Modern Arabic Fiction in English: The Yacoubian Building; a Case in Point

Abstract

This article considers translations of modern Arabic fiction to English in the context of contemporary translation theory as a critical approach. Translation theory provides a framework to analyze the cultural and sociological aspects involved in the process of literary translation that can influence the circulation of the final product. Specifically; the polysystem theory of Even-Zohar and the literary fields and social agents of Bourdieu are considered in an exploration of how and why translations from Arabic are undertaken; how and by whom. This paper takes the Yacoubian Building [Ar. ‘Amaret Yacoubian]; a contemporary novel by Alaa Al Aswani; under consideration for its cultural and literary importance. It is found that contemporary Arabic fiction has shown a slowly increasing presence in the English literary market.
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Alkharashi, N. (2016). Modern Arabic Fiction in English: The Yacoubian Building; a Case in Point. CLINA Revista Interdisciplinaria De Traducción Interpretación Y Comunicación Intercultural, 2(1), 43–59. Retrieved from https://revistas.usal.es/dos/index.php/clina/article/view/14552

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