Modern Arabic Literature: Challenges for Translation

Abstract

In recent years, Arabic literature has made tangible progress into acceptance as part of world literature, due largely to translation. This border- crossing process is not, however, without limitations. This paper explores the challenges faced by modern Arabic literature in its translation journey, from the selection process, and factors that govern it, to strategies that manipulate the texts and paratexts in the translation phase. The paper focuses on the English translation of two contemporary female Arab writers’ books (fiction and non-fiction) and sheds light upon the practices and manipulations governing the translation process. To this aim, content and semiotic analyses have been used.