English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations
This paper deals with the translation of the English past progressive into Arabic by examining both theoretical and textual considerations. First, it shows how the English aspect formally corresponds to the auxiliary verb كا ن ‘was’ plus the simple present (SP) form or the active participle (AP) fo...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Western Sydney University
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1758 |
| _version_ | 1827877207572217856 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohammed Farghal |
| author_facet | Mohammed Farghal |
| author_sort | Mohammed Farghal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper deals with the translation of the English past progressive into Arabic
by examining both theoretical and textual considerations. First, it shows how the English aspect formally corresponds to the auxiliary verb كا ن ‘was’ plus the simple present (SP) form or the active participle (AP) form. Second, it is argued that the choice between the SP and the AP is subject to several grammatical and semantic constraints on Arabic verbs: [+/- transitive], [+/- telic], [+/- completed], and [+/- manner of motion]. Third, the textual data (70 examples) drawn from two existing Arabic translations of Leonardo DaVinci by Walter Isaacs (2017) and Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton (2014) indicates that several translation procedures are employed to render the English past progressive, mainly including the past simple (48.57%), present simple (22.85%), formal correspondence (18.57%), and lexicalizing (7.14%). Finally, the qualitative analysis reveals that the progressiveness, emphasis, and dramatization that the English past progressive aspect may communicate are seriously compromised in Arabic translation. While there may be cases where some mismatches between English and Arabic verbs exist in terms of progressiveness which may call for the use of past simple or lexicalizing, the formal correspondence procedure is claimed to be the most valid and appropriate for capturing the functions of the English past progressive. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:34:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d5f149ef4de43fc806c05e3113753df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1836-9324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:34:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Western Sydney University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d5f149ef4de43fc806c05e3113753df2023-08-04T12:28:36ZengWestern Sydney UniversityTranslation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research1836-93242023-07-01152435910.12807/ti.115202.2023.a03English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual ConsiderationsMohammed Farghal0Applied Science Private University & Middle East University,This paper deals with the translation of the English past progressive into Arabic by examining both theoretical and textual considerations. First, it shows how the English aspect formally corresponds to the auxiliary verb كا ن ‘was’ plus the simple present (SP) form or the active participle (AP) form. Second, it is argued that the choice between the SP and the AP is subject to several grammatical and semantic constraints on Arabic verbs: [+/- transitive], [+/- telic], [+/- completed], and [+/- manner of motion]. Third, the textual data (70 examples) drawn from two existing Arabic translations of Leonardo DaVinci by Walter Isaacs (2017) and Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton (2014) indicates that several translation procedures are employed to render the English past progressive, mainly including the past simple (48.57%), present simple (22.85%), formal correspondence (18.57%), and lexicalizing (7.14%). Finally, the qualitative analysis reveals that the progressiveness, emphasis, and dramatization that the English past progressive aspect may communicate are seriously compromised in Arabic translation. While there may be cases where some mismatches between English and Arabic verbs exist in terms of progressiveness which may call for the use of past simple or lexicalizing, the formal correspondence procedure is claimed to be the most valid and appropriate for capturing the functions of the English past progressive.http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1758english; arabic; translation; translation procedure; progressiveness; aspect |
| spellingShingle | Mohammed Farghal English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research english; arabic; translation; translation procedure; progressiveness; aspect |
| title | English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations |
| title_full | English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations |
| title_fullStr | English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations |
| title_full_unstemmed | English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations |
| title_short | English Past Progressive Aspect in Arabic Translation: Theoretical and Textual Considerations |
| title_sort | english past progressive aspect in arabic translation theoretical and textual considerations |
| topic | english; arabic; translation; translation procedure; progressiveness; aspect |
| url | http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1758 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammedfarghal englishpastprogressiveaspectinarabictranslationtheoreticalandtextualconsiderations |