Translating Local Literature: The Limits of Conveying Realia from ʻAbd al-Raḥman Munīf’s Mudun al-Milḥ to Peter Theroux's Cities of Salt

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges of translating realia (elements of local reality deeply bound up with the universe of reference of the original culture) in the translation of Mudun al-Milḥ (Al-Tīh) by ʻAbd al-Raḥman Munīf, as rendered into English by Peter Theroux. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Sergei Vlakhov, Sider Florin, Lauren Leighton, Peter Newmark, and Susan Bassnett, the study compares and analyzes the original Arabic text and its English translation from the perspective of a bilingual (Arabic/English) Saudi. The paper argues that the concept of "realia" plays a critical role not only in understanding the novel's cultural setting but also in conveying the complexities of the Saudi/Bedouin identity and worldview. It examines how the translation process transcends linguistic equivalence, encompassing social, cultural, and historical realities that are challenging to transfer. The analysis emphasizes that the local reality in Al-Tīh extends beyond culturally specific terms to encompass the unique ways language is used within the community, and it reflects the lived experiences of its members in a way that can only be truly comprehended by those who are part of that community. The paper shows that these aspects result in varying degrees of cultural and linguistic untranslatability, where certain aspects are inevitably lost in translation. By examining key examples from both the original Arabic text and the English translation, it is demonstrated that differences in the "universe of reference" between Munīf’s and Theroux’s versions contribute to distortions in the portrayal of realia, ultimately affecting the representation of the novel’s cultural and social contexts.