The academic paper titled "Foreignising versus Domesticating Translations of Arabic Colour-related Expressions" by Amal Abdelsattar Metwally focuses on the translation strategies applied to Arabic color-related idioms and binomials, specifically investigating the concepts of foreignisation and domestication in translation studies. The research aims to explore the effectiveness and consistency of these strategies when translating culturally bound expressions, using Skopos theory and the Berlin/Key studies on colors as a theoretical framework.
The purpose of the study is to examine whether foreignisation, domestication, or paraphrase as a mode of domestication is more suitable for translating Arabic color-related expressions into English. The study also aims to generalize the findings to provide guidelines for translating culture-bound expressions in general.
The methodology employed involves analyzing 84 Arabic color-related expressions and their existing translations into English. The study assesses the applicability and success of foreignisation and domestication strategies, along with paraphrasing, to determine the most effective translation approach for culturally specific expressions.
Key findings indicate that "paraphrase" is a significant strategy due to the cultural and historical differences between Arabic and English, making it difficult to find direct equivalents. The analysis shows that foreignisation is used for thirteen expressions, domestication for thirty expressions, and paraphrase for forty-one expressions, suggesting that paraphrase offers a practical middle ground between the two strategies.
In conclusion, the study emphasizes that while foreignisation and domestication are both viable translation strategies, paraphrase plays a crucial role in bridging cultural gaps and providing more accurate translations for culture-bound expressions. The study highlights the importance of using a flexible approach in translation, combining different strategies depending on the context and cultural nuances involved. This research contributes to the field of translation studies by offering insights into the translation of culturally specific language and supporting the view that translation strategies should be adapted to meet the needs of the target audience.