An Investigation of Simplification and Cultural Taboos in Mohammad Reza Maraashipour's Translation of Two Novels Written by Naguib Mahfouz Al-Tariq and Zaqaq Al_Medaq

Abstract

Simplification is one of the universal features of translation, and this feature means that translators benefit special techniques to simplify the language of translated text. According to Baker, the simplification is the tendency to simplify the translated text for the readers, and it is also the tendency to choose one interpretation and prevent other interpretations. In this case, the translator enhances the clarity by removing ambiguities. In this paper, considering Baker’s definition of the universals, especially simplification, a descriptive and analytical method is used to study this feature in Mohammad Reza Maraashipour's translation of two novels written by Naguib Mahfouz Al-Tariq (the way) and Zaqaq Al_Medaq (Medaq’s alley). However, the main problem of this research is the role of simplification in the transmission of cultural taboos while taking the differences of cultural norms in the first language to that of the target language is not a little problem. The findings of this study show that the removal of complex structures and replacing them with simpler structures, simplification of the existing structure, diminution of meaning of formidable vocabulary or elimination of some vocabulary, specially elimination or diminution of cultural taboos that the most evident of which is the sexual scenes are the distinctive characteristics of Maraashipour’s individual style. Although the translated text has become simplified in comparison with the original text, the elimination of cultural taboos from the original text, the translator’s mistakes, and the diverse simplifications cause loss of some of author’s purpose to a considerable extent

Keywords

• simplification
• cultural taboos
• naguib mahfouz
• maraashipour