Diglossia in Translating Proverbs between  Arabic and English: A Linguistic Perspective

Nasser Al-Qahtani; Mohammad Moghim Almotiry; Abdullah Saleh Aziz Mohammed

doi:10.55074/hesj.vi52.1746

Authors

Nasser Al-Qahtani Assistant Professor of Linguistics, Applied College Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Moghim Almotiry MA in Translation Studies, College of Science and Humanities in Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Saleh Aziz Mohammed Assistant Professor of Translation Studies, College of Science and Humanities in Dawadmi, Shaqra University Saudi Arabia; Department of English, Faculty of Arts Thamar University, Yemen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55074/hesj.vi52.1746

Keywords:

diglossia, formal/dynamic equivalence, pragmatic strategies, proverbs, Saudi vernacular, translation norms, untranslatability

Abstract

Diglossia is a common linguistic phenomenon in Arabic in all aspects of communication including proverbs. This paper examines how diglossia affects the translation of Arabic diglossic proverbs into English, taking Saudi vernacular as an example. The study adopts a descriptive analytical approach. Five (5) professional translators from five (5) Arab countries (Saudi, Yemeni, Egyptian, Syrian and Sudanese) were hired to respond and comment on thirty-six (36) carefully selected Saudi proverbs into English. The proverbs were categorised into six groups: lexical diglossia, morphological / phonological variation, code-mixing (code-switching), semantic / pragmatic contrast, frequency and cultural relevance, and formality-informality tension. The analysis is based on the views of Nida (formal and dynamic equivalence), Baker (pragmatic strategies) and Toury (translation norms). The findings show several facets of diglossia in translation. Translators closer to the Saudi context tended to prioritise adequacy and cultural specificity whereas others favoured target text acceptability and communicative clarity. Dynamic equivalence predominated for secular pragmatic proverbs while formal correspondence was preferred for religious and morally solemn items. Baker's pragmatic model proved to be useful in the analysis of translators' choices regarding implied meanings and translation shifts. Toury’s framework explained how initial, preliminary and operational norms guided translators’ choices. The study findings are valuable to translators, linguists, educationists, and cultural studies scholars.

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