THE DEGREE OF EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH AND ALBANIAN

This study investigates the degree of idiomatic equivalence between English and Albanian, focusing on how culturally bound expressions are translated across these two distinct linguistic systems. Idioms pose a significant challenge in translation due to their non-literal meanings and deep cultural embedding, often requiring strategies that go beyond word-for-word translation. By analyzing a corpus of 29 idiomatic expressions, including, business, body part and sports idioms, this research identifies patterns of full, partial, and non-equivalence and explores the implications of these findings for translation theory and practice. Through comparative analysis, the study examines the strategies employed to preserve meaning when direct translation is not feasible, including paraphrasing, cultural adaptation, and metaphor substitution. Special attention is given to idioms that reflect cultural norms and societal values, such as those rooted in physicality (body parts) and competitive behavior (sports), both of which are prevalent in daily language use. The results indicate that while full equivalence is occasionally possible, the majority of idiomatic expressions require creative solutions to achieve communicative and cultural resonance in the target language. This research contributes to the field of translation studies by highlighting the importance of cultural literacy and contextual sensitivity in idiomatic translation.