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Translating Idioms

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Zohra Bouzeraib
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466 views3 pages

Translating Idioms

Uploaded by

Zohra Bouzeraib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Translating figurative language: Idioms

Idioms are phrases that have a figurative meaning different from the literal meanings of the individual
words.

Idiom translation issues:


• Difference in meaning between the SL and corresponding TL idiom

➢ ‘Pull someone’s leg’= ‫يسحب رجله‬

• The existence of no TL equivalent idiom

➢ ‘Bringing (or carrying) coal(s) to Newcastle


➢ ‘At the end of the day

• The difference in context and frequency of the usage of idioms between the SL and TL

Idiom translation strategies:


1. Direct (available) translation

English Expression Arabic Translation


You make my blood boil with your bad manners. . ‫إنك تجعل الدم يغلي في عروقي بسوء أخلاقك‬
She cannot believe her eyes/ears. .‫لا تستطيع أن تصدق عينيها – أذنيها‬
Turn something on its head. .‫يقلبه رأسا على عقب‬
To fish in troubled water. .‫يصطاد في الماء العكر‬
The ball is in their court. .‫الكرة في ملعبهم‬

2. Cultural substitution

English Expression Arabic Translation Back Translation


It’s raining like (it is coming from)
It is raining cats and dogs. ‫ تمطر كأفواه القرب‬waterskins’ mouths.
Beauty is skin deep. ‫ الجمال جمال الروح‬Beauty is the beauty of the soul.
He did not utter a word. (Lit. ‘the
The cat has got his tongue. ‫ لم ينبس ببنت شفة‬daughter of a lip’.)
Don't wash your dirty linen in
public. ‫ إذا بليتم فاستتروا‬If you have a problem, hide it.
3. Literal translation (Borrowing)
➢ ‘The ball is in someone’s court’=

4. Paraphrase

English Expression Arabic Translation Back Translation


'More or less' and 'plus or minus'. ‫تقريبا‬ Approximately
Blow the gaff. ‫يفشي السر‬ To tell the secret
Achilles’ heel. ‫نقطة ضعف‬ A point of weakness
Blown a microchip or two. ‫ُأجن أو فقد عقله‬ Gone mad
Caught red-handed. ‫متلبسا‬
ً ‫ضبط‬
ُ Caught in the act

5. Literal translation plus a paraphrase, an in-text gloss or a footnote

English Arabic
Expression Translation Paraphrase+intext+footnote*
'‫( 'يفعل شيئ عدِيم الجدوى‬to do something pointless) or
( '‫* 'كان إقتصاد مدينة نيوكاسل قائماً على بيع الفحم‬The
Bringing coals to ‫ يجلب الفحم إلى‬economy of the city of Newcastle was dependent on selling
Newcastle ‫نيوكاسل‬ coal)

6. Omission (with or without compensation)


➢ The translator might skip the idiom if there's no match in the target language or if it's too
complex to paraphrase. They may compensate by adding a different idiom in the target text.
Exercise

• Translate the following idioms into English. Then explain the strategy used in the translation.
‫ القرد في عين أمه غزال‬.1

‫ الباب يفوت جمل‬.2

‫ ال حول له و ال قوة‬.3

‫ فار دمي بسبب ما قاله‬.4

‫ إنه طويل اللسان‬.5

‫ طار عقله‬.6

‫ سمن غلى عسل‬.7

‫ ثقيل الدم‬.8

‫ خفيف الدم‬.9

‫ بنت الحالل‬.10

• Translate the following English idioms into Arabic. Then, explain the strategy used in the
translation.

1. ‘Got ahead of the game’

2. ‘A leap in the dark’

3. ‘A yes-man’

4. ‘All cats are black in the dark’

5. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’

6. ‘Get a taste of your own medicine’

7. ‘Beat around the bush’

8. ‘Give someone the benefit of the doubt’

9. ‘Pull yourself together’

10. ‘A picture is worth 1000 words’

11. ‘Do something at the drop of a hat.

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