Time Metaphors in English and Arabic: Translation Challenges

Abstract

Time metaphorical expressions are common in all languages and in general as well as specialized contexts. This study explores the similarities and differences between English and Arabic time metaphorical expressions containing , and the difficulties that student-translators have in translating them; the translation strategies they use and the causes of translation weaknesses. A sample of English and Arabic general and specialized time metaphors containing second ثانية, minute دقيقة , hourساعة , day يوم , year سنة، عام , age, era, and epochحقبة , عصر;  الدهر eternity; time وقت، زمن was collected, analyzed and compared. It was found that time metaphorical expressions fall into 4 categories: (i) those that are identical in form and meaning in both languages (golden age, around the clock); (ii) those that are similar in meaning but differ in wording (wait for ages); (iii) those that exist in English, but have no equivalents in Arabic (time is money); and (iv) those that exist in Arabic but have no equivalents in English (زلزلة الساعة tremors of the day of judgment). Specialized expressions used in both languages are exact translations (Stone Age). Student-translators could translate fewer than 20% of the test items correctly and left many blank. Time metaphorical expressions similar in both languages were easy to translate, whereas opaque ones with an idiomatic or metonymic meaning and culture-specific ones were difficult (زمن  أكل عليه الدهر وشرب too old, obsolete; الرويبضة insignificant people talking about crucial issues ). Those that require a specialized background knowledge (العصر الطباشيري Cretaceous Period) were difficult as well. Numerous strategies were utilized in translating the time expression as literal translation, partial translation, paraphrase, using synonyms and extraneous translations. Results and recommendations for translation pedagogy are given.