مؤسسة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي
عادةً ما يتم الرد في غضون خمس دقائق
This paper examines the difference between linguistic untranslatability, which results from the lack of grammatical or lexical equivalents, and cultural untranslatability, which occurs when concepts are deeply rooted in cultural norms unfamiliar to the target audience. Untranslatability occurs when meaning in a source language cannot be fully conveyed in a target language due to structural or cultural differences. Drawing on theoretical frameworks by Catford, Baker, and Newmark, and using illustrative English–Arabic examples, the study demonstrates how each type manifests in practice. It further analyzes the implications for translators working between languages with distinct linguistic structures and cultural worldviews. According to the paper, recognizing untranslatability is necessary for accurate and ethical translation, and it discusses methods like paraphrasing, cultural adaptation, and functional equivalence to bridge gaps in meaning.