Journal of Language Studies
Tikrit University

Assessing English Cultural Authenticity: Translation Strategies for Al-Mutanabbi's ‘Braces’

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Iman Ahmad Essa 1
Rudaynah M. Bida’ 2

1 The Department of Translation, College of Arts, Tikrit University

2 The Department of English language, College of Arts, Tikrit University

https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.9.4.P1.9
Abstract
This study examines the challenge of preserving cultural authenticity when translating Al-Mutanabbi’s classical Arabic poem "Braces" into English. The research aims to identify key cultural references, evaluate translation strategies (literal, adaptive, domestication, foreignization), analyze distortions in meaning, and propose balanced solutions. Grounded in Newmark’s Adaptation Theory and Venuti’s domestication/foreignization framework, the study employs mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) by analyzed 15 English translations of 3 culturally dense verses from seminal works by scholars like Arberry, Nicholson, and Montgomery (1907–2016). Findings reveals that the analysis of 15 translations reveals 67% successfully preserved cultural essence, primarily through adaptive strategies (47%) rather than strict literalism (27%). Social references (50%) proved most distortion-prone, while historical terms (50%) demanded careful handling. Foreignization and domestication were equally used (13% each), but neither dominated.

Keywords

Cultural
Translation
and Arabic poem
Crossmark
Journal of Language Studies
Volume 9, Issue 4, Part 1
Autumn 2025
Pages 157-180

  • Receive Date 02 September 2025
  • Accept Date 14 September 2025
  • Publish Date 01 December 2025

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