A Critique of the English Translation of the Saudi Novel Mawt Ṣaghīr (A Small Death): A Case Study of Internal Paratexts Using Berman’s Model

Abstract

This study presents a critique of the translation of a Saudi novel, taking Mawt Ṣaghīr (A Small Death) by Mohammed Hasan Alwan as a case study. It selects internal paratexts from the novel as a sample for application, offering a critical analysis of their translation according to Berman’s model of translation criticism. The study aims to highlight what Berman calls “deforming tendencies” in translation. The study is divided into an introduction, two main sections, and a conclusion. The introduction outlines the topic, objectives, and significance. The first section is theoretical: it clarifies the term “internal paratexts,” discusses the concept of translation criticism and its relationship to literary criticism, and explains Berman’s approach to translation criticism through the negative model he proposed. The second section is devoted to the application of the model, where the study operationalizes this model on the selected sample by identifying the deforming tendencies it contains. It examining how their occurrence affects the translation’s success and quality. The study concludes with several findings, most importantly that deforming tendencies dominate the sample at a rate of 85%, while good translation constitutes only (15%). This result calls for improving the translation of internal paratexts in Mawt Ṣaghīr. The findings also confirm that Berman’s model is suitable for critiquing literary translation, despite noting some shortcomings, such as repetition.