerning the reasons behind encountering such translation problems. The sample of the study consisted of twenty-one (21) third-year EFL students from Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret. The design of the study was a qualitative and quantitative method. The data obtained from the participants’ answers in the translation test as well as the participants’ points of view in the questionnaire were analysed using the appropriate statistical analyses. The results indicate that third year EFL students encounter different kinds of difficulties when translating cultural expressions. Based on the findings of the study, we presented some recommendations and suggestions to the students.