Metaphor Translation Challenges among Libyan EFL Students: A Case Study at the University of Gharyan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65417/ljere.v2i1.102Keywords:
Translation, Metaphor, EFL learners, Newmark model, Cultural CompetenceAbstract
This study investigated the challenges encountered by English majors at the University of Gharyan when dealing with metaphorical expressions. Such expressions are often embedded within culture-bound concepts, providing nuanced meanings specific to particular linguistic communities. Consequently, the research aimed to identify the strategies employed by Libyan students in translating metaphors from English into Arabic. This was achieved by using a translation test comprising fifteen (15) purposively selected metaphors. The test was given to a sample of forty (40) fourth-year students at the Department of English language, Faculty of Arts and Science, Mizda. The subsequent, data analysis followed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative statistical measures (percentage and frequencies) with a qualitative linguistic analysis based on Newmark's (1988) theoretical framework for metaphor translation. The findings reveal that while students perform well when translating culturally familiar metaphors or those with direct equivalents, significant difficulties arise with abstract and culture-bound expressions. The study concludes that transitional failures are primarily driven by a lack of cultural competence and an over-reliance on semantic fidelity at the expense of communicative resonance. Based on these results, it is recommended that explicit metaphor translation strategies and comparative cultural studies be integrated into the EFL curriculum to bridge the gap between linguistic proficiency and metaphorical competence. Furthermore, the study advocates for enhanced translation training through specialized sessions designed to foster a more conducive learning environment.
References
1- Al-Zoubi, M., Al-Khawaldeh, N.,& Hamdan,S. (2025). Cultural competence and metaphor translation among Arab translation students. Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10 (1), 112-129.
2-Bhabha, H, K.(1994). The Location of Culture. Routledge.
3- Boase-Beir, J. (2006). Stylistic approaches to translation. St. Jerome Publishing.
4-Dickins, J., Hervey ,S., & Higgins, L. (2002). Thinking Arabic translation: A course in translation method: Arabic to English. Routledge.
5- Edward Sapir, E. (1956). Culture, Language and personality. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
6- Elqubaisi, M .,Alshammari, A., & Hassan, R. (2024). Strategies in Translating metaphors in political discourse from English into Arabic. Journal of Translation and Intercultural Studies, 12(2),45-61.
7- Eugene Nida, E. A. (1964). Toward a science of translating. Brill.
8- George Lakoff, G., & Mark Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
9- House, J. (2015). Translation quality assessment: past and present. Routledge.
10- Koveecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor: A practical introduction (2nd ed). Oxford University Press.
11- Krennmayr, T& Kall, A.(2013). Metaphor and Translation: Theories and Applications. John Benjamin's Publishing Company.
12- Lawrence Venuti, L. (1998). The scandals of translation: Towards an ethics of difference. Routledge.
13- Munday, J. (2016). Introducing translation studies. Theories and applications. (4th ed). Routledge.
14- Newmark, P.(1988). A Text of Translation. Prentice Hall.
15- Omar, A. M. (2021). Challenges of translating metaphors among Arab EFL learners. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 7 (3), 88-97.
16- Oxford Dictionaries. (n.d). Metaphor. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from
http:// www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
17- Toury, G. (2012). Descriptive translation studies and beyond. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
18- Fadia Al-Hashmi Al-Massri. (2026). A Comparative Study of Human vs. Generative AI Translation of English Poetry into Arabic: Assessing Stylistic Fidelity and Creative Nuance. Libyan Journal of Educational Research and E-Learning (LJERE), 2(1), 260-278. https://doi.org/10.65417/ljere.v2i1.84
19- Rima Subhi Husain Taher. (2025). The Effectiveness of AI-Driven Translation Technologies in Mediating Cultural Understanding: A Case Study of English Language Teaching Practices in Libyan Higher Education. Libyan Journal of Educational Research and E-Learning (LJERE), 1(2), 01-16. https://doi.org/10.65417/ljere.v1i2.8
20- Isra Abukres, & Almakki Rumadhan Alsabiri. (2025). Measuring Libyan University EFL Students’ Attitudes Toward the Use of Google Meet in Classroom Settings. Libyan Journal of Educational Research and E-Learning (LJERE), 1(2), 57-62. https://doi.org/10.65417/ljere.v1i2.13
