The Translation of Figurative Language and Culture- Specific Items in Two Novels by Naguib Mahfouz: The Thief and the Dogs and Miramar: A Comparative Study

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

The present paper attempts to compare the translation of the
figurative language and culture-specific items in two novels by Naguib
Mahfouz: The Thief and the Dogs (1961) and Miramar (1967). The
analysis mainly explores whether the translation of the metaphors, the
similes and the culture-specific items has maintained the local colour of the
two novels. It is shown that in The Thief and the Dogs (1961), the two
translators; the main one who is a native-speaker of English and the cotranslator,
who is a native speaker of Arabic, have overlooked the
metaphors and similes in the source text and translated the intended
meaning only; whereas in Miramar (1976), the translator, who is a native
speaker of Arabic, has on rare occasions transferred the metaphors and
similes in the source text into the target text. Regarding the translation of
the culture specific items, it has been found that the translators of the two
novels have used some strategies to acquaint the target reader with various
aspects pertaining to the Egyptian culture, leaving other culture –bound
items vague to the target audience.

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