Improving equivalence: strategies for handling non-standard Arabic expressions in translation dictionaries
This study responds to the call for reliable equivalents in translation dictionaries of non-standard Arabic expressions. Such expressions, including dialectal, colloquial and culturally bound vocabulary, are common across the Arab world but are often overlooked or inadequately covered by dominant di...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2025
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26655/1/%5B327-339%5D%20Improving%20Equivalence%20Strategies%20for%20Handling%20Non-Standard%20Arabic%20Expressions.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26655/ http://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/index |
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| Summary: | This study responds to the call for reliable equivalents in translation dictionaries of non-standard Arabic expressions. Such expressions, including dialectal, colloquial and culturally bound vocabulary, are common across the Arab world but are often overlooked or inadequately covered by dominant dictionaries focused on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). By proposing an approach that enriches the coverage of non-standard Arabic expressions to achieve linguistic and cultural equivalence, this study aims to address this imbalance. Based on Fillmore’s (2006) Frame Semantics as the underpinning theoretical framework, this study applies a qualitative approach to assess the effectiveness with which semantic frames can capture the contextual and functional meanings of such expressions. A set of ten commonly used expressions from across a range of Arabic dialects was selected through purposive sampling against the following predetermined criteria: frame identification, cultural setting and lexical mapping. The findings of the study reveal clear gaps in current dictionaries, especially in relation to their treatment of cultural context and cross-dialectal variation. Several entries were found to be either absent or misrepresented, lacking the precise meanings tied to their social and functional use. The study recommends that semantic frames, corpus-based examples, dialectal cross-references and multimedia components should be incorporated in the lexicographical entries. Besides, using these elements would significantly enhance the contextual accuracy and usability of translation dictionaries and thus meet the needs of translators, language learners, and researchers interested in Arabic and intercultural communication. |
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