Translation in Arabic language and literature
Zeinab Nazemian; Batool Meshkinfam; Nasrin Faghih Malek Marzban
Abstract
"Motion" is the fundamental basis of existence. Multiple scientific disciplines have examined and established this concept based on their own fields of study. Cognitive linguistics approaches this category from a philosophical-mental-linguistic perspective and investigates the process of how motion concepts ...
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"Motion" is the fundamental basis of existence. Multiple scientific disciplines have examined and established this concept based on their own fields of study. Cognitive linguistics approaches this category from a philosophical-mental-linguistic perspective and investigates the process of how motion concepts are formed and transferred from the external world to the mind and from the mind to language. Talmy introduces the notion of motion verbs, categorizing languages as either verb-oriented (lexical) or satellite-framed based on the demonstrative direction of verbs. The present study employs an analytical-descriptive method to examine the translation of the novel Alfatah Al-Akhira from Arabic to Persian. The study focuses on the extent to which translators utilize verb-oriented verbs and satellite framing. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the reasons behind the differing translation choices made by different translators in terms of verb-oriented and satellite-framed translations. The findings of the current study indicate that two translators, when translating the novel Alfatah Al-Khaira, deemed satellite framing as a more appropriate template for conveying motion concepts from Arabic to Persian. Also, when the translations of these motion verbs were compared and looked at, it was found that being satellite-framed does not always mean that the idea is communicated better and more completely. However, taking into account the elements of association and substitution, as well as the verb's connection with other components of the phrase and the context of the text, is crucial to ensuring a more effective translation.Keyword: Cognitive Linguistics, Leonard Talmy, Lexicalization, Satellite Framing, Alfatah Al-Khaira.IntroductionThe initial indication of existence is "motion," making it the paramount element to be regarded in the context of both existence and transformation. The significance of this concept has led intellectuals in the realms of philosophy and cognitive science to assign considerable value to it and develop theories about it in recentyears. In the field of philosophy, Merleau-Ponty, a prominent phenomenologist, introduced the theory of "physicality of perception" and emphasized the role of motion in creating time and space. Contrary to popular belief, Merleau-Ponty does not argue that space and time must exist before motion. Instead, he posits that motion itself generates the required space and time. (Shokri, 1395: 113) Heidegger's concept of "being in the-world" can be understood as the origin of motion.Leonard Talmy, a distinguished professor of linguistics and philosophy at the University of Buffalo in New York, has developed a renowned theory in the field of cognitive linguistics. This theory, known as the "theory of motion verbs," focuses on the conversion of motion concepts into linguistic expressions. Talmy's expertise lies in the study of semantic communication, formal linguistic structures, and semantic taxonomy.Talmy's theory of lexicalization explains the transformation of different motion aspects, such as cause, manner, state, path, context, and body, from a physical state to a conceptual state and subsequently into words that become part of language. According to this theory, motion verbs fall into two categories: verb-oriented and satellite-framed. The initial category comprises basic verbs that "lexicalize" motion, while the subsequent category consists of complex verbs that incorporate satellite with the basic verb to convey certain nuances of motion notions. Consequently, we can conceptualize a continuum for action words, with lexicalization on one end and the satellite axis on the other end. The present study is centered around the translation of these verbs from Arabic to Persian, with a specific focus on analyzing the variations and commonalities in their translation within two different renditions of Nadia Murad's novel "Alfatah Al-Akhira.".The challenge in Thalami's theory lies in the fact that not all languages in the world adhere to the same pattern when it comes to verb-oriented or verb-oriented motion verbs. Some languages exhibit a greater emphasis on verbs, while others exhibit a lesser emphasis.However, as elucidated in the article, it is evident that when translating Arabic verbs into Persian, they can be rendered in either verb-oriented or satellite-framed forms.The current study is significant as it applies Thalami's theory of motor verbs to the field of translation. Furthermore, it not only compares verbs in two distinct languages but also expresses and evaluates their translation by two separate translators. Given the absence of prior studies on the intersection of translation and cognitive linguistics in the relevant areas, the significance of this analysis in the field of translation studies is considerable. Simultaneously, it is regarded as an innovative contribution to the present research.Literature ReviewSeveral studies have been conducted about the subject matter of this article. The following study findings are worth mentioning:In their 2019 research titled "Analysis of the use of the motion verb 'anzal' in the Qur'an based on Talamy's linguistic theory," Behrouzi et al. conducted an analysis of this verb and determined that it functions as a directed and dynamic verb. The medium that focuses on the disclosure of the Qur'an and the expression of kindness towards humanity is characterized by a significant level of occurrence.In their 2018 research titled "Comparison of verbs of motion in Persian and English from the Cognitive Point of View and Cognitive Category," Eslamipour and Sharafzadeh conducted a comparative analysis of verbs of motion in Persian and English. They determined that the Persian language differs from English in this aspect. The English language exhibits a greater inclination for satellite framing. In Farsi, dominant satellite refers to the state, but in English, it refers to the orientation.In their 2011 research titled "Lexicalization in Persian Verbs of Motion: A New Model," Ezekia and Sassani examined the concept and process of lexicalization in Persian verbs. They found that when analyzing the event of motion, two distinct approaches are taken. The first approach, known as the holistic approach, focuses solely on integrating the central conceptual structures within the action verb. The second approach, referred to as the partial approach, takes into account the peripheral conceptual structures, which also play a role in the integration with the action verb.Hamedi Shirvan and Sharifi looked at the category of satellite in Talamy's theory of language classification in their 2013 study, "Investigation of the Cognitive Category of the Category "Satellite" in the Event Construction of Motion Verbs in Persian Language." They found that the Persian language can be classified as both satellite-oriented and verb-oriented according to Talmy's division. This is because certain features of Persian align with satellite-oriented languages, while others resemble verb-oriented languages.In their study titled "Investigation of the Conceptualization of Motion in Persian Compound Verbs: A Cognitive Approach" (1401), Azgoli et al. examine the lexicalization of compound verbs of motion in the Persian language. They find that the components of motion and manner have a higher frequency of lexicalization. Ilkhanipour and Karimi Dostan looked at three semantic dimensions of facet in Persian facet attributes in their 2015 study called "Lexicalization of the Semantic Dimensions of Facet in Persian Facet Attributes." These dimensions are facet power, facet base, and source of order. They find that in Persian facet attributes, the three forces of obligation, possibility, and necessity are highly lexicalized.Upon further examination, it has been discovered that no research has been conducted in Iran thus far that explores the notion of thalamic verbs in translation. Therefore, the novelty of this current research lies in its focus on addressing this particular issue.Research MethodologyFor this study, we have chosen two Persian translations of the Arabic novel Al-Hattat al-Akhira. Subsequently, a selection of motion verbs has been haphazardly pulled from various sections of this text. Next, the translation of these verbs was extracted and assessed in a comparative manner by comparing two translations. Regarding the topic of discussion, an analysis has been conducted to determine whether the two translators exhibit a preference for verb-oriented or satellite-oriented translation while translating motion verbs. What are the reasons for selecting each one, and how does the meaning-development process occur in them?ConclusionThe outcome of the discussion is that, because the Persian language is satellite-oriented, there is a greater preference for using satellite-oriented verbs. The translation of verbs in the form of verb-oriented or satellite-oriented does not alter the semantic component.To address the initial question of the discussion and validate its hypothesis, it is important to note that a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the novel "Alfatah Al-Akhira." A total of 44 motion verbs were identified as the statistical population for this study. The translations of these 44 verbs were then compared in two different translations by Chobani and Nazari. It was noted that neither of the translators used the past tense for any of the 44 verbs translated in a verb-oriented form. This suggests that the employment of motion verbs in verb-oriented form is uncommon in the Persian language. Among the 44 verbs, Chobani and Nazari have translated 23 verbs into the satellite-oriented form. This observation highlights the prevalence of satellite-oriented motion verbs in the Persian language. In addition, Chobani translated ten verbs into a verb-oriented form, whereas Nazari translated them into a satellite-oriented version. However, Chobani has rendered eleven verbs in a satellite-oriented form and Nazari in a verb-oriented form, indicating a relatively equal distribution between the two translators. Consequently, it may be concluded that the two translators have deemed the form of satellite framing as a more appropriate paradigm for conveying motion principles from Arabic to Persian.Regarding the second question and supporting its hypothesis, it was found that being satellite-oriented does not always lead to a better and more complete way of expressing the idea through translation by comparing and looking at these motion verbs. Instead, it highlights the aspects of coexistence, substitution, and the verb's connection with other elements of the sentence. Furthermore, the context of the text plays a significant role in effectively conveying its meaning. Factors such as the verb's emphasis on action or activity, the verb'semphasis on the goal, origin, or journey, and the mental states of individuals inferred from the context of the text are some of the factors that impact the effective transmission of meaning. However, the verb being satellite-oriented does not imply that it is more comprehensive in terms of its meaning.
