Communication in Translation: Peter Newmark’s Approaches under the Microscope
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63939/AJTS.2fd5mg92Keywords:
Peter Newmark, Approaches to Translation, Communicative Translation, Semantic TranslationAbstract
This study conducts a critical conceptual analysis of Peter Newmark’s communicative and semantic translation theories, as presented in Approaches to Translation. Using rigorous textual and contextual examination of Newmark’s original writings, it interrogates the theoretical foundations and implications of these two approaches, especially their challenge to traditional linguistic equivalence models. The analysis reveals how communicative and semantic strategies function as complementary, context-sensitive tools rather than mutually exclusive options. Findings highlight the flexibility of Newmark’s dual framework but also identify significant challenges for its application in Arabic translation scholarship, including theoretical accessibility and cross-linguistic adaptation. Despite these challenges, the study notes increasing scholarly awareness of the theory’s relevance and its potential to enhance both Arabic translation practice and research. Ultimately, it emphasizes situating Newmark’s contributions within broader linguistic and cultural discourses to promote more effective cross-cultural communication.
Downloads
References
ألبير، أ. ه. (2007). الترجمة ونظرياتها: مدخل إلى علم الترجمة (ع. إ. المنوفي، مترجم). المركز القومي للترجمة. (نشر العمل الأصلي في 2004)
بكّار، ي. (2016). في محراب الترجمة: إضاءات وتجارب ونقد. الآن ناشرون وموزعون
عطية، م. (2004). قاموس الأمثال الإنجليزية: مترجمة ومشروحة. https://www.books-library.net
عناني، م. (2004). نظرية الترجمة الحديثة: مدخل إلى مبحث دراسات الترجمة. الشركة المصرية العالمية للنشر-لونجمان
عناني، م. (2023). الترجمة الأدبية بين النظرية والتطبيق. هنداوي
العيسوي، ب. (1996). الترجمة إلى العربية: قضايا وآراء. دار الفكر العربي
الغانمي، س. (2014). الترجمة صنفًا أدبيًا. في الترجمة وإشكالات المثاقفة: أعمال مؤتمر منتدى العلاقات العربية والدولية (ص ص 231-245). الدوحة، قطر
As-Safi, A. B. (2011). Translation theories, strategies and basic theoretical issues. Al Manhal
Baker, M. (2018). In other words : A coursebook on translation. Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315619187
Chesterman, A. (2017). Causes, translations, effects. In Reflections on translation theory : Selected papers 1993–2014 (Vol. 132, pp. 97–121). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.132.c9
Dickins, J., Hervey, S., & Higgins, I. (2017). Thinking Arabic translation: A course in translation method, Arabic to English [PDF document] (2nd ed.). London & New York: Routledge. https://www.academia.edu/40452076/Thinking_Arabic_Translation DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315471570
Hatim, B. (1997). Communication across cultures : Translation theory and contrastive text linguistics. Univ. of Exeter Press
Hatim, B., & Mason, I. (1997). The translator as communicator. Routledge
Hatim, B., & Munday, J. (2004). Translation : An advanced resource book. Routledge
House, J. (1997). A model for translation quality assessment. Tübingen: Gunter Narr
House, J. (2015). Translation quality assessment : Past and present. Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315752839
House, J. (2016). Translation as communication across languages and cultures. Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315668956
Zu, M., & Dong, Y. (2015). A brief analysis of communicative translation and semantic translation. Proceedings of the 2015 Joint International Social Science, Education, Language, Management and Business Conference, 269–272. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/jisem-15.2015.55 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/jisem-15.2015.55
Munday, J. (2016). Introducing translation studies : Theories and applications. Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315691862
Newmark, P. (1981). Approaches to translation. Pergamon Press
Newmark, P. (1988). A textbook of translation. Prentice Hall
Nida, E. A. (1964). Towards a science of translation : With special reference to principles and procedures involved in Bible translation. Brill DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004495746
Nida, E. A. (1969). Science of translation. Language, 45(3), 483–498. https://www.jstor.org/stable/411434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/411434
Nida, E. A., & Taber, C. A. (1982). The theory and practice of translation. Brill DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004669147
Nida, E. A. (1991). Theories of translation. TTR, 4(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.7202/037079ar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/037079ar
Pym, A. (2023). Exploring translation studies. Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003383130
Reiss, K., & Vermeer, H. J. (2014). Towards a general theory of translational action : Skopos theory explained (C. Nord, Trans.). Routledge DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315759715
Robinson, D. (2012). Becoming a translator : An introduction to the theory and practice of translation [PDF document]. Routledge
Venuti, L. (1995). The translator's invisibility : A history of translation. Routledge
Wang, R. (2023). A comparative analysis of Eugene Nida's and Peter Newmark's perspectives on cultural context in translation. Journal of Education and Educational Research, 6(3), 106–112. https://doi.org/10.54097/hkm7qj64 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54097/hkm7qj64
---
Romanization of Arabic Bibliography
Al-Bayr, A. H. (2007). Al-Tarjama wa Nadhariyyatuha: Madkhal ila 'Ilm al-Tarjama [Translation and Theories of Translation: An Introduction to Translation Studies] (A. I. al-Manufi, Trans.). Cairo: Al-Markaz al-Qawmi li-al-Tarjama. (Original work published 2004)
Bakkar, Y. (2016). Fi Mihrab al-Tarjama: Idhā'āt wa Tajārib wa Naqd [In the Sanctuary of Translation: Insights, Experiences, and Criticism]. Amman: Alān Nashirūn wa Muwazī'ūn
Atīyyah, M. (2004). Qāmūs al-Amthāl al-Inglīziyyah: Mutarjamah wa Mashrūhah [Dictionary of English Proverbs: Translated and Explained]. https://www.books-library.net
Anānī, M. (2004). Nadhariyat al-Tarjama al-Hadīthah: Madkhal ila Mabḥath Dirāsāt al-Tarjama [Modern Translation Theory: An Introduction to the Field of Translation Studies]. Giza: Al-Sharikah al-Miṣriyyah al-‘Ālamīyah li-l-Nashr–Longman
Anānī, M. (2023). Al-Tarjama al-Adabīyyah bayna al-Nadhariyah wa al-Taṭbīq [Literary Translation Between Theory and Practice]. Windsor: Hindāwī
Al-‘Īsawī, B. (1996). Al-Tarjama ila al-‘Arabīyah: Qadāyā wa Ārā’ [Translation into Arabic: Issues and Perspectives]. Cairo: Dār al-Fikr al-‘Arabī
Al-Ghannamī, S. (2014). Al-Tarjamah Ṣinfan Adabīyan [Translation as a Literary Genre]. In Al-Tarjama wa Ishkālāt al-Muthāqafah: A‘māl Muntada al-‘Alaqāt al-‘Arabīyyah wa al-Duwalīyyah [Translation and Issues of Cultural Exchange: Proceedings of the Forum on Arab and International Relations] (pp. 231-245). Doha, Qatar
Newmark, P. (2006). Al-Jāmi‘ fī al-Tarjamah [A Textbook of Translation] (H. Ghazālah, Ar Trans.). Beirut: Dār Maktabat al-Hilāl. (Original work published 1988)
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
As an open-access the journal follows the CC BY-NC 4.0 Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International which states that:
- you are free to:
- Share— copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
- Adapt— remix, transform, and build upon the material.
- Under the following terms:
- Attribution— You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
How to Cite
