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When deciphering the cultural nuances between Arabic and English, it’s not uncommon for subtleties to get lost in translation. Because of this, our team has compiled a list of Arabic–English translation challenges to consider, as well as how a degree from Kent State can fully prepare you to effectively translate between these two languages.

The Most Common Arabic–English Translation Challenges

Due to the significant linguistic and cultural differences between the Arabic and English languages, several discrepancies can arise when translating, with some of the key aspects including the following.

Addressing Arabic’s Rich System of Idiomatic Expressions

Just like English, Arabic has its own idiomatic expressions that are embedded in its language and culture. Idioms in Arabic can serve several functions, such as representing an intensified version of a literal statement, as well as conveying emotive connotations that help further express meaning.

Because idioms are so closely connected to cultural context, it can be incredibly difficult to translate Arabic idioms to English and English idioms to Arabic. Paraphrasing idioms is one possible approach, but you must be careful, as it can result in a loss of emotional intensity and communicative function between languages. Another option is to substitute a similar idiom that conveys the same concept.

Navigating Cultural References Specific to Arab Societies

References and practices that are common in Arab communities can be unfamiliar to English speakers in some cases, making these aspects among the many Arabic–English translation challenges translators face. This is mainly due to the cultural variations found between the source and target languages.

As a result of these differences, translators may find it difficult to accurately convey societal nuances that are considered impactful to Arab populations. For example, translators could have a hard time relaying the semantic range of a word or phrase, leading to lexical gaps in the translation altogether.

Handling Differences in Sentence Structure and Word Order

Arabic sentences are often longer than English sentences, and the word order also differs within sentences. With this in mind, translators need to possess a deep understanding of both languages and the context of a given passage in order to effectively translate material.

In the Arabic language, verb-subject-object is the most common word order. This is different from the English language, which tends to follow a subject-verb-object sentence structure. These different structures mean that many, if not all, sentences you will be translating will need to take on a different structural form to be successfully translated and understood, complicating the process.

Translating Religious and Cultural Concepts Without Losing Meaning

There are several factors that make it difficult to translate Arabic religious concepts without losing their inherent meaning, which include:

• Unique linguistic features, such as morphology, syntax, rhetorical differences, lexicon, and other pragmatic factors
• The difference in communication styles, as the Arabic language is typically indirect and nuanced, meaning that it’s inferred through context
• Psychological, spiritual, mental, and ethical aspects that can make it more difficult to translate words and phrases without distortion
• Other literary devices outlined in The Quran, like metaphor, assonance, epithet, irony, repetition, polysemy, metonymy, and more

Addressing Variations in Arabic Dialects

Under the three main versions of the Arabic language, commonly known as classical, Modern Standard, and colloquial, there are approximately 25 individual Arabic dialects, and each dialect includes different vocabulary and pronunciation for words and phrases.

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the most common standardized and literary form of Arabic used across the Arab world, making it the universal language for over 300 million individuals worldwide. Though that is the case, translators may face challenges if presented with a dialect that is less commonly utilized, such as Maghrebi (Darija) or Gulf (khaliji) dialects.

Overcome Arabic–English Translation Challenges at 5XÉçÇø

Faculty members in the translation program at Kent State are here to provide students with an immersive, all-encompassing graduate program that fully prepares them for a rewarding career. Key aspects of our M.A. in Translation program include the following:

• A comprehensive language concentration in Arabic, as well as French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish
• Smaller class sizes, 36 hours of coursework, and an online program option available
• Numerous internship opportunities catering to diverse passions and interests, giving students exposure to various translation industries
• A supportive alumni network here to assist students’ collegiate studies, as well as aid their careers after graduation

Ultimately, you can trust that our team will provide you with a thorough and detailed curriculum that will enhance your translation skills, supplying you with the tools you need to excel in the field for years to come.

Apply to Our Program Today

Students ready to become an Arabic translator can apply to Kent’s distinguished program today. If you have any questions about Arabic–English translation challenges, please contact our team directly, as we look forward to assisting you!