THE TRANSLATION OF TERMS OF ADDRESS IN BENYAMIN’S NOVEL GOAT DAYS
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Date
2025-08-27
Authors
Nihaya Ali Abdelrahman Ibdah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
جامعة النجاح الوطنية
Abstract
Focusing on how these translations reflect or distort the representations of power, identity, and social hierarchy in Benyamin’s Goat Days, this paper investigates how terms of address are translated from English into Arabic. The study investigates the cultural and ideological stakes of translating modes of address by means of sociolinguistic theory, postcolonial critique, and translation studies especially Venuti’s ideas of domestication and foreignization by means of Suhail Al-Wafi’s Arabic version. The study classifies and critiques different kinds of address including formal titles, familial terms, and disparaging language and examines the translator’s decisions about cultural and emotional resonance preservation or adaptation. Results show that Al-Wafi deliberately balances foreignization and domestication: he keeps culturally loaded words like “arbab” to emphasize labor exploitation and power imbalance, and he domesticates others like “Sainu” to enhance accessibility for Arabic readers. The translation thereby shapes how Arab readers understand the criticism of dehumanization and systematic abuse in the novel by mediating between culture particularity and reader familiarity. In conclusion, the paper highlights the significance of culturally aware translation methods when handling ideologically charged language, like forms of address. It suggests that translators thoroughly evaluate the sociocultural significance of these terms and find a context-sensitive balance between domestication and foreignization. Further research is recommended on the interpretation of translated address terms by readers in various cultural settings especially within postcolonial and migrant narratives.