The Impact of Culture in Translating English Idioms into Arabic

This study sought to understand how critical cultural awareness was in translating English idioms into Arabic, particularly in political news where clarity and precision are paramount. The challenges that arise from the linguistic and cultural disparities between the two languages include differences in metaphor, image, and cultural reference. The study demonstrates, through the lens of Skopos Theory, how efficient translation relies on the function and intent of the text taking precedence over word-for-word equivalence and cultural context. Overall, the study establishes the need to transform idioms so that they better align with what is appropriate given the expectations of the audience. The results highlight the importance of innovative, context-driven approaches toward idiomatic translation while laying a groundwork for future exploration of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, for satisfying culturally appropriate translations. This research thus advances theoretical and practical understanding of the challenges of idiomatic translation in politically charged environments and contributes to the field of translation studies.