TRANSLATION AND SITUATIONALITY: REGISTER ANALYSIS OF MUSTAFA KHALIFA’S “THE SHELL”
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-12-14
Authors
Hibatollah Samer Aqrouq
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
An- Najah National University
Abstract
This study examines the translation of register as a meaning-determining linguistic phenomenon in Mustafa Khalifa’s The Shell. The novel relies heavily on variation between formal and informal registers, including the Syrian dialect, to construct character voice and identity and to situate the narrative within a specific socio-political context.
Adopting a systemic functional perspective, the study investigates how register functions in the source text and whether these functions are preserved in translation. It addresses the question of how register-based meaning is affected in the target text and what consequences this has for the novel’s overall meaning and reception.
The analysis draws on register analysis, supported by discourse and stylistic analysis, to examine selected examples and the strategies employed by the translator. The findings show that insufficient sensitivity to register in translation can lead to the homogenisation of character voices and the loss of crucial contextual and political meanings. The study concludes that attention to register is essential for preserving the force, authenticity and multidimensionality of politically and socially charged literary texts.