Journal of Languages and Translation
Volume 6, Numéro 2, Pages 212-226
2026-07-01
Translating Us Presidential Proverbs From English Into Arabic: A Comparative Analysis
Authors : Mutar Yasir .
Abstract
This research examines the translation of proverbs attributed to US presidents into Arabic, focusing on the rhetorical, linguistic, and cultural challenges of conveying politically charged expressions across diverse societal frameworks. These aphorisms, attributed to figures such as Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, serve as powerful tools for conveying ideological, ethical, and motivational messages, frequently employing metaphor, antithesis, and parallelism to achieve rhetorical effectiveness. Translating these expressions into Arabic requires more than simply achieving textual equivalence; it necessitates intercultural mediation, consideration of surrounding contexts, and deliberate adaptation to ensure the semantic content remains intact and its impact is maintained. Drawing on Skopos theory, this work prioritizes functional relevance over literal adherence to the ST, exploring how historical, rhetorical, and cultural components are processed to ensure the primary communicative objective is preserved. The methodology relies on a combination of analytical comparison, stylistic examination, and rhetorical evaluation of selected proverbs and their Arabic equivalents, considering literal, adaptive, and modifying methods of translation. The pivotal role of the translator as a mediator is highlighted, demonstrating the ability to balance adherence to the original intellectual meaning with the suitability of the output for the TL audience. This demonstrates that successful translation within political discourse is a practice based on cultural compromise, rhetorical precision, and adherence to ethical standards.
Keywords
Cross-Cultural Rhetoric ; Political Discourse ; Presidential Rhetoric ; Proverb ; Skopos
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