Exploring cultural awareness in literary translation of religious concepts

Abstract EN

The term "cultural awareness" has long been a controversial topic in many fields, also considered as a factor that hampers translators when dealing with religious concepts.

Lacking such awareness, however, may lead to using inappropriate translation strategies that can affect the readers' understanding of the source culture.

Accordingly, cultural acceptance may not take place.

This paper is an attempt to highlight the compulsion of cultural awareness vis-a-vis translating religious concepts and expressions.

This study is carried out through analysing religious concepts extracted from the novel of Tahar Watar entitled "El Waliy Ataher Ya3oud Ila Makamihi Azzakiy" and its translation into English "Saint Tahar Returns to his Holy Shrine".

The analysis shows the incongruity that the translator has undergone when transposing the religious concepts from the source culture to the target culture.

As a result, it has created ambiguity among readers.