Analyzing Arabic Translation Methods of English Similes: A Case Study of The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Abstract

Simile is one of the most important literary devices. It is widely used as a figure of speech in literary works. However, simile can pose significant challenges in literary translation since different languages might use and interpret similes differently. The present research aims at investigating the translation strategies employed in Arabic to render English similes in a literary text. The translation model proposed by Pierini (2007) is utilized as a framework of this study. The researcher selected "The Old Man and The Sea" novel by Ernest Hemingway and its two Arabic translations as a case study. The novel's two Arabic translations are by The United Publishers referred to later as target text 1 (TT1) and Zyad Zakaria referred to later as target text 2 (TT2).  First, the researcher randomly collected 40 similes as the study data. Then, their Arabic translations are identified. Next, the data is compared and analyzed to determine their translation techniques. After analysis, the research found that literal translation is a prominent strategy in rendering English similes to Arabic.