Idioms: An Analysis of Translation from Pashto to English

Abstract

Idioms and their translation have a significant part in translation research where several issues and complexities exist. Keeping in view this dimension of idioms’ translation, the present research examines what differences can be found in the use of idioms in both the source and target texts, and how idioms are translated from ST to the TT, i.e., what procedures are mostly used. For the same purpose, different idioms were used and the data were analyzed with the help of Vinay and Darbelnet's models (1958) translation procedures. The data show that a mixture of different idioms both in ST and TT have been used. As far as translation of the idioms is concerned, it was found that Equivalence, Borrowing, Calques, Literal translation, Transposition, Modulation, Adaption, or social translation have been used in the translated idioms. The usage of more idioms in the ST can be attributed to social and cultural distinctions as most things in Pashtun society are given with meaning that is indirect and metaphorical. The study may have significance on academics, instructors, curriculum designers, and translators.