PROBLEMS OF TRANSLATING NOUN PHRASES IN ENGLISH LITERARY TEXTS INTO ARABIC

Abstract

This study investigates how syntactic and structural disparities between English and Arabic noun phrases (NPs) affect translation fidelity, particularly in literary contexts. Drawing on Nida’s model of formal and dynamic equivalence, it examines six complex English NPs from Wuthering Heights, each rendered by three Arabic translators, totaling eighteen translations. Through qualitative and statistical analysis, the research evaluates how translators manage morpho- syntactic features such as adjective stacking, definiteness, possessive constructions, and relative clauses. The study aims to identify recurring translation obstacles and assess whether hybrid equivalence strategies can effectively bridge linguistic gaps. Findings reveal distinct translator preferences: one inclined to formal equivalence, another toward dynamic rendering, and a third balancing both in a mixed approach. Eleven recurrent translation problems were identified- chiefly relative clause misrendering, lexical shifts, and structural reordering. The results support the hypothesis that a hybrid application of equivalence offers a more adaptable and context-sensitive solution in literary NP translation.