Approaches to avoid the untranslatability of the novel "Al-Nazzara al-Sauda" by Ihsan Abdel Quddous

Abstract

In our interconnected global society, the ability to communicate effectively across many languages is of utmost importance. Nevertheless, the process of translating writings in several languages frequently presents obstacles that hinder the precise alignment of specific thoughts or expressions. The reciprocal relationship between culture and language elucidates the reason why, throughout the act of translation, we invariably encounter both the cultural context and the original language. In this scenario, the translator, acting as a cultural middleman, should align the source culture with the language. Thenovel "Al-Nazzara al-Sauda" by Ihsan Abdel Quddous was chosen for analysis to determine the translatability of its linguistic and cultural words and phrases. This examination was conducted in a descriptive-analytical manner. Upon careful examination of the expressions, we have discovered numerous instances in both the realms of linguistics and culture that defy translation. The translator is thus faced with the task of rendering words and sentences in a manner that aligns with the language and culture of the source (Persian) while remaining comprehensible to the intended audience. Consequently, the translator has predominantly relied on the "role equivalent" method to translate parts that cannot be translated directly.Keywords: Literary Translation, The Concept of Untranslatability, The Process of Equalization, Al-Nazzara al-Sauda, Ihsan Abdel Quddous.Introduction"Al-Nazzara al-Sauda" is a renowned work that explores the intricate themes of love, identity, and self-awareness. This narrative offers a profound understanding of the human condition within a conventional Middle Eastern society. Ihsan Abdel Quddous has adeptly employed linguistic tricks, cultural allusions, and poetic metaphors to convey the intricate elements of the text, although these pose difficulties when it comes to translation. Hence, the writers were motivated to explore the concept of untranslatability in the current novel due to the imperative of comprehending the intricacies and subtleties of language, culture, and translation, as well as devising strategies to overcome language barriers and enhance intercultural communication. Literature ReviewAn extensive study has been conducted on the topic of translation studies, specifically focusing on the untranslatability of literary texts. In the following, we will highlight a few notable studies on this subject.Mohammad Reza Shafiei Kadkani wrote the 2013 essay "On the Untranslatability of Poetry," which is a source for other papers with the same title."The Inability to Translate Scientific Theories Using Different Terminology" (2017) the author of this essay is Mohammad Mahdi Hatef. This article presents a clear definition of translation words and addresses the issues raised by critics. Fatemeh Rakei's article, titled "Reflection on the Aspects of Translation (un)acceptability of Contemporary Persian Poetry" (1400), explores the translatability and translation of contemporary Persian poetry into English. The article aims to investigate this specific aspect of translation in this field. The results collected demonstrate that certain elements, such as content and expressive innovations, metaphors, symbols, and cultural and societal issues, can be effectively translated. However, aspects such as weight, rhyme, pun, and meaning are found to be untranslatable.Another work by Nosrat Hijazi and Rouya Shirin is "Translatability and Acceptability of Cultural Elements in Audio-Visual Texts: A Case Study of French Subtitles of the Iranian Television Series Der Cheshm Bad" (2019). This article examines the process of transferring and translating cultural aspects into audiovisual texts using subtitles.Alireza Nazari, Fatemeh Ferozan Qalabin, and Muhaddezah Samiiwrote the article "Analysis of the Role of Linguistic Factors in the Untranslatability of the Text of the Qur'an (a Comparative Study of Verses from Surah Yusuf in Four Famous Translations of the Qur'an)" (2014).In this article, the authors focus on the specific role of linguistic factors in the verses of Surah Yusuf and subsequently analyze these factors in four well-known contemporary translations of the Qur'an.The paper titled "Difficulty of Translatability of Kitab al-Mubin as a Literary Work" was authored by Abolfazl Hari in 1386. This essay analyzes the Qur'an as a piece of literature and concludes that while its rhetorical and linguistic intricacies are not entirely impossible to translate, they are indeed challenging to translate.Based on the authors' thorough investigations, no previous independent research has been conducted specifically on the issue of untranslatability in Ihsan Abdel Quddous’ novel "Al-Nazzara al-Sauda." Consequently, the writers have chosen to introduce a novel contribution.Research MethodologyLiterary translation is considered the most aesthetically pleasing form of translation. This is as a result of the translator carefully choosing the most appropriate and harmonious language in accordance with their literary preferences. The presence of various verbal and spiritual arrangements is clearly apparent in literary translation (Marouf, 1384:17).Linguistics and societal customs: When considering the connection between language and culture, it may be argued that language serves as an integrated system that represents and propels culture. According to this, all text elements might have a cultural aspect since language is inherently connected to culture as a distinct and autonomous entity (Hijazi and Shirin, 2019: 71).Intranslatability: The presence of linguistic diversity can provide obstacles to the process of translation, particularly when it involves words, phrases, or cultural nuances that are difficult to effectively convey. An obstacle that might hinder accurate communication is untranslatability, as it directly affects the interpretation of the message. Several theorists have discussed the concept of untranslatability in the process of translation, and each of them has put forth ways for achieving accurate translation. Hermans and Santos argue that untranslatability encompasses both the linguistic structure and the interplay between language and culture. They propose a division of untranslatability into two categories: "linguistic untranslatability" and "cultural untranslatability" (Hermans, 2019: 602; Santos, 21:2006).David Harvey, a different scholar, has put out four approaches for rendering features that cannot be translated:Equivalent role (functional) 2: A visual representation of the same meaning in language 3- Loaning 4: Translation that provides an explanation and description of the text (Khairkhah and Sajjudi, 2013:24).ConclusionThis research has served as a paradigm and a reference to prevent the occurrence of untranslatability, aligning with one of David Harvey's proposed solutions. Consequently, based on the categorization and detailed analytical examination of the excerpts extracted from the novel, it can be concluded that translators are obligated to offer a recommended translation that is compatible with the linguistic structure. In the majority of instances, Farsi employs the approach of role or function to convey desirable linguistic and cultural concepts to the reader. However, it also utilizes other techniques, such as descriptive translation, to achieve the same objective effectively.

Keywords

• literary translation
• the concept of untranslatability
• the process of equalization
• al-nazzara al-sauda
• ihsan abdel quddous