The Translation of The School Principal by Adel Abdelmoneim: A Critical Study Based on Lawrence Venuti's Theory

Zare Dorniani, Isa; Asvadi, Ali; Hemmatzadeh, Yashar

doi:10.22054/rctall.2026.93872.1858

The Translation of The School Principal by Adel Abdelmoneim: A Critical Study Based on Lawrence Venuti's Theory

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Isa zare dorniani ¹

Ali Asvadi ²

yashar hemmatzadeh ³

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University

² Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature

³ M.A. Student in Arabic Language Translation, Kharazmi University

10.22054/rctall.2026.93872.1858

Abstract

Jalal Al-Ahmad's novel, The School Principal, is regarded as a cornerstone of contemporary Iranian literature, distinguished by its explicit, critical prose and a linguistic structure that is simultaneously simple and impactful. The translation of this work into Arabic—specifically the version rendered by Adel Abdelmoneim—has faced significant challenges arising from the profound cultural and linguistic disparities between the two languages. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach and grounded in Lawrence Venuti’s (1995) theory of domestication and foreignization, this study evaluates the quality of conceptual transfer within this translation. The analysis reveals that, in an attempt to produce a fluid text accessible to the Arabic-speaking audience, the translator predominantly relied on literal translation. However, this pursuit of fluency has, in numerous instances, led to a misinterpretation of the author’s original intent. This is particularly evident in the treatment of metaphors and colloquialisms, where the translator's misconceptions are markedly visible, ultimately compromising the linguistic identity and cultural nuances of the source text.

Keywords

Persian-to-Arabic translation

Translation criticism

Lawrence Venuti

Jalal Al-Ahmad

The School Principal

Subjects