Untranslatable Arabic Lexemes:

Abdarahman Abulgasim Salih NOORAIN; Mujahid Isam Mohammed Ahmed ALAMIN

doi:10.33193/IJoHSS.70.2026.915

Abdarahman Abulgasim Salih NOORAIN Assistant professor of English language, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan
Mujahid Isam Mohammed Ahmed ALAMIN Assistant professor of English language, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, University of Albutana, Sudan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33193/IJoHSS.70.2026.915

الكلمات المفتاحية: untranslatability, Arabic-English translation, gharīb lexemes, cultural semantics, linguistic equivalence, Qur’anic translation, intercultural communication

الملخص

This study explores the phenomenon of untranslatability in Arabic-English translation, focusing on culturally embedded gharīb lexemes such as karāmah, ḥayāʾ, barakah, qadar, and ṣabr. The research highlights that these terms embody layers of moral, spiritual, and theological meanings that resist literal transfer into English. Using qualitative semantic and cultural analysis, the study demonstrates that untranslatability arises from the deep intertwining of language and worldview in Arab-Islamic culture. The findings reveal that literal translation often leads to semantic loss, while adaptive strategies—such as explanatory paraphrase, partial retention, and footnoting—better preserve meaning and cultural integrity. The study concludes that translators must act as intercultural mediators, employing interpretive and context-based approaches to convey the spiritual essence of Arabic gharīb lexemes. Ultimately, untranslatability is not absolute but negotiable through culturally informed translation practices.

المراجع

1. Abdel Haleem, M. A. S. (2019). The Qur'an: A new translation. Oxford University Press.
2. Al-Azzam, B. (2021). Cultural equivalence and lexical gaps in Arabic-English translation. Arab World English Journal, 12(2), 145–161.
3. Albahiri, H., & Alhaj, A. (2024). Linguistic obstacles in translating unique Qur’anic cultural lexical items. International Journal of Linguistic Studies, 8(1), 23–41.
4. Alhaj, A. (2022). The untranslatability dilemma in translating Qur’anic heart words into English: A semantic-pragmatic approach. Journal of Translation Studies, 36(4), 101–118.
5. Alhumaid, S. (2015). Translating Islamic and Arabic cultural terms into English: Challenges and strategies. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ), 6(1), 251–265.
6. Al-Jarf, R. (2022). The cultural dimension of Arabic lexical meaning: Implications for translation pedagogy. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 9(3), 112–129.
7. Al-Masri, M. (2009). The concept of barakah in Arabic and Islamic culture. Amman: Dar al-Fikr.
8. Al-Qahtani, H. (2023). Translator’s strategies for cultural adaptation in Arabic-English translation. Babel: International Journal of Translation, 69(2), 176–193.
9. Baker, M. (1992). In other words: A coursebook on translation. Routledge.
10. Baker, M. (2018). Translation and conflict: A narrative account. Routledge.
11. Baker, M., & Saldanha, G. (Eds.). (2020). Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies (3rd ed.). Routledge.
12. Dickins, J., Hervey, S., & Higgins, I. (2020). Thinking Arabic translation (2nd ed.). Routledge.
13. Elmgrab, M. (2025). Translating theological concepts of qadar: The limits of equivalence in English renderings. Journal of Islamic Linguistics and Translation Studies, 5(1), 67–84.
14. Farghal, M., & Almanna, A. (2022). Contextualizing translation theories: From textual to cultural perspectives. Routledge.
15. Ghazala, H. (2021). Translation as problems and solutions (Revised ed.). Dar El Ilm Lilmalayin.
16. Hatim, B., & Mason, I. (2021). Discourse and the translator (2nd ed.). Routledge.
17. Makaoui, M. (2023). Culture-specific terms in Arabic-English literary translation: A comparative perspective. Arab Journal of Translation and Linguistics, 11(2), 58–75.
18. Munday, J. (2022). Introducing translation studies: Theories and applications (6th ed.). Routledge.
19. Newmark, P. (2020). A textbook of translation. Prentice Hall.
20. Noorain, A. A. S., & Alamin, A. M. (2023). Problems of rendering omitted possessors and possessed elements in Qur’anic translation. Journal of Linguistic and Literary Studies, 7(2), 45–63.
21. Noorain, A. A. S. (2025). Bridging Cultures through Idioms: A Comparative Study of English-Arabic Cultural Equivalence, Rihan Journal for Scientific Publishing.
22. Sapir, E. (1929). The status of linguistics as a science. Language, 5(4), 207–214.
23. Venuti, L. (2019). The translator’s invisibility: A history of translation (3rd ed.). Routledge.
24. Whorf, B. L. (1956). Language, thought, and reality: Selected writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. MIT Press.

Untranslatable Arabic Lexemes

(A Comparative Analysis of Semantic, Cultural, and Translational Challenges in Arabic-English Translation)

الملخص

المراجع