A Comparative Analysis of Figurative Language in Two Arabic Translations of Treasure Island رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how translators handle figurative language, particularly metaphors and similes, in two Arabic translations of the novel “Treasure Island”. The study employs a qualitative analytical approach, comparing the two translations and relying on Pierini’s (2007) model for analyzing simile translations and Newmark's (1988) model for analyzing metaphors and similes as the two main theoretical frameworks. The study sample included 40 similes and 24 metaphors. The results showed that Raneem Alamiri excelled in preserving the figurative meaning and stylistic character of the original text. At the same time, Mohamed Nasef’s translation was characterized by simplicity and a weak rhetorical effect. In translating similes, the strategy of retaining the same image was the most frequently used by both translators. In translating metaphors, Raneem Alamiri primarily employed the strategy of replacing the source-language image with a standard image in the target language. At the same time, Mohamed Nasef relied more heavily on the strategy of converting the metaphor to its meaning. These results demonstrate that Raneem Alamiri demonstrated a clear awareness of the balance between communicative and semantic translation, as proposed by Newmark (1988), enabling her to achieve both accuracy and aesthetic appeal. This contrasts with Mohamed Nasef's translation, which was predominantly interpretive at the expense of the text's rhetorical impact. The study recommends greater attention to v training translators in handling figurative language in literary texts, emphasizing the importance of cultural and aesthetic awareness in conveying rhetorical images into the target language. It also recommends the use of analytical models, such as those developed by Newmark (1988) and Pierini (2007), in teaching literary translation, as they provide precise tools for evaluating translation quality.