The Problems of Translating Proverbs in Arabic into Malay

The uncritical transfer of Arabic proverbs into Malay texts persistently frustrates meaningful cross-cultural communication. Despite centuries of linguistic interplay and the apparent structural similarities between the languages, a pervasive disconnect endures; the subtle cultural load embedded within each proverb frequently dissolves during the translation process, rendering the output either inert or entirely misleading. Prior efforts, unfortunately, have often merely catalogued these missteps without truly grappling with the underlying conceptual frameworks that dictate their failure. This conceptual analysis, rooted in a painstaking review of existing scholarship, unearths the deeper theoretical fissures. Three distinct conceptual obstacles emerge: the irreparable semantic dilution inherent in literal transfer, the pragmatic chasm separating original and target audiences, and the pronounced loss of socio-cultural resonance unique to the Arabic context. Ignoring these intricacies does not merely result in linguistic awkwardness; it actively propagates a fundamental misrepresentation of cultural identity, demanding a more critical, contextual approach to translation pedagogy and practice.

Arabic proverbs, Malay translation

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