Investigating the Translation Strategies that English Language Students’ Utilized in Translation Diverse Topics

Abstract

Objectives: By analyzing students’ translations, instructors teaching translation can acquire insight into the most common concerns, challenges, and strategies regarding various subjects. This study aims to uncover the methods and techniques students use to translate journalistic, literary, and political materials and the differences in translation strategies used by male and female students. Methods: Twenty-seven male and female 4th-grade students from the Department of English, Colleges of Basic Education, University of Kirkuk participated. The research will be carried out during the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023. A test was used to collect the data. The test consisted of three questions, all of which were texts: journalistic, literary, and political. Results: The results reveal that students adopt low-accuracy translation procedures. Students use the trans-position method more than other translation procedures when translating a journalistic text. Regarding the literary text, the results show that students preferred the adaptation technique above the different translation strategies. Finally, the Political text was translated using a borrowing and adaption technique. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that female EFL students used more accurate and precise translation procedures than male students. Conclusion: Translation strategies must be thoroughly taught to EFL students. They must be knowledgeable about translation theories and strategies and the types of texts they may be exposed to. They must also be taught the purpose of employing a specific translation technique. It is essential to note that the borrowing strategy should be used with caution, as it can lead to linguistic interference and can sometimes be confusing for native speakers of the target language.