The Challenges of Translating Cultural Elementsin the Novel “El-Lis'sWal-Kilab” Naguib Mahfouz: Comparison of Two Translations, with Emphasis onNewmark Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Translation is one of the most important contemporary cultural issues. Thetranslator's jobis not only to replacewords, butasamediator, to createsome sort of coordination betweenthe national cultureandthe source culture thathasits owncustoms. This makes difficult the work of translator and makes his mission even more complex. Newmark, the American scholar and theorist in the field of translation proposed a method for translating cultural elements thathave been accepted in scientific circles. This study used a descriptive-analytical method, and based on Newmark's theoretical framework, it attempted to criticize and reviewthe translation of cultural concepts inthe novel "El-lis'swal-kilab" by Naguib Mahfouz, which has been translated by two Iranian translators. Despitethe efforts made by the two translators, there can be seen complexities and short comings in the translation of cultural elements.The results show that in the translation, the integrative approach is less used as a method for the successful translation of cultural elements.

Keywords

• culture
• cultural elements
• translation
• newmark
• thenovelel-lis'swal-kilab