Journal Article

Dealing with some Lexical Problems in English-Arabic Translation Facing English Students and Offering Solution for them

Mounassar, Abdou Ahmed Ali

2016

Overview

This study analyzes the lexical problems encountered by English language students when translating from English into Arabic and proposes pedagogical and linguistic strategies to address them. The research stems from the observation that translation students frequently struggle to find accurate Arabic equivalents due to cross-linguistic interference, semantic complexity, and cultural differences between the two languages. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the researcher examined a sample of student translations of literary and scientific texts, categorizing errors into major types: literal translation, misinterpretation of figurative meanings, inaccurate word choice, omission or addition, and failure to recognize contextual variations among synonyms. Results indicated that most lexical issues arise from limited awareness of contextual meaning and polysemy in English, as well as overreliance on bilingual dictionaries and automated translation tools. Additional problems stem from structural interference, where English syntax is transferred into Arabic, resulting in unnatural phrasing. The study suggests several solutions, including training students in contextual analysis, comparative lexical translation, and differentiation between dictionary and pragmatic meanings. It concludes that addressing these difficulties requires reforming translation curricula to include practical text-based exercises and error-analysis workshops, along with integrating digital tools that enhance lexical awareness and semantic precision. Abstract Written by Dar AlMandumh, 2025, Using AI

• Publisher: جامعة طنطا - كلية التربية
• Subject: الترجمة / اللغة الإنجليزية / اللغة العربية / المعاجم الإنجليزية العربية