The paper titled "Strategies used by EFL Saudi University Students in Translating English Idioms into Arabic" primarily focuses on identifying the strategies employed by Saudi EFL students when translating idiomatic expressions from English to Arabic. The research investigates the translation techniques based on Baker’s strategies, concentrating on three specific methods: using an idiom of similar meaning and form, using an idiom of similar meaning but different form, and translation by paraphrase.
The purpose of the study is to examine the translation approaches utilized by Saudi students at King Khalid University, aiming to uncover the most common strategies and the challenges these students face when translating idioms. The research extends its scope to include the difficulties encountered by students, as well as insights from instructors regarding the translation process.
The study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, utilizing a translation test as the primary data collection tool. The sample consists of 251 students from King Khalid University who are studying translation courses. Additionally, a questionnaire was distributed to 16 instructors to gain further insights into the students' translation strategies and the difficulties they face.
The key findings of the study reveal that "translation by paraphrase" is the most commonly used strategy among Saudi EFL students, followed by "using an idiom of similar meaning and form." The least used strategy is "using an idiom of similar meaning but different form." The study also highlights the significant challenges that students face, particularly in understanding and accurately translating idiomatic expressions due to cultural and linguistic differences between English and Arabic.
In conclusion, the study suggests that educators should focus more on idiom translation in the curriculum to improve students' competence. It recommends incorporating idiomatic expressions into English language teaching from the elementary level through university. The findings emphasize the need for students to develop a deeper understanding of both the source and target languages and cultures to enhance their translation skills.