International Journal of Translation and Interpretation Studies
The International Journal of Translation and Interpretation Studies (IJTIS) is a double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development, United Kingdom. It is designed to disseminate knowledge and research relevant to all areas of Translation and Interpretation. IJTIS seeks to address broad, common concerns among scholars working in various areas of Translation and Interpreting Studies, while encouraging sound empirical research that could serve as a bridge between academics and practitioners. Finally, IJTIS is a forum for the dissemination in English translation of relevant scholarly research originally published in languages other than English.
Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development
Comparative Analysis of Quranic Text Translation into English Using ChatGPT and Google Translate
This study looks at how Google Translate and ChatGPT translate Qur’anic verses into English and compares their approaches. It focuses on seven themes: belief, laws, prophethood, death and resurrection, moral teachings, creation and nature, and human history. Using a comparative experimental method, the translations are examined for accuracy, word choice, and how well they convey context. The results show that both tools communicate the meaning of the verses effectively, but in different ways: Google Translate is more literal, while ChatGPT offers translations that are more interpretive and contextual. ChatGPT’s explanations often make ethical and moral nuances clearer, which a literal translation may miss. This study highlights the potential of AI tools to help readers better understand Qur’anic texts and suggests further research on the ethical considerations of using AI in translating sacred texts.
ChatGPT; Google translate; translation; Quran
Copyright (c) 2026 Islam Ababneh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Self Systematic Review of Translation Error Studies (2000–2025): The Case of Students’ Errors in English–Arabic and Arabic–English Translation
Despite the plethora of empirical studies on students’ translation errors, no systematic reviews (SRs) or meta analyses (MAs) have been conducted in this area. Existing reviews are largely narrative or theoretical, leaving a clear gap in synthesizing evidence on English–Arabic and Arabic–English translation errors produced by student translators. This study addresses this gap by conducting a self systematic review of the author’s empirical research published between 2000 and 2025. It aims to identify translation error types, strategies, and causes, and to map the linguistic and cognitive factors that shape students’ translation performance. A corpus of 19 studies was compiled and organized into five thematic clusters: (i) nonliteral and culturally bound expressions, (ii) scientific and technical terminology, (iii) lexical and collocational errors, (iv) grammatical and syntactic errors, and (v) human vs. AI comparative translation studies. Across these clusters, the review reveals consistent patterns in students’ translation behavior. Recurring error types include literal translation, avoidance, partial translation, transliteration, substitution by synonyms, and paraphrase. The most difficult structures for students were opaque metaphors, culture specific idioms, ibn/bint expressions, polysemes, chemical common names, complex SVO/VSO patterns, and grammatical agreement. Moderately difficult items included binomials, numeral based expressions, om/abu expressions, neologisms, and collocations, while transparent metaphors, simple kinship terms, basic plurals, and straightforward SVO/VSO sentences were comparatively easier. Error sources include limited L1 and L2 lexical knowledge, insufficient exposure to domain specific terminology, restricted cultural knowledge, inadequate collocational competence, and weak morphosyntactic competence in Arabic. Additional causes involve structural interference from English, limited ability to analyze complex source structures, and insufficient awareness of fixed expressions as holistic semantic units. Collectively, the studies highlight the need for explicit instruction in metaphorical mapping, collocational behavior, semantic disambiguation, domain specific vocabulary, scientific nomenclature, and cultural understanding. They also underscore the importance of contrastive analysis of English–Arabic structures and training in discourse level translation strategies that move beyond literal meaning. This review provides the first structured map of translation error patterns in this language pair, filling a critical gap in SR and MA research and supporting the development of more effective, data driven translator training programs in Saudi Arabia.
Systematic review (SR), translation studies, student translators, Al-Jarf’s translation studies, Arabic-English translation studies, English-Arabic translation studies, literal translation, translation error types translation strategies, translation error sources.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Gender Inclusivity in Audiovisual Translation: Challenges, Strategies, and Global Practices
Gender inclusivity refers to the growing focus of audio-visual translation (AVT) since media messages are spreading worldwide and influencing the identity vision held by the population. This paper looks into the issues, approaches, and global practices to render the issue of gender in a factual and respectable manner across nations and cultures. Such challenges as linguistic asymmetries, gender norms, inherent in a culture, or limitations to subtitling, dubbing, and voice-over are present. The study identifies ways in which translators manoeuvre through gender-neutral pronouns and nobodies and gendered speech regimes without disrupting the presentations, comprehension to the audience, and allegiance to its reference source. The analysis of the global cases studies through comparison provides the research with the identification of emergent best practices and innovative techniques used in various regions. It claims that in AVT that is gender inclusive one will need not just the knowledge of the language but also be culturally sensitive and ethical. Finally, the paper will highlight the importance of AVT in ensuring the provision of fair representation and making media environments more inclusive across the world. Based on the examples of English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, streaming and institutional media, the study suggests a viable strategy toolkit and shows how theory, policy, and professional practice can be combined to facilitate inclusive AVT.
Gender-inclusive language, audiovisual translation, subtitling, dubbing, singular they, Arabic, French, Spanish, inclusivity strategies
The Role of Legal Translation in Regional Integration: A Ghana-ECOWAS Perspective
This article explores the central role of legal translation in advancing regional cohesion within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with particular emphasis on Ghana’s legal and linguistic contributions. As a multilingual and multi-jurisdictional entity, ECOWAS relies on harmonized legal instruments that must operate across diverse traditions and languages, principally English, French, and Portuguese. As an Anglophone member, Ghana has adopted several legal frameworks consistent with ECOWAS objectives; however, these texts are seldom available in the organization’s other working languages, thereby constraining their reach and effectiveness. Based on empirical data collected at border posts, immigration services, courts, and from translation experts through interviews, observations, and questionnaires, the study assesses the impact of translation—or the lack thereof—on legal harmonization, policy implementation, and regional cohesion. The article contends that legal translation transcends the confines of linguistic transfer, functioning instead as a strategic mechanism that guarantees institutional interoperability, inclusivity, and adherence to regional commitments. It concludes with recommendations for targeted translation policies and institutional reforms designed to reinforce ECOWAS integration through accessible multilingual legal frameworks.
CEDEAO, Intégration régionale, Lois d’Intégration, Traduction juridique
Copyright (c) 2026 Sampson Awafo, Theophile Kwame Atonon , Aloysius Kuuning https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Making of a Discipline: Trajectories in Translation Studies
Long regarded as merely the art of transferring words, translation now reveals its deeper complexity: situated between fidelity, cultural dynamics and cognitive processes, it has become an interdisciplinary field where history meets science and practice informs theory. This study examines how translation evolved from an empirical craft into a structured discipline, raising the underlying question of how theoretical models can account for the cultural and cognitive forces that shape communicative acts. The objective is to trace this evolution by foregrounding the linguistic mechanisms, mental operations and cultural mediations that underpin translational activity. Methodologically, the analysis combines a historical review of translation practices, a critical reading of key theoretical contributions, and an observation of translational processes. The findings point toward a discipline increasingly grounded in cognitive modelling, historical awareness and professional competence. These developments suggest new perspectives for translation pedagogy and research, particularly in integrating cultural literacy with scientific approaches to meaning-making. From a simple transfer of words to an interdisciplinary science, translation shows that every word matters, every culture speaks, and understanding a text means understanding a world—between fidelity, culture and cognition.
Cognitive processes, cultural mediation, interdisciplinarity, historical perspective, theoretical models
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Saudi Arabia-Certified Translator Programme: Impact on Translation Competence and Employability
There is growing scholarly interest in the influence of translation certification on translation competence and the translation profession. The current study investigated certified translators’ perceptions of how the Saudi Arabia-Certified Translators Programme (SACTP) enhanced their translation competence and influenced their employability as well as the improvements deemed necessary. The study recruited 74 translators certified by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission (LPTC) of Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was employed for data collection, and qualitative and quantitative analytical methods were applied. The findings revealed that respondents generally perceived the SACTP as moderately enhancing their translation competence. Overall, respondents perceived a moderate impact of the SACTP on their employability. Additionally, the findings provided insights into recommended improvements, such as incorporating more practical sessions or mock translation/certification test samples, integrating CAT and AI tools into the certification to replicate industry practices, introducing additional language pairs and certification types, launching collaborations with translation agencies and mandating certification for government translation projects to increase the credibility and value of LPTC certification. The study recommends launching pre-certification initiative, such as paid certification test samples and post-certification initiatives, such as professional self-marketing, translation project management and translation technologies to equip certified translators with the knowledge and competences required to compete effectively in the translation market. The study also identifies areas for future research, including investigating translation agencies’ perspectives on the LPTC certified translator programme and examining how the programme influences the translation market in Saudi Arabia.
Certified translator, translation certification, translation competence, certified translator employability, certified translator programme improvements
Impact of AI on Legal and Institutional Translation: Issues and Strategies
The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has drastically transformed the sphere of legal and institutional translation. This article critically examines the various impacts of AI-based translation technologies, that is, Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and Large Language Models (LLMs), on the accuracy, reliability, and ethical implications of legal and institutional translation. Drawing on a comprehensive literature review, theoretical models of translation studies and technology acceptance, and case analysis of the European Union, United Nations, and multinational law firms, the article identifies the key issues such as ambiguous terminology, jurisdiction, data privacy, and loss of employment. As the analysis shows, the existing AI systems face the problem of system-based legal terminology, cultural and legal context, and risks of bias and accountability failures. The article subsequently recommends several measures to be taken, including people-involving workflow, training AI customization, robust quality assurance processes, and professional growth of translators. New trends, including the emergence of real-time legal translation, law reform, and the increasingly important role of translators as AI supervisors and moral gatekeepers are also discussed. The article concludes by emphasizing that responsible, ethical, and co-working innovation is instrumental in ensuring that AI becomes a capable partner in the battle to ensure justice, clarity, and understanding of the law in the multilingual legal practice.
Legal Translation, Institutional translation, Neural machine Translation, Ethics, post-editing, Data security, Professional development
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Metaphors in The Woman in Black: A Translational Study from Peter Newmark´s perspective
This study analyzes the strategies used in the Spanish translation of the metaphors present in Chapter 10 of Susan Hill's (1983) The Woman in Black, titled "Whistle and I'll Come to You". In the context of Gothic literature, metaphors play a crucial role in creating atmospheres of tension, mystery, and fear. The main objective of this research is to identify and classify the metaphors present in Chapter 10 of the work in order to determine the translation strategy in each case. Through a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical-comparative methodology, 10 significant metaphors were selected to identify the type of metaphor and classify the metaphor translation strategies proposed by Peter Newmark (1988). A literary analysis of the stylistic role of each metaphor was also conducted. The findings reveal that the predominant strategy is the reproduction of the original image; therefore, the aim was to preserve the emotional effect of the original text, prioritizing semantic fidelity without sacrificing the fluency or naturalness of the Spanish language. This demonstrates a deep understanding of the Gothic genre and the function of metaphor as a narrative device. Furthermore, it is concluded that the effective translation of literary metaphors requires not only linguistic competence but also aesthetic sensitivity and knowledge of the cultural context. This analysis provides tools for translation practice and at the same time emphasizes the importance of metaphors as fundamental elements in literary translation, especially in genres that rely on figurative language to convey their atmosphere and deeper meaning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Claudia Castañeda Gracía https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of AI-Driven Systems in Enhancing Translation Competence and Socio-Cultural Mediation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entirely changed the translation industry. Neural machine translation (NMT) and various AI-driven technologies have significantly enhanced translation abilities, resulting in faster, more precise, and more effective translations. Sociocultural negotiation—adapting to arrangements suitable for the culture and context—remains a challenge for AI systems. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of this technology, as well as the role of AI in developing translation abilities and sociocultural negotiation. Although AI machines can provide a helping hand in processing and assist with language tasks, they are not yet equipped with the cultural knowledge necessary to produce high-quality translations, especially in sensitive areas such as literary, legal, and medical translation. The paper also discusses the growing role of human know-how and the ethics of AI in translation, with a focus on the collaboration between human translators and AI technology. Incorporating AI devices into business translation activities can yield more professional outcomes without compromising cultural and contextual precision within the original text. In the long term, the future of translation is integrating AI with human expertise.
AI-Driven Translation; Neural Machine Translation; Translation Competence; Socio-cultural Mediation; Machine Learning in translation
Copyright (c) 2025 Keivan Seyyedi, Fereydoon Rasouli, Hoshyar Azaldin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Personality-Related Translation Disparity: ISTP vs ISTJ Performance Analysis
Although language and cognitive models have been used to investigate translation performance in great detail, the influence of personality-driven cognitive styles is yet unknown. This paper looks at how different Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profiles; more specifically, ISTJ (introvert sensing thinking judging) and ISTP (introvert sensing thinking perceiving), impact translation results for undergraduate students. Translation accuracy, error type, and confidence in self-evaluation were assessed in a quantitative approach. Fewer syntactic and cohesive faults defined ISTJs’ consistent strength in organized activities. Though they created more lexical and omission-related mistakes, ISTPs showed better flexibility in creative settings. Additionally, while ISTPs usually judged their performance more favorably, ISTJs often underestimated the accuracy of their translations. These findings underline different translation tendencies affected by cognitive preferences and imply that personalized techniques sensitive to individual personalities could help to improve translator training.
MBTI, ISTJ, ISTP, psychometrics, translation
Translation of Dysphemisms and Cacophemisms in Film Subtitling: A Humorous Perspective
This research focuses on the use of humor in a cinematographic text, in which the use of foul language or dysphemisms and cacophemisms as humor mechanisms is becoming more and more common, as in the case of the comedy film Norbit (2007) directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy. The film uses crude humor, vulgar, transgressive and offensive language, which at the time of translation is complicated and presents challenges for the translator. The objective of this research is to identify the dysphemisms and cacophemisms of the original script in order to compare them with the translation in the subtitles to see if the sense and the illocutive force is preserved, omitted or changed. The methodology of this research is qualitative, using discourse analysis with a descriptive and comparative approach. Key fragments of the film where dysphemisms and cacophemisms are used were selected, as well as their translation into Spanish in the subtitling of these fragments. In addition, analysis sheets were used to compare the original and translated content in semantic and humorous terms to see what translation solutions are used for each situation where dysphemisms or cacophemisms appear. The results of this research show that the translation of dysphemisms and cacophemisms is softened by discursive mechanisms that soften the offensive effect of the original. However, it is concluded that the translator must make use of more creative and culturally adapted translation strategies to preserve the humorous effect on the target language viewers.
Negotiating Polysemy: A Critical Analysis of ḍaraba in Four English Translations of the Qur’an
This study investigates the polysemous Qur’anic verb daraba, a lexeme whose diverse semantic range—from physical striking and traveling to parable-setting and legal-metaphorical usage—poses significant challenges for translators. Focusing on four influential English versions of the Qur’an (Pickthall, Asad, Bakhtiar, and Sahih International), the research applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine how translators’ lexical and discursive choices both reflect and reproduce ideological orientations. The analysis categorizes 53 occurrences of daraba into five semantic domains: physical action, parable-setting, traveling, punishment/discipline, and legal/metaphorical usage. The findings reveal that the translators converge on neutral renderings in less contested categories (e.g., traveling), but diverge sharply in sensitive contexts such as Q 4:34, where translation choices range from “scourge” and “strike” to “beat” and “go away.” CDA emphasises that these differences are discursive interventions influenced by gendered, cultural, and theological commitments rather than semantically neutral ones. Asad rationalises meaning through philosophical contextualisation, Bakhtiar reformulates ethically to challenge patriarchal readings, Sahih International simplifies for accessibility in accordance with conservative orthodoxy, and Pickthall maintains a biblical-archaic solemnity. This study shows that Qur'anic translation is a site of ideological negotiation where polysemy becomes a resource for framing authority, ethics, and reform by fusing semantic typology with discourse analysis. The results support translation studies, Qur'anic studies, and discussions about the relationship between language, ideology, and sacred texts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mahmoud Altarabin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Lexical Interference Problems that EFL Undergraduate Students in Jordan Encounter when Translating General Texts from Arabic into English
The interfernce of one language into the other during translation is common among language students. This study was devoted to the lexical interference problems that English major undergraduate students in Jordanian universities encounter when translating Arabic texts into English. Twenty five of males and twenty five of females Fifty participants students were are chosen to take the translation test, the responses were are collected, analyzed and categorized into six lexical categories: collocation, polysemy, redundancy, synonyms, metaphors, and prepositions. The results showed that the students committed lexical interference due to determining sources including students’ lack of the first language (L1) and the second language ( L2) awareness including lack of L2 vocabulary, misuse of dictionaries, use of translation machines and carelessness. The study recommended holding an efficiency exam for the students, preparing special intensive reading skill for school and post-graduated students and paying more attention to language interference when teaching translation courses.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aseel Hudaib, Mohammed Yousef Nofal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pan Arab Linguistic and Translation Errors and Strategies in Bilingual Linguistic Landscapes
This study sought to identify the types of linguistic and translation errors in bilingual linguistic landscapes (LLs) collected from seven Arab countries. Analysis of 96 Arabic-English and 229 English-Arabic LLs showed that top-down LLs constituted 54% of the Arabic-English and 46% of the English-Arabic LLs, whereas bottom-up constituted 41% of the Arabic-English and 59% of the English-Arabic LLs. About half of the LLs are commercial/promotional, followed by directional and safety/regulatory LLs. 32% of the LLs were translated correctly (Keep a safe distance, Road ahead closed, Use safety harness, Vital signs, Departures) as they are top-down LLs issued by government bodies, hospitals, airports, or municipalities that typically employ professional translators, use standardized terminology, context-aware phrasing, cultural and idiomatic sensitivity, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and functional equivalence. 15% have syntactic errors (Danger Forklift Traffic Area خطر...رافعة البضائع منطقة المرور, and 20% contain grammatical errors with faulty agreement, singular/plural, definite/indefinite, derived forms, and faulty interpretation of prepositional phrases and idioms prevalent in bottom-up signs (Care for Life> نهتم بالحياة; Slow Down> (تحت تمهل. Semantic errors as meaning misidentification, contextual misfit, idiom misinterpretation, inappropriate collocation, and incorrect word choice constitute 26% )Vertical Steamersغالية عمودية ; Custard Apple (كسترد. Orthographic errors accounted for 3% (*Ciub street for Club street, Par King for Parking, نعتزر instead of (نعتذر and 13% contained multiple errors with overlapping semantic, grammatical, syntactic, lexical, and/or contextual inaccuracies. Some Arabic equivalents sound awkward and meaningless (Biohazard/Medical Waste النفايات الطبية واقية ; Clearance Price تصفية السعر; Prepared Meatsاللحوم استعداد; Tetra Pack Juice عصير بتغلق تترا ; Hair Straighteners سيراميك الشعر; Keep Site Cleanالحفاظ على الموقع كلين (حافظ على نظافة الموقع); Live Station (منطقة طازج. In most LL translation, literal word-for-word translation was the dominant strategy, followed by transliteration instead of using a native Arabic equivalent. Linguistic and translation errors in bilingual LLs are attributed to DIY (Do It Yourself), complex, long, or technical source phrases, cultural and linguistic mismatch, lack of standardized glossaries, lack of standardization of equivalents and transliterated forms, and low translator training. Recommendations for improving the linguistic and translation accuracy of bilingual LLs in Arabi countries are given.
bilingual linguistic landscapes, Arab countries, English-Arabic linguistic landscapes, Arabic-English linguistic landscapes, translation errors, linguistic errors, grammatical errors, orthographic errors, syntactic errors, semantic errors
Copyright (c) 2025 Reima Al-Jarf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Teaching the Use of the Modal Verb Shall in Translating English Legal Texts from English into Arabic
This paper is an attempt to cast light on the use of the modal verb shall in legal text of different types. It is understood that modal verbs including the use of shall is the backbone of English language grammar. Nowadays, people use English language on daily basis for communication, and modal verbs are means of such communication. Learners at university level think that the modal shall is connected to the future tense. Others think that the modal shall is for formality and official uses among governmental departments. As to those interested in legalese, they consider the modal shall is a matter of obligation within the scope of legality. A group of (40) university graduates, interested in legalese, was under this study for a period of (4) weeks as of January 05th until February 04th, 2025 via Google Classroom platform. The result disclosed that learners witnessed and touched a redundancy in the use of the modal shall in legal texts, and made a difference between the use of shall in plain daily language use and in legal texts. Learners of this study understood that they could abandon the use of the modal verb shall which is an indication for formality as they are part of this digital small village. However, they absorbed the point that the modal shall cannot be neglected, even when there are some sounds here and there calling for getting back to plain English use.
Teaching, Modal Verb Shall, Translation, Google Classroom, Learners
Translating Divine Attributes: A Comparative Analysis of Al-Aziz Al-Hakim in Selected Qur'anic Translations
Translating divine attributes from the Qur’an into English Qur’an translation involves decisions shaped by theological, linguistic, and contextual considerations. The pair العزيز الحكيم (Al-Aziz Al-Hakim) appears exactly 47 times in the Qur’an. This paper investigates M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s context-sensitive translations regarding these specific attributes. Most often, "the power to decide," "the Exalted, the Decider," "the Mighty, the One to Decide," and "the Well-Informed Judge." Other modern translators, like Mustafa Khattab and Musharraf Hussain, consistently employ "the Almighty, All-Wise" and "the Almighty, the Wise," respectively. Using Vermeer and Reiß's (2013) Skopos theory as a guiding theoretical framework, this paper examines Abdel Haleem’s context-sensitive translation approach, exploring why and how the translation purpose and audience affect translation decisions. The findings indicate that 44 instances are rendered identically by Abdel Haleem, whereas three use context-driven variants. This suggests that variation is intentional and reflects a functionalist translation strategy rather than inconsistency. Khattab and Hussain’s translations are consistent in translating the two attributes. Both of them put more emphasis on uniformity and doctrinal clarity over context-based variation.
Translation; divine attributes; Skopos; Qur’anic verses; context-sensitive translations; Al-Aziz Al-Hakim
Differences between Subtitle Translation and Dubbing in Netflix’s Series Beef
This research focuses on the differences between subtitles and dubbed translation in a Netflix series titled Beef with English and Indonesian as the source and target languages. This study aims to prove whether it is true that subtitle translation tends to be rigid while dubbing tends to be free. This research utilizes a descriptive qualitative method. The research was conducted by applying Gottlieb's (1992) subtitle translation strategy, Newmark's (1998) translation method, and Venuti's (1995) translation ideology to compare the two forms of audiovisual translation on the same source text. The results show that subtitles mostly use strategies that reduce the message of the source text, while dubbing uses strategies that add or change the message of the source text. The research concludes that despite the differences in strategies, both subtitles and dubbing applied the communicative method and domestication ideology to almost the same degree, and the contrasting difference between them lies in the linguistic styles that are employed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emir Salim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Interjections Used in the Novel “The Midnight Library”: Types, Functions, and Translation Strategies
Communication, a fundamental part of human existence, enables interaction among individuals through the conception of meaningful information conveyed by language, which represents ideas and emotions. This study seeks to analyze the types and functions of interjection found in the novel “The Midnight Library” along with translation strategies employed in its Indonesian translation “Perpustakaan Tengah Malam”. It employed a descriptive qualitative method, collecting data from both novels as data sources, calculating and categorizing the identified interjections, followed by in-depth elaboration. There were 359 interjections found in the novel. Employing the theory proposed by Ameka in identifying the types of interjections, the novel had 112 Primary Interjections (31%) and 247 Secondary interjections (69%). As for the functions, there were 58 expressive functions, 17 conative functions, and 284 phatic functions. Referring to the Cuenca’s translation strategies, this study identified the translator employed literal translation (56%), translation with dissimilar form but identical meaning (16%), non-interjective structure with similar meaning (6%), translation with different meaning (10%), omission (6%), and addition (6%). The findings indicated that secondary types and phatic functions are predominantly used interjection in the novel, whereas the literal translation strategy is the most dominant strategy used by the translator for translating interjections in its Indonesian translation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Katie Stephanie, Ardik Ardianto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Translating the Persuasion Style of the Marribi Proverbs into English: From the Interpretive Theory Perspective
Translation is a multicultural platform for exchanging culture, knowledge, and science among communities of different cultural backgrounds. Arabic proverbs represent the cultural heritage that contributes to the rich and civilized tapestry of various Arab tribes. Marribi proverbs serve as a means of communication, persuasion that spreading the culture of peace and war to enhance the coexistence and understanding within Yemeni and Arab tribes. This study aims to identify the persuasion style of the Marribi proverbs and translate them into their English equivalents. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the interpretive translation theory (1970) established by Danica Seleskovitch and Marianne Lederer. This study examines the most effective strategies for translating the Marribi persuasion proverbs into English. The present study used descriptive-analytical and comparative methods to describe, analyze, and compare Marribi proverbs with their English equivalents to identify their semantic, syntactic, and stylistic similarities and differences. Thirty Marribi proverbs addressing the persuasive style were collected from various sources and analyzed by using the qualitative method. The findings of this study showed that most of the Marribi proverbs are used to persuade people to adapt to various circumstances in their lives. The current study asserted that Marribi proverbs and their English equivalents utilize two distinct forms of persuasion: explicit and implicit. The present study found that semantic equivalence, free translation, paraphrasing, functional, and abstraction change strategies are the most effective strategies for translating Marribi's persuasive proverbs into English. This study contributes to preserving the Marribi proverbs so they are easily accessible worldwide. The current study is significant as it adds to the cultural translation of the Arabic Observatory of Translation in KSA. This study emphasizes the need for further studies on translating the linguistic styles of Yemeni and Arab proverbs.
Proverbs, Marribi Dialect, Persuasion Style, Interpretive Theory
The Place of Technology in Translator Training Programs in the Arab World
Translation technologies knowledge, or ‘technological competence,’ seems to be an agreed-upon component in various translation competence models (see Kiraly 2013, Pym 2013, and the PACTE group's 2003 and 2005 publications). The current study aims to identify the place of technology in translator training programs in the Arab world. Additionally, it seeks to ascertain whether technology-related courses are clearly recognized in the programs’ objectives and course descriptions. To conduct the study, all universities offering MA programs in translation and/or translation and English were identified. Then, a corpus of all translator training programs that offer translation technology courses, including program objectives and course descriptions, was compiled. Finally, a comprehensive description and analysis were carried out to identify The Place of Technology in Translator Training programs in the Arab World. The results of the study reveal that ‘technological competence’ is largely ignored in the vast majority of MA translation programs curricula in the Arab world specifically when it comes to localization courses.
Translation technologies; CAT tools; localization; translator training; Arab world
Knowledge Generation through TMS’s; Phrase as a case study
This study aims to examine Translation Management Systems (TMS) and their role in knowledge generation by exploring the mechanisms for organizing and automating the process of machine-based knowledge generation on the Phrase platform, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence integration in this context. The study also seeks to assess the reliability and security of data on the Phrase platform and to identify the core values and principles it upholds in knowledge generation and the management of scientific terminology. The researchers employed a content analysis methodology to investigate the platform’s role in knowledge generation. The study concluded with several findings, most notably that Phrase supports the four stages of knowledge creation as outlined in the SECI model. The Socialization stage was evident in the exchange of experiences among translators through forums and workshops within the platform. Externalization appeared through the documentation of translators’ experiences in the form of articles, guides, and manuals, as well as through the use of artificial intelligence in translation and analysis. Combination was observed through the integration of linguistic databases, terminology resources, and translation tools with various sources to develop more accurate translation models, alongside the use of machine learning techniques to build an interactive translation database. Finally, Internalization was reflected in the training of translators through educational courses based on stored explicit knowledge, aimed at enhancing performance. The researchers recommend that institutions involved in knowledge generation should leverage translation management systems such as Phrase, capitalizing on its data reliability, security features, and its foundational values and principles in knowledge generation and terminology management. Additionally, they recommend the inclusion of dedicated courses on translation management systems within university-level translation programs.
Knowledge Generation- Translation management systems- Phrase- SECI
Reinterpreting Benjamin’s Translational Constellation: A Quantum Field Perspective on Interpretive Entanglement in Classical Text Translation Networks
This study offers a quantum field-theoretical reinterpretation of Walter Benjamin’s theory (Young-Jin 2005) of the “translational constellation,” positing that classical texts exist in a state of “interpretive entanglement” across linguistic and historical contexts. By developing a Translation Entanglement Metric (TEM) grounded in complex network analysis, the research uncovers non-local correlations among translations of the Daodejing (《道德经》), demonstrating that meaning emerges not from isolated interpretive acts but from the dynamic interplay of translational practices across time and space. Drawing on quantum hermeneutics, the study challenges the linear model of translation as a sequence of discrete events, reframing it instead as a quantum field where each translation functions simultaneously as a nodal entity and a wave of meaning, entangled with others in a non-hierarchical constellation. Case studies of Arthur Waley, James Legge, and Roger T. Ames’ translations of the Daodejing illustrate how TEM captures both semantic resonance and ideological dissonance, revealing that Benjamin’s “afterlife of the original” is best conceptualized as a quantum system of overlapping possibilities, where fidelity and creativity coexist in a state of superposition. This interdisciplinary approach establishes a quantum cognitive framework for translation studies, expanding the spatiotemporal dimensions and ontological implications of classical text interpretation.
Benjamin’s Translational Constellation Theory; Quantum Hermeneutics; Interpretive Entanglement; Translation Network Analysis; Translation Entanglement Metric (TEM)
Copyright (c) 2025 Pengfei Bao https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reconceiving Translation: Homi Bhabha's Hybridity and the Third Space in Literary Translation
This conceptual paper critiques the overgeneralized adoption of hybridity in translation studies, exposing its theoretical circularity, lack of actionable strategies and weak methodological grounding. Although hybridity is often conceptualized as a means of cultural negotiation, its translation-specific application remains underdeveloped. Bhabha’s “third space” metaphor is frequently cited but without translating it into actionable strategies, with existing applications being viewed either as too niche or essentializing cultural binaries. Therefore, the ethical dilemma of striking a balance between source text authenticity and target text accessibility remains unresolved, with actual translation decisions often oscillating between two extremes, either reinforcing or subverting hegemonic structures. To close this gap, this research proposes a dynamic hybrid model which puts practical strategies into action to overcome theoretical limitations of hybridity. The model draws on Joseph Malone’s practical strategies to combine foreignization and domestication in a dynamic framework which enables translators to maintain essential cultural elements while achieving clarity. The model presents a practical hybrid approach to literary translation, one that maintains a balanced harmony between faithfulness and accessibility.
Hybridity, Translation Studies, Cultural Exchange, Postcolonial Theory, Bhabha, Third Space, Literary Translation, Cultural Diversity.
Subtitling Strategies and Interpretative Choices in Rendering Quranic Verses into English In Documentaries
Subtitling Quranic verses in documentary films presents unique linguistic, cultural, and interpretative challenges, yet it remains an underexplored area in audiovisual translation studies. Unlike traditional Quranic translation research, which primarily focuses on written translations of the text, this study examines how Quranic verses, when naturally integrated into the discourse of documentary films, are subtitled. Drawing on a dataset of 47 Quranic verses across 10 out of 29 investigated documentary films, this research analyses subtitling strategies in films that address social, political, and cultural issues in Arab and Islamic contexts. Using Al-Shlool’s (2023) taxonomy of subtitling Islamic cultural items (ICIs), the study categorises and evaluates the techniques employed to render Quranic verses while maintaining their contextual relevance within the films. It explores whether subtitlers prioritise semantic accuracy, brevity, or contextual adaptation, and examines how these choices influence the transmission of Quranic meanings within the broader narrative of the documentaries. The findings reveal key patterns in the representation of Quranic discourse in audiovisual media, highlighting the constraints imposed by subtitle space and time, as well as the interpretative decisions that shape the portrayal of the Quran within authentic spoken interactions in documentary storytelling. By exploring the complexities of subtitling sacred texts in non-religious contexts, this study contributes to both Qur'anic translation studies and audiovisual translation research. It offers new insights into the intersection of Qur'anic discourse, media, and linguistic adaptation, shedding light on how religious texts are mediated in contemporary documentary storytelling.
Copyright (c) 2025 Safaa Al-Shlool https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Study on Innovative Ecological Translation of China’s Huxiang Culture Driven by Multimodal Corpora
The dissemination and effective export of Hu-Xiang culture are vital components of China’s cultural outreach to the world. The quality of Hu-Xiang culture’s translation abroad not only shapes China’s cultural soft power and global influence but also plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s image and cultural confidence. Based on the theory of ecological translation studies, this study delves into the ecological elements of Hu-Xiang culture’s translation activities and their interrelationships with the ecological translation environment. It constructs a comprehensive translation system for Hu-Xiang culture from micro, meso, and macro perspectives, aiming to enhance China’s cultural soft power and international influence. By optimizing the translation and dissemination models of Hu-Xiang culture, this analysis seeks to offer a new perspective for its international outreach, thereby promoting global understanding and recognition of Chinese culture.
Dissemination of Chinese culture abroad; Huxiang culture; Eco-translatology
Copyright (c) 2025 Chen Shengbai, Luo Haiyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Interpretation: The Shifts from Types to Modes
This study uses a descriptive approach to develop its assumptions. The study is an essay to limit the factors involved during an interpretation process. It also focuses on the shift in the interpretation process from a type to a mode. The discussion will tackle the three major types of interpreting: sight, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting. These attempts are used in teaching interpreting to undergraduate students and potentially those of higher levels. The study also analyses the modes of interpretation showing the significant changes and type shifts that occur during some interpretation processes. The study examined the usefulness of the types in conference interpreting. The study reveals the utility and the techniques to install in undergraduate studies on interpreting for the benefit of the students of interpreting. The study found that types and modes are necessary in conference interpreting.
Shifts, Conference Interpreting, Consecutive interpreting, Sight interpretation, Simultaneous interpreting, Types, Modes, oral language
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Trainee Interpreters’ Comments on Sight Translation Practice Oriented to Simultaneous Interpreting Learning: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Sight translation (ST) practice has been adopted by interpreter trainers to facilitate trainees’ simultaneous interpreting (SI) learning. However, it remains uncertain as to how trainee interpreters perceive the role of ST practice in SI learning and how such practice is carried out in different interpreter training programmes. Therefore, the study sets out to examine how trainee interpreters perceive and experience ST practice tailored to SI learning. In this study, nine trainee interpreters from three training programmes took part in one-to-one interviews about their SI-oriented ST practice, with the interview data subject to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Following IPA, two major themes occurred: 1) inconsistent perceptions towards ST’s effects on SI and 2) between-programme similarities/differences in arranging ST practice. The study serves to enrich scholarly understanding on SI-oriented ST practice, as well as demonstrating potential issues in ST practice designs.
sight translation, simultaneous interpreting, interpreter training, interpretative phenomenological analysis
Copyright (c) 2025 Yue Li https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Consecutive Interpreting Competence: Theoretical Analysis
The concept of competence was known through the 1970s-1980s. Any interpreter should have training or some knowledge about it. However, the idea of consecutive interpreting competence is developed timidly in many areas around the world. Similarly, the research on the models of translation and interpreting necessitates further research. Translation models are compared to consecutive interpreting ones. This study tries to find out if the same competencies used in interpreting as well as in translation are identical or show similarities regarding the skills and knowledge. So, the present study is an attempt to participate in this field through an empirical theoretical method. Consecutive interpreting competence (CIC) is studied, and the same items are studied in translation. Findings showed that at the level of skills and knowledge there are similarities between the two domains. However, consecutive interpreting competence require more mental efforts and skills than translation.
Consecutive interpreting, Interpreting competence, Model, Translation competence
Translating Resilience: A Study of ChatGPT and Google Translate on Palestinian Idioms from the Gaza Conflict 2023-2025
This study is primarily designed to evaluate and compare ChatGPT and Google Translate performance in translating Palestinian idioms used during the Gaza 2024 war. It also aims to compare the extent to which accuracy, context sensitivity and adaptability of the two translation tools can maintain cultural and contextual aspects of the idioms which can be challenging for machine translation tools. The researcher uses a qualitative research design and content analysis to examine the translation of 50 idioms selected from Al-Jazeera Mubashir interviews. The idioms were first categorized into socio-religious and social, and further subcategorized based on their context. Depending on their reflection of the source meaning, the translations were categorized as accurate, semi-accurate, or inaccurate. The study results demonstrate that ChatGPT significantly outperformed Google Translate, delivering 70% accurate translations compared to 48%. However, both ChatGPT and Google Translate did not accurately translate idioms containing implicit cultural and contextual meanings. ChatGPT’s adaptability is a standout feature which allows users to refine semi-accurate and inaccurate translations through explanation prompts. On the contrary, Google Translate lack of this feature and its static translation limit its ability to accept immediate user feedback and refine translation output. Despite the advancement of the two tools in general and ChatGPT outperformance in particular, human intervention for post-editing purposes remains necessary to ensure translation accuracy. The study puts forward recommendations to integrate ChatGPT into academic and professional translation practices and make optimal use of its adaptability as an interactive feature to improve semi-accurate or inaccurate translations. AI developers can enrich training datasets with idiomatic expressions and propose adaptation mechanisms to promote ChatGPT cultural awareness. Despite the significant progress AI has achieved in translation, human expertise and intervention remain irreplaceable.
Forms of Death of Professional Human Translators in the Era of Machine Translation Technologies
In this paper, we argued that professional human translators were dead. We explored the impact of advanced machine translation engines and artificial intelligence on professional human translators, taking those working in eight major language pairs as a case study. Qualitative data was collected with a questionnaire administered to 330 translators worldwide, and qualitative insights were gleaned from observation. The results showed seven forms of metaphorical death of professional human translators, namely loss of monopoly over the act of ‘translating,’ of monopoly over the title ‘translator,’ of style and voice, of identity and autonomy, of prestige and consideration, of security, and of opportunities and income.
Death, professional human translator, machine translation technologies, artificial intelligence