The paper titled Navigating Cultural Landscapes: Textual Insights into English–Arabic–English Translation by Eisa Asiri, Mutahar Qassem, and Yousef Sahari investigates the complexities involved in translating cultural references (CRs) between English and Arabic. The study aims to examine the various challenges faced by translators when addressing the cultural barriers inherent in translating CRs, highlighting the need for both linguistic and cultural proficiency.
The paper employs an integrated approach to analyze CRs, utilizing hermeneutics, translation equivalence, textual analysis, and functionality. These methods allow for a comprehensive examination of both the internal (syntactic, semantic) and external (cultural, historical) elements of texts. The authors underscore that CRs often pose difficulties because they contain elements unique to the source culture that may not exist in the target culture. These challenges include linguistic gaps, idiomatic expressions, and culturally specific items such as religious, social, political, and material references.
The research identifies key areas where translators struggle, particularly in balancing literal and free translation approaches. It also offers practical solutions for overcoming these challenges, advocating for the use of strategies such as cultural substitution, transliteration, and descriptive equivalents. These strategies aim to ensure that the target text maintains the cultural richness and contextual accuracy of the source text.
The study concludes that a holistic approach to translating CRs is essential for preserving the integrity of the original text while making it accessible and meaningful to the target audience. By adopting this approach, translators can bridge cultural divides and enhance intercultural understanding.