Investigating Translation Shifts and Modulation in Literary Translation: A Case Study

Hala J.  Alshahrani; Waleed Samir  Ali; Maha  Al-Harthi; Dalia M.  Hamed; Wesam M. A.  Ibrahim

doi:10.36941/ajis-2023-0045

Authors

Hala J. Alshahrani College of Languages, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
Waleed Samir Ali Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Egypt
Maha Al-Harthi College of Languages, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
Dalia M. Hamed Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Egypt
Wesam M. A. Ibrahim Applied College, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia and Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Egypt *Corresponding Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0045

Keywords:

Translation Techniques, Shift, Modulation, Fight Club

Abstract

The present research paper examines the techniques of shifts, as proposed by Catford (1965), and modulation, as proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (1995), adopted by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik in his translation of Palahniuk’s Fight Club. Accordingly, this paper seeks to detect the examples of modulation and the types of shifts employed, the reasons for their adoption and the most frequently used techniques of translation between English, the source language, and Arabic, the target language. The findings illustrate that all types of shifts are employed with a noteworthily frequent use of structure shifts, both optional or obligatory and argues about the structural divergence between English and Arabic. There are not so many modulation examples. It seems that Tawfik tries largely to adhere to the source text with some optional shifts so as not to appear as a translator who practises purely literal translation. This paper’s value lies in its detailed examination of Tawfik’s technique, drawing attention to the differences between English and Arabic language systems.

Received: 11 December 2022 / Accepted: 11 February 2023 / Published: 5 March 2023