چکیده:
Abstract This study investigates ‘repetition’ in the English translation of the Arabic Novel, Adrift on the Nile (1993). It aims to explore the communicative functions of ‘repetition’ and to see if these functions have been maintained or lost in the process of translating the Novel. In addition, it seeks to find the translation strategies used in rendering ‘repetition’. To achieve this aim, a deep analysis of the functions of lexical items, phrase and root ‘repetitions’ was carried on the basis of the typology of ‘repetition’ proposed by Dickins et al. (2002). The results of the study show that the ‘repetitions’ examined have been used rhetorically for confirmation, assurance, and warning in terms of function. They have also been used as text-building devices. Regarding the maintenance or loss of the functions, it was found that they were both lost and gained in the translation. The translation strategies applied in the process of translation were found to be synonym, near-synonym, deletion, pronominalisation, and paraphrase. An important point found is that the translator has preferred to use ‘variation’ in his translation rather than ‘repetition’.
خلاصه ماشینی:
To achieve this aim, a deep analysis of the functions of lexical items, phrase and root ‘repetitions’ was carried on the basis of the typology of ‘repetition’ proposed by Dickins et al.
As explained by Johnston (1991: 4), ‘repetition’ is heavily used since it plays important textual and rhetorical functions in the Arabic language and culture.
Further, lexical item ‘repetition’ and root ‘repetition’ are two important features of Arabic language for they have a cohesive function.
Moreover, Koch (1983: 179) claims that the issue of ‘repetition’ is an important feature in Arabic argumentative discourse, which is characterised by rendering persuasive and cohesive functions.
What are the communicative functions of ‘repetition’ in the English translation of the Arabic Novel by Mahfouz?
It is known that English prefers variation more than ‘repetition’ and thus we see that the translator rendering the lexical word “حدود” once using its English equivalent synonym “limits” and the second time as “slippery slope”.
Repeating words in languages is a way of maintaining the lexical cohesion (Jawad: 2009), and thus we see the translator renders “سعادة” and “السعادة” as “sir” and “sir-ing”.
” Since “السعادة” is not translated as “happiness”, the meaning and function of the Arabic sentence are totally lost.
The translation of the second ‘repetition’ conveys a meaning that is different from the Arabic phrase.
Concluding remarks This study was carried out to examine the translation of Arabic ‘repetition’; namely, lexical item, phrase, and root ‘repetition’ into English.