CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATING COVID-19 TERMINOLOGY INTO ARABIC: A STUDY OF MACHINE TRANSLATION AND LINGUISTIC MEANS

Authors

  • Rashad Faleh Alhasan Translation Department, Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Police Science and Security, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Khatra Amar Translation Department, Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Police Science and Security, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Hussein Abushaaban School of Languages, Civilisation and Philosophy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejmts.v3i1.448

Keywords:

localization, neologies, COVID-19, linguistic means, machine translation and technical means

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a plethora of new words and terminology in various languages, including Arabic. This linguistic phenomenon stems from the need to describe and discuss the unique circumstances and developments surrounding the pandemic. This study aims to find out the challenges faced by Arabic translators when incorporating these newly coined terms into the Arabic language and culture. The localization of COVID-19 terminology is a complex and challenging task, but it is essential to ensure that Arabic speakers have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the pandemic. The results indicate that there are linguistic and cultural challenges in the English-Arabic translation of COVID-19 prevention and control terminology. By using a variety of linguistic techniques, Arabic translators can help ensure that these new terms are accurately and effectively localized into Arabic.

Author Biographies

  • Rashad Faleh Alhasan, Translation Department, Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Police Science and Security, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Dr. Rashad Faleh Alhasan, PhD in Applied Linguistics and Translation from UUM, Malaysia. He works as an EFL Instructor and Legal Translator/Interpreter in the Translation Department of the Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Police Science and Security.

    Orcid: orcid.org/0000-0001-9774-6084. Email: rfkh999@yahoo.com.

  • Khatra Amar, Translation Department, Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Police Science and Security, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Dr. Khatra Amar, PhD in Translation, USM, Malaysia. Legal translator. Translation Dpt. Saif Bin Zayed Academy for Security and Policing Sciences.

    Orcid: orcid.org/0009-0008-3085-402X.  Email: khattra2002@yahoo.fr.

  • Hussein Abushaaban, School of Languages, Civilisation and Philosophy, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

    Dr. Hussein Abushaaban, PhD in Applied Linguistics, School of Languages, Civilization and Philosophy, Universiti Utara Malaysia. (Self-Researcher).

    Email: husseinabushaaban@gmail.com.

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Published

2023-06-21

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles