The Politics of Translation: Censorship in Arabic-English and English-Arabic Literary Translation

Authors

  • Afaf Alwan Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Baleid Taha Shamsan Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Shatha Muneer Abdullah Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Eman Abdulqader Ali Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Roqaia Ammar Sultan Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Ashgan Mohammed Ahmed Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Afnan Abdulmalik Abdulaziz Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Shaima Mohammed Abdullah Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Ashwaq Abdulqawi Mohammed Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Ameera Saif Amr Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author
  • Bara'ah Yaseen Ali Department of English, Faculty of Administrative and Human Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden – Yemen Author

Keywords:

Translation Studies, Political Censorship, Manipulation Theory, Literary Translation, Ideological Control in Translation

Abstract

Abstract

This research paper aims to deconstruct political censorship in Arabic literary translation through the lens of Manipulation Theory in three inspiring case studies: Basma Abdel Aziz's The Queue, Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, and Sonallah Ibrahim's The Committee. It examines how political and ideological motivations shape translation to yield alterations, deletions, and misrepresentations that align with agendas of the target culture. While The Queue is tactfully translated at the linguistic level to suit Western sensitivities, The Satanic Verses comes under outright censorship and restricted release in Arabic countries due to political and religious restraints. The committee undergoes translation modifications in which explicit political attacks are toned down or broadened to suit publication. This study synthesizes existing research on censorship, translation ethics, and ideological manipulation, highlighting how translation becomes an ideological negotiation platform rather than a linguistically neutral process. The research also investigates the ethical dilemmas that translators face in dealing with political constraints while ensuring textual integrity.

Cover Page 2

Downloads

Published

2025-03-09

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.