The translation of idioms
• An idiom is an expression whose meaning
cannot be guessed from the literal definitions
and the arrangement of its parts, but refers
instead to a figurative meaning that is known
only through conventional use
• For example: the apple of his eye
A green thumb
Bared his teeth
The main bulk of idioms
1- Non-compositionality:
The meaning is not a straightforward composition
of the meaning of its parts.
For example: It’s raining cats and dogs
• 2- Non-substitutability:
• We cannot substitute a word in a collection with
a related word
• For example: An ivory tower
• 3- Non-modifiability:
• We cannot modify a collection or apply syntactic
transformations
• For example: He kick the green bucket
• Institutionalization:
• Which means that idioms are used and known
by long-term use and they exist in a language for
a long time until they become familiar to native
speakers of that language.
• For example: How about a drink?
Ways to translate idioms
1) Translation by another idiom of a similar form
Storm in a tea cup – ‫زوبعة في فنجان‬
2) Translation by an idiom but different form
It’s raining cats and dogs – ‫إنها تمطر كأفواه القرب‬
3) Translation by paraphrasing
Throw caution to the wind – ‫لم يعد يكترث لشيء‬