Analysis of Idiomatic Translation Problems: A Case of Government Colleges at Baloch AJ&K, Pakistan

Authors

Shabana Azad Lecturer, Department of English, Mohi ud Din Islamic University, Nerian Sharif AJK
Dr Muhammad Asghar Ali Department of Education, Women University of AJ&K, Bagh Pakistan
Dr. Arshad Mehmood Department of English Women University of AJ&K Bagh, Pakistan

Idiomatic translation problems, Urdu and English languages, Baloch AJ&K, Pakistan

The present study aims to explore the idiomatic translation problems faced by Boys and Girl of Intermediate

students at Intermediate Colleges in Baloch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This study employs Baker’s (1992)

proposed strategies mentioned in Owji (2013) for translating idioms. Both qualitative and quantitative research

approaches were used for data analysis. The researchers selected the sample of eighty (80) students randomly from

the total population of one hundred and sixty (160) students. Eight lecturers were also selected for interviews. The

test was consisted of twenty (20) English idiomatic statements chosen to translate into Urdu and informal open-

ended questions were framed for interviews. The findings showed that, in translation test, wrong translations were

the most prominent, while the acceptable translations were proved to be least prominent errors. The literal

translation achieved the highest error frequency, whereas paraphrasing achieved the lowest error frequency. The

main causes of mistranslations were: students’ unfamiliarity with the target language and its culture, and had little

awareness of the appropriate translation strategies.

Key words: Idiomatic translation problems, Urdu and English languages, Baloch AJ&K, Pakistan