The Technique of of Calque in the Translation of Political Discourse

Date

2004-12

Type

Master Thesis

Thesis title

الأكاديمية الليبية للدراسات العليا

Author(s)

Thuraya Bashir El-Wifati

Abstract

The study deals with the problem of the excessive presence of literally translated expressions (Calques) in Arabic political Media. Although Calque is considered to be a recognized technique in translation, yet it is not a good solution in many cases. After a detailed account of various techniques and procedures presented by pioneering translation theoreticians, with special focus on those who have dealt with the technique of Calaque, the study puts us against the disappointing reality lying behind the political discourse as being a tool of ‘truth manipulation’, and how far this discourse employs certain means to achieve its goals. Based on two separate questionnaires, a number of results and conclusions have been reached. The study concludes that the usage of the Calque techniqueis considered as an inappropriate procedure in some cases, when it will result in some structural and ideologically problematic expressions coming into surface. The study emphasizes, as well, the negative effects of the excessive presence of calques on the target language’s listener /reader, besides the positive ones. On the other hand, it recommends that the translator should resort to other techniques, by which the problematic cases could be avoided. arabic 10 English 58