The Challenge of English Idioms in Literature: Examination of the Translation of Idioms in Modern Novels, Using t
Abstract
The current study investigated the challenge of English idioms in literature by examining the
translation of idioms in modern novels, using the works of Amy Tan. Also, while analysing novels
translated by works of Amy Ruth Tan, the researcher explored other literature translated from
English into Arabic and other languages to get a clear comparison. Translation of idiomatic
expressions is a process that has been challenging because of different factors. Some of these
factors hindering successful translation include, lexical difficulties, stylistic difficulties,
grammatical difficulties, as well as cultural difficulties. Idioms, idiomatic expressions and figures
of speech are evident in all the languages across the world. More so, the study indicated that
translating idiomatic expressions with culturally-bound aspects has been a challenge for many
translators. The findings of this study show that idiom translators employ different strategies that
depend on the context to which certain words are used. However, these idioms differ from one
language to another due to social (geographical differences), cultural, (customs, beliefs, religions
and values etc.) linguistic (semantics and aesthetics) and other non-linguistic factors. These idioms
are also similar in particular languages or can be explained using a series of phrases during the
process of translation into the target language to provide the best suiting description of a context,
situation or event. The translation from one language into another is problematic with various
challenges stemming both from the linguistic nature of the languages involved as well as the
behaviour of the speakers both native and non-native which influences the quality of the
interpretation. Despite the compressive findings presented, the scope of this study was limited.
The researcher focused only on literature translated from English into Arabic. Nonetheless, the
current study was successful as the researcher managed to investigate and report several challenges
and most frequently used strategies in translating idioms from one language into another.