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Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

Even though idioms constitute an essential part of language and are common in our daily communication, they are seen to possess uncommon linguistic characteristics and high degrees of linguistic and cultural specificities. Due to this, they pose various problems to native and non-native speakers of...

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Main Authors: Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma, Tan, Debbita Ai Lin, Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/1/54225-178420-1-SM.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/
https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/issue/view/1469
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spelling my-ukm.journal.198862022-09-26T08:24:17Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/ Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma Tan, Debbita Ai Lin Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita Even though idioms constitute an essential part of language and are common in our daily communication, they are seen to possess uncommon linguistic characteristics and high degrees of linguistic and cultural specificities. Due to this, they pose various problems to native and non-native speakers of a language, as well as translators. The present study sought to identify the strategies adopted in translating these expressions found in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird and to examine if there is any loss of meaning post-rendition, referring to Tawfeeq Al-Asady’s Arabic rendition of the prize-winning novel. In meeting the study’s objectives, a sample of 80 idiomatic expressions were analyzed based on Baker’s (2018) taxonomy and Nababan et al.’s (2012) model. A comparative-descriptive approach was applied; first, comparing the SL idiom with its TL counterpart to identify the strategy used and to assess for any loss of meaning, and then calculating the frequency of the strategies adopted. The findings reveal that four primary strategies were employed: paraphrasing, total equivalence, literal translation, and partial equivalence. The kappa value for interrater reliability is highly favorable at .86, denoting almost perfect agreement between the raters who were invited to assess the study’s data for added validity. We are able to conclude that the idiomatic expressions were to a fair extent rendered effectively, with instances of loss of meaning observed. This study and its findings are of relevance to translators, educators, and scholars engaged in language and translation research. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/1/54225-178420-1-SM.pdf Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma and Tan, Debbita Ai Lin and Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita (2022) Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. e-BANGI: Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 19 (2(SI)). pp. 238-251. ISSN 1823-884x https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/issue/view/1469
institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/
language English
description Even though idioms constitute an essential part of language and are common in our daily communication, they are seen to possess uncommon linguistic characteristics and high degrees of linguistic and cultural specificities. Due to this, they pose various problems to native and non-native speakers of a language, as well as translators. The present study sought to identify the strategies adopted in translating these expressions found in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird and to examine if there is any loss of meaning post-rendition, referring to Tawfeeq Al-Asady’s Arabic rendition of the prize-winning novel. In meeting the study’s objectives, a sample of 80 idiomatic expressions were analyzed based on Baker’s (2018) taxonomy and Nababan et al.’s (2012) model. A comparative-descriptive approach was applied; first, comparing the SL idiom with its TL counterpart to identify the strategy used and to assess for any loss of meaning, and then calculating the frequency of the strategies adopted. The findings reveal that four primary strategies were employed: paraphrasing, total equivalence, literal translation, and partial equivalence. The kappa value for interrater reliability is highly favorable at .86, denoting almost perfect agreement between the raters who were invited to assess the study’s data for added validity. We are able to conclude that the idiomatic expressions were to a fair extent rendered effectively, with instances of loss of meaning observed. This study and its findings are of relevance to translators, educators, and scholars engaged in language and translation research.
format Article
author Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma
Tan, Debbita Ai Lin
Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita
spellingShingle Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma
Tan, Debbita Ai Lin
Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita
Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
author_facet Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma
Tan, Debbita Ai Lin
Naghmeh-Abbaspour, Bita
author_sort Ahmed Abdallah Ba Sharahil, Fatma
title Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
title_short Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
title_full Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
title_fullStr Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
title_full_unstemmed Translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
title_sort translating idiomatic expressions in literary prose : the case of harper lee’s to kill a mockingbird
publisher Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate 2022
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/1/54225-178420-1-SM.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19886/
https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/issue/view/1469
_version_ 1745563387204468736
score 13.211869

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