Extended Translation Project: Translating Hannah Gold’s English Novel, The Lost Whale, into Arabic.

Abstract

This commentary explores the pivotal role of children's literature in conveying essential lessons about climate change and environmental responsibility. Focusing on the translation of Hannah Gold's 2022 novel, "The Lost Whale," the commentary delves into the challenges faced by the translator in rendering climate-related themes, particularly those concerning grey whales, into Arabic. The chosen approach involves applying Nord's instrumental translation strategy and Venuti's domestication approach, considering the target audience's cultural and linguistic context. Challenges encompass cultural nuances, religious references, idioms, and similes. The translation process is situated within a broader examination of the translation situation, including source text analysis using Nord's TOSTA model. The commentary establishes a global strategy derived from the source text analysis and the project's brief, addressing cultural and linguistic intricacies. By elucidating the complexities and proposing effective solutions, this commentary contributes to the discourse on translating environmental themes for young audiences. The conclusion reflects on the overall translation process, acknowledges limitations, and outlines avenues for future research.