Thesis (M.A.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Arts - Department of English

The aim of the present study is to compare the translations of the third volume of The Days {u2013} A Passage To France (1976) by Kenneth Cragg, and The Fulfilled Promise (2016) by Mohammed Enani to reveal the effect of each translator{u2019}s ideology and sociocultural background on his view of Taha Hussein's work and on his choice of translation strategies. The choice of the two translations stems from the fact that the two translators represent different ideologies. The comparison of the two translations is done in the light of Lefevere's concept of 2Rewriting3 and its influential elements that include patronage, poetics, ideology as well as the universe of discourse. The comparison relies also on Venuti's strategies of domestication/foreignization as well as Toury's norms theory. Analyzing the paratextual and formal elements, stylistic devices as well as cultural elements in the two translations, the study contends that every translator rewrites the S.T. according to his ideology and sociocultural background. Belonging to a Western sociocultural background and ideology, Cragg is not as keen as Enani to preserve the Arabic language poetics or Arab culture. This is shown by his misunderstanding of meaning and vocalization as well as disregard of the salient features of Taha Hussein{u2019}s literary style. Enani, a professional Arab translator, however, not only accounts for most cultural specific references in the S.T., but he also gives due attention to maintaining the distinctive features of Taha Hussein{u2019}s literary style

Issued also as CD