Malay translation of cultural elements in the arabic drama ‘shahrazad’

Noor Eliza, A.R. and Nurazan, Mohmad Rouyan (2016) Malay translation of cultural elements in the arabic drama ‘shahrazad’. In: Workshop on High Impact Journal Writing and Publishing 2016, 01-02 March 2016, Dewan Perdana, UniSZA.

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Abstract

This study discusses various strategies employed in the translation of Arabic cultural elements in the Malay subtitles of an Arabic syndicated drama, 'Shahrazad'. The objectives of this study are to identify the translation strategies applied by the subtitlists in translating Arabic cultural elements, and subsequently, to suggest appropriate strategies in the translation of these cultural elements. This qualitative study uses content analysis for data collection. Translation strategies put forth by scholars such as Newmark (1998), Baker (1992), and Harvey (2000) were utilised to analyse ten translation samples. The results indicated that the subtitlists made use of multiple strategies in translating the cultural elements, i.e., literal translation, transference, functional equivalence, cultural equivalence, synonymy, and couplets in translating cultural elements. This study proposes the use of transference strategy with assimilation in translating Arabic cultural elements that share similar roots with the Malays. Meanwhile, literal translation and synonymy strategy can be used co translate cultural element that are well-known to locals but have yet to be fully incorporated into the Malay language. In contrast, cultural elements that are specific to Arabs but are alien to Malays can be translated by taking into account both of their functions and forms. This study also proposed that translating cultural elements can be done using multiple strategies by factoring in its suitability, contextual meaning, and the need to deliver the messages to the targeted audiences.

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