Master’s Degree Awarded to Researcher Rawdhah Al-Hubishi from the English Department, Faculty of Languages
Researcher Rawdhah Yahya Mohammed Nasser Al-Hubishi has been awarded a Master’s degree with a score of 95%, graded as Excellent, from the English Department – Linguistics specialization – Faculty of Languages at Sana’a University for her thesis entitled: “Negotiating Cultural Meaning in Arabic-English Translations: A Case Study of Jokha Alharthi’s ‘Celestial Bodies'”.
The Viva took place on Thursday, 24th of Dhu al-Qa’adah, 1446 AH, corresponding to May 22nd, 2025 AD.
The Viva committee consisted of:
* Dr. Ali Abdullah Alghail – Main Supervisor – Sana’a University – Member.
* Dr. Abdulwadood Ahmed Annuzaili – Internal Examiner – Sana’a University – Member.
* Associate Prof. Dr. Abdullah Ali Al-Eryani – External Examiner – Thamar University – Chairperson.
The study aimed to investigate the negotiation of cultural meaning in the English translation of Jokha Alharthi’s novel “Celestial Bodies” and the translation strategies used in translating cultural elements.
The thesis reveals several conclusions, including:
* There are some notable aspects of compatibility between the source text and the target text in their cognitive and interactive functions.
* The results reveal a slight distortion in the cultural faithfulness of the source text, as some elements are not translated faithfully due to cultural differences between the source text and the target text.
* At the interactive level, the results reveal a remarkable compatibility between the source text and the target text, where various translation strategies, such as quotation, literal translation, and reformulation, are intentionally used to successfully negotiate the meaning of specific value judgments, socio-cultural issues, and personal taste.
* The data analysis also reveals the effectiveness of negotiating cultural meaning with a high emotional tone and aesthetic value through the use of abstract and meaningful words, figurative language (such as metaphors and symbols), and vivid mental images.
* Some grammatical differences are also found between the two texts, where long descriptive sentences from the source text are reformulated in the target text to suit the English structure. This lead to the loss of some social and cultural connections in the novel.
* Regarding translation strategies, the data analysis reveals the use of a diverse set of eight translation strategies to negotiate the meaning of the selected cultural terms from the novel.
* The results show the diversity of translation strategies in their use, where literal translation and borrowing dominates the translator’s techniques for negotiating cultural meaning in the novel.
* Some translation strategies, such as reformulation and component analysis, are intentionally used to successfully negotiate the meaning of specific value judgments, socio-cultural issues, and personal taste.
* However, the data analysis reveals the possibility of the translator adding some clarifications or footnotes for words unfamiliar to the target text readers to convey their meaning more accurately.
The study suggested several recommendatins including:
* This study addresses only one English translation of the novel “Celestial Bodies,” which is Marilyn Booth’s translation. Examining any other English translation of the same novel may lead to different results.
* This study uses House’s (2015) Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) model in evaluating the translator’s success in conveying cultural elements. Utilizing any other Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) scheme may lead to different patterns of results.
* The current study addresses the negotiation of cultural meaning in the translation process from Arabic to English. Evaluating the translation of cultural elements in the opposite direction or between other languages may yield different results.
* Further research can be conducted on the challenges of negotiating cultural meaning and the translation strategies or techniques that may contribute to resolving these challenges.
* This study is conducted on the translation of a literary text, specifically a novel. Future research on a text of any other literary genre, such as a scientific or political text, may yield different results regarding the negotiation of cultural meaning.
The Viva voce was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, interested individuals, and a number of the researcher’s colleagues and family members.
